Innovation & technology

A CLOSER LOOK

• DigiMine laboratory

  We have partnered with the Wits Mining Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, to develop a state-of-the-art digital mining laboratory. The DigiMine Laboratory is a one-of-a-kind laboratory, complete with a mock mine, that simulates actual underground mining conditions and enables researchers to develop and test digital systems in a simulated environment to design the mine of the future.

  DigiMine is a multidisciplinary research programme, combining skills from various disciplines. Among other objectives, DigiMine is focused on digitally-enabled health and safety and seismicity research. Sibanye-Stillwater renewed its anchor agreement for 2021 to 2023 at a value of R16.5 million (or R5.5 million per annum).

  Learn more at www.wits.ac.za/wmi/digimine/

• Simulacrum

  Under a similar partnership model to that of DigiMine, Sibanye-Stillwater is funding Simulacrum, a state-of-the-art training facility within the mining faculty at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The aim of the facility is to enhance the practical experience of undergraduate students within the mining faculty, through virtual and augmented reality training solutions.

  The facility will also be used to aid understanding of the applicability of these solutions within the mining industry. The facility will be launched in H1 2022. Sibanye-Stillwater has committed to an investment of R22 million for the 2022-2023 period.

  Learn more at www.uj.ac.za

• Mandela Mining Precinct

  Sibanye-Stillwater is an active participant in the Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP), a public-private partnership with government and several other mining houses. The MMP focuses on applied research and development in five programmes:

  • Longevity of current mining (LoCM)
  • Non-explosive rock breaking and mechanised mining systems (NERB and MMS)
  • Real-time information management systems (RTIMS)
  • Advanced orebody knowledge (AOK)
  • Successful adoption of technology centred around people (SATCAP).

  Sibanye-Stillwater plays a leading role in the MMP, not only as a participant in the various programmes but as chair of the LoCM and NERB/MMS programmes. In addition, Sibanye-Stillwater is pleased to note the consolidation of various projects between the MMP and our partners at Wits and UJ (LoCM with UJ and RTIMS and SATCAP with Wits).

• iXS-Incubate and iXS-Develop

  In South Africa, regulatory requirements (as well as other contributing factors) result in limited exposure to globally competitive technology. South Africa’s capacity for research and development is limited due to historically depressed investment levels and lack of skills.

  In response to these challenges, Sibanye-Stillwater launched its iXS initiative in September 2021. This is an investment programme to develop innovators and entrepreneurs, and support the start-up community.

  The initiative has three objectives:

  • To develop expertise to solve mining-related issues with novel entrepreneurial and innovative solutions
  • To fund the development and adoption of technology from prototype to proof of concept
  • To develop businesses within South Africa’s mining value chain capable of achieving commercial viability and global application

  The initiative is structured in three parts: iXS-Incubate, iXS-Develop and iXS-Scale. However, only iXS-Incubate and iXS-Develop have been implemented to date.

  iXS-Incubate develops entrepreneurs and innovators through its Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) and Innovator in Residence programmes (IIR). These programmes are structured as a contractual relationship, targeting high-quality candidates with post-graduate qualifications.

  iXS-Develop invests in South African technology companies that are underpinned by locally developed commercial, science, and engineering innovations and are linked to Sibanye-Stillwater’s activities. iXS-Incubate will host five EIRs and IIRs in 2022 while iXS-Develop intends to support five startups.

• Digital-One

  Digital enablement continues to explore novel mechanisms to establish effective capability and capacity in support of digital adoption, without compromising organisational flexibility. In 2021, we developed international partnership models and infrastructure, intended to support the adoption of novel and competitive digital solutions.

  The development considers two imperatives as fundamental concerns: the ability to execute with agility, while maintaining a flexible organizational structure; and the ability to deploy internationally across our organisation, as and when required, in order to digitally integrate and optimise current and new assets.

  This development follows an extensive and objective review of our digital strategy, capability, and capacity in 2021 which has informed the design of a flexible model in H1 2022. If successful, group-wide consolidation and planning will be executed in H2 2022 for rollout in 2023.

• Innocentrix's SA Innovation League
  

  The SA Innovation League is a collaborative initiative between Innocentrix, the Milpark Business School and the Da Vinci Institute’s Technology Top 100 (tt100) Awards, which assesses organisations’ innovation management strategies and practices. At the 2021/2022 league, the approach, for the first time since inception in 2014, aligned with the series of ISO/SANS 56002 Innovation Management Standards. Sibanye-Stillwater announced on 20 Many 2022, that it achieved second place in the 2021/2022 awards, competing in the Large Organisation category.

• Relevant media
  • May 20, 2022: Media release: Sibanye-Stillwater awarded second place in SA’s Innovation league rankings for Large organisations
  • January 26, 2021: Media release: Sibanye-Stillwater further extends and increases investment in tertiary education
  • January 19, 2021: [Seeking Alpha] Sibanye Should Benefit From Hydrogen Wars Thanks To Its Iridium Exposure
  • December 09, 2020: [Mining Weekly] Froneman promotes digital first strategy for mining companies
  • December 08, 2020: Media release: Sibanye-Stillwater CEO presents at the Wits DigiMine digital technology seminar
  • October 19, 2020: [Engineering News] Hydrogen fast-tracking will be much quicker than imagined – Sibanye-Stillwater
  • August 21, 2020: Media release: Sibanye-Stillwater and Wits University collaborate on face shields for frontline health workers
  • March 21, 2020: Media release: BASF launches a new Tri-Metal Catalyst, developed in collaboration with and sponsored by Sibanye-Stillwater and Impala Platinum

  Please note that some of the links above are not hosted by Sibanye-Stillwater. Sibanye-Stillwater is not responsible for the content or availability of third-party websites.