21 Oct GMG launches two working groups on cybersecurity and the electric mine
The Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) has just launched two new working groups on cybersecurity and the electric mine to create safe and sustainable mines of the future.
Cybersecurity Working Group
The Cybersecurity Working Group aims to help mining stakeholders as they look to design safe, secure, reliable and resilient cybersecurity infrastructure that adheres to regulatory, trust, and privacy best practices. The group will provide guidance for the industry to access and implement existing solutions, be responsive to the priorities of the industry, and look for projects that will benefit from GMG’s open, collaborative principles and processes.
“As digitalization increases in our industry, so does the risk of cybersecurity incidents,” says Andrew Scott, GMG Vice-Chair Working Groups and Principal Innovator at Symbiotic Innovations. “Industry-wide knowledge sharing and collaboration are important for mitigating these risks.”
“The topic has come up in many existing GMG projects including those on autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and interoperability, and it is clear that cybersecurity is a high-priority concern among mining stakeholders,” Scott adds.
The group will work closely with the Mining and Metals Information Sharing Analysis Centre (MM-ISAC) to collaborate on and identify existing projects and prevent duplication.
Electric Mine Working Group
The Electric Mine Working Group aims to accelerate the advancement and adoption of electric mining technologies in underground and surface contexts. It will cover all-electric technologies that are replacing those that typically use diesel. Key objectives include developing guidelines and sharing information on https://thefirstmonth.org/amb/ using and testing electric technologies and designing electric mines.
“The shift toward the electric mine in surface and underground contexts is indicative of our industry’s growing commitment to reducing greenhouse gases and providing safer working environments,” says GMG Managing Director Heather Ednie.
“Previous GMG work on battery electric vehicles in underground mining brought together a community of companies leading the way in developing and adopting electric mining technologies. As these technologies are increasingly used in surface mines, the need to expand the community has become clear,” she adds.
This group will work in parallel with the International Commission on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and their Innovation for Cleaner Safer Vehicles (ICSV) initiative to ensure that the initiatives support each other.
Next Steps
Once launched, these groups will form a steering committee to refine the scope and objectives and identify early projects.
The Cybersecurity Working Group will have its introductory virtual meeting on November 11. The kick-off workshop is to define what the industry needs from a cybersecurity perspective; it will be held at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, U.S.A. on December 5, held in partnership with the MM-ISAC. Stay tuned for registration details. The Electric Mine Working Group will have its introductory virtual meeting on November 21.
All those with an interest and experience in the topics are welcome to participate in the groups and join the calls and workshops. If you are interested to know more about how to get involved in these new working groups, please contact us at info@gmggroup.org.
About Global Mining Guidelines Group
The Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) is a network of like-minded companies driving change in the mining industry. Together, we monitor the pulse of the industry and develop multi-disciplinary guidelines and strategies to manage risk, enhance performance, design solutions, inform planning and decision making, and save time and money. Our members are mining companies, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), original technology manufacturers (OTMs), research organizations and consultants from around the world who recognize that innovation does not happen in silos. GMG improves communication and facilitates collaboration to foster a more sustainable and efficient future for mining. Our multi-stakeholder working groups address topics such as interoperability, data access and usage, artificial intelligence, autonomous equipment, underground communication, battery-electric equipment and comminution efficiency in mining.