As the dust settles on 2023’s Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum, the Cater Care team is left preparing to adapt the points raised and lessons learned into day-to-day operations for our clients. The conference, held against the backdrop of Kalgoorlie’s historic mining landscape, provides an ideal platform for industry stakeholders to share insights, innovations, finding, and strategies on operations that may change the future of the mining sector – and at this year’s conference, that future was looking especially electrifying.
Striking the earth
This year’s forum started off strong with a keynote address by Dr Linda Yueh, a Fellow and Professor of Economics at multiple universities in the United Kingdom. Her experience makes her uniquely qualified to provide conference attendees with an overview of the economic situation and trends that are affecting the mining industry such as the shift away from fossil fuels; and although there was no hiding the concern for the current state of the world’s economy, she remained optimistic that the mining sector would carry the economy through the difficult times ahead. While the exponential growth of copper and vanadium exploration aimed at supplying the growing demand for electric vehicles should be enough in its own right to secure the future of the mining sector, there are also still a number of companies continuing to explore commercially viable supplies of gold.
Getting the juice flowing
Although there were a number of key themes that were repeatedly touched on by various presenters, the unquestionable chief among them was the rise of renewable energy and the push towards electrification. As the industry begins to pivot to address the needs of a growing and changing world, supporting the development of renewable energy and construction of electric vehicles looks to be a key part of the Remote sector’s future. Project operators are already beginning to question how they can utilise their existing assets to support electrification efforts, and some operators are already shifting their focus towards supplying minerals such as cobalt and lithium needed for the construction of electric vehicles. As the industry begins to move in this new direction, it’s already becoming apparent that the next generation of renewable energy camps will continue to operate very differently from traditional mine sites, and operators will continue to need flexible strategic partners that can meet these unique needs. We’re interested to see how central this focus will become to the Remote sector, and we’re eager to continue our work adapting and tailoring catering to suit the different needs of renewable energy camps.
Making the responsible choice
In addition to the increasingly pressing need for electrification, the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) was repeatedly touched on by speakers. More and more, clients are placing higher expectations of social and environmental responsibility on the shoulders of project operators and frequently making decisions on the basis of a given company’s ESG record. In turn, operators are urgently searching for strategic partners capable of the scope and flexibility needed to assist their projects in achieving KPIs and reducing their overall environmental impact. Cater Care’s established capability to flex to meet the individual needs of our clients makes us uniquely qualified to assist our partners in achieving their ESG needs, and we’re excited to see how this newfound focus on corporate social responsibility can shape the future of the mining industry.
Wrapping up
Across sixty-six presenters from more than one hundred and fifty attending companies, Diggers and Dealers 2023 was a powerful reminder that remote facilities management and camp catering is more than just meal preparation; it’s about nourishing workers, fuelling minds, and providing the backbone for the industry’s future progress. As we head back to operations, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the presentations and conversations held at the conference to ensure we can best flex our service delivery to meet the needs of our clients as they pave the way for the future of mining. Cater Care remains committed to building reliable and transparent relationships through excellent customer service and engagement with local and traditional landowners, where all existing and prospective clients operate – wherever that might be.
We hope to see you all in Kalgoorlie again next year!
For Western Australia:
Brad Walther
Client Development Manager
bradley.walther@catercare.com.au
T. 08 9241 2824 M. 0488 745 357
For all other regions, States, and Territories:
Hayley Steyn
Senior Client Development Manager
hayley.steyn@catercare.com.au
T. 07 3851 8425 M 0429 542 682
