Guests at the BBMC’s July luncheon were treated to a ‘seat by the fireside’ as BMA Asset President, Adam Lancey, spoke frankly about his insights on navigating current pressures and positioning for future growth.

Better BMA

Since taking the helm two years ago, Lancey explained how a strong focus on stabilisation and simplicity, coined ‘Better BMA” has changed the game, both internally and externally. “We’ve made some really good progress over the last few months. There’s been quite a different feeling within the company internally,” he said.

For example, one impressive result is BMA’s 39.94% female participation across their workforce – nearly reaching their ambitious 40% target. Lancey highlighted how this diversity has brought fresh perspectives at all levels, as well as on-the ground innovation, from new tooling designs to procedural improvements for both safety and productivity.

Contractor partnerships and safety innovation

Differing site requirements are an issue that suppliers and contractors struggle with. BMA is working to standardise requirements across operations, making it simpler for contractors to work across multiple sites. “There is still more opportunity to harness the competitive advantage we have with our sites in close proximity,” Lancey acknowledged.

However, sometimes changing requirements are safety-related, and BMA’s stance on safety is non-negotiable. Their ‘Safety starts with me’ program focuses on BMA and their partners returning to basics, helping workers understand personal risk at every moment of the day.

Technology and the future of mining

Drawing from recent visits to leading tech companies including Tesla, Google, and Honeywell, Lancey painted an optimistic picture of mining’s technological future, perhaps even moving to “double autonomy” – smart, autonomous operations that could totally revolutionise mining practices.

“There are people in those tech companies who just pick and choose what they want to get excited about. The solutions they invent could apply to problems they don’t even know exist in mining,” he said.

Industry advocacy for future generations

“The announcement on the day of the luncheon that Bowen Coking Coal has entered administration was a stark warning of the tough economic conditions the mining industry in Central Queensland faces.  It was an important reminder to the audience that without the right policy settings in place to make Queensland a competitive place to invest, the flow-on impact of mining companies shutting mines or curtailing production will be felt right along the supply chain.

Despite these headwinds, Lancey remains steadfastly optimistic about coal exports in Queensland’s future. Looking ahead, he predicts that technology will crack the next big breakthrough in mining operations. “I think we’ll get that big leap forward, though I’m not quite sure of the timeframe,” he said. “The ways we optimise ore recovery and refining processes, such as coal washing techniques, are still relatively unchanged. There are real opportunities to improve as our ore bodies get bigger, deeper, and more challenging.”