Technology set to change face of mining boom

Topics: work, mining-industry, unemployment, mining-rural, computers-and-innovation, robots-and-artificial-intelligence, australia, wa

CHRIS UHLMANN, PRESENTER: It's a modern gold rush daydream. Get a truck licence, get a job at a mine and make lots of money. Nevertheless the dream might before long be bulldozed by innovation. Mining giant Rio Tinto has just announced plans to use driverless trucks, trains and drills in what's set to become the world's largest robotic mine. Everyone agrees it will change the industry forever. Nikki Wilson-Smith reports from Western Australia.

JAN NORBERGER: I think the general consensus would be the move or the technological advances towards automation would be inevitable. It's a innovation that's going to continue to make inroads.

NIKKI WILSON-SMITH: One company that's investing heavily in this innovation is multinational Rio Tinto. It plans to run automated trains in its Pilbara operation, and that's just the start. Today, 7.30 can reveal that the company has expanded its automated research into all aspects of its surface mining operation.

GREG LILLEYMAN: We believe we're ahead of the pack. We note that others talking about copying some of what we're doing. It's a bit of flattery is the way I see it, however I'm not actually worried about it. I'm getting out ahead, and doing what we can to improve our business.

MINING SPOKESMAN: Over time we're going to be creating new jobs, more technically skilled jobs, and we'll be attracting a wide range of different people to our business.

JAN NORBERGER: We don't believe it's going to have an immediate effect - and by that I mean four, five years plus for the time being. Like many companies out there, I suggest we probably will be keeping an eye on this innovation as it progresses - and if we believe that, you know, there's a fundamental change in the demand for the types of people that are required by the industry, I'm sure we will adjust our business model consequently.