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As the initial 5-year program for the South ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn PRIF Integrated Mining Consortium comes to an end, Maptek looks forward to what lies ahead to bring projects to market. 

The PRIF Consortium aims to create a safer, more secure workplace, a mining sector that has the social licence to operate, and a minerals industry that is committed to causing as little environmental disturbance as possible, using less water, energy and chemicals, and reducing waste.  

Maptek joined the program in 2019 to help identify how ideas generated through research could be translated into industry value. Our contribution centred on optimisation of upstream processes for projects aligned with specific areas of interest to PRIF End-user Partner OZ Minerals. 

Maptek provided software licences and staff who presented theoretical concepts and evaluated them using our software.  

PRIF Consortium Director Nigel Cook said that balancing theory with practical and commercial realities can be difficult for academia, so collaboration during project design stages helps ensure the outcomes are tailored for industry. 

‘Critical for success is to find a champion – a company or individual – who shares the researcher’s passion to carry out a successful project and to ensure that outputs are given every opportunity to mature into a potentially saleable product,’ Cook said. 

Head of Experimentation and Technology for Maptek, Simon Ratcliffe agreed that R&D is just the beginning of a pathway to commercial success. 

‘Miners want something that works and do not necessarily appreciate the precariousness of taking a concept to a solution. Companies like Maptek attempt to bridge that chasm,’ said Ratcliffe.  

Even with a clear view of the people, processes and technologies that need to be harnessed, Cook noted that the often conservative nature of mining and frequent role changes in partner organisations can make it challenging to cement long-term relationships.  But that certainly does not mean it is not worth persevering. 

Effective communication is essential to develop a relationship based on shared goals: find common language, understand the problem, and address risks and uncertainties.