One mining expert's view on how mining has in impact on sustainability and the environment

Interview with Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei, Assistant Professor of Mining Engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. (MS&T)

In today's economic climate, GoodOil continues to ask, "What are mining experts' concerns, and what is their focus?" GoodOil recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei of Missouri University of Science and Technology, to answer these questions from a University leader's perspective.

GoodOil: What are some of your previous experiences that helped to prepare you for your current position?
KA-O: I received my PhD in Mining Engineering from University of Missouri-Rolla's School of Materials, Energy & Earth Resources in 2006. Before that, I received my BS from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology in Ghana. Along with being an Assistant Professor at S&T, I have held positions with Granite Construction, Inc. of Sacramento, CA as Mine Planning Engineer and Plant Engineer. I am a member of both SME and CIM. Additionally, I am on the editorial board of the International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering.

GoodOil: Can you tell me a little about your teaching experience?
KA-O: I currently teach courses on the Environmental Aspects of Mining, Computer Applications in Mining, Surveying for Mineral Engineers, Surface Mine Design, and Optimization Applications in Mining. I have received the MS&T Committee for Effective Teaching's Teaching Excellence Commendation two years in a row. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I have also done research in modeling and optimization of mining systems, computer-aided mine-design, mining equipment performance evaluation, earthmoving equipment formation interactions, sustainable mining systems and monitoring and accounting of CO2 for geo-sequestration. I am currently the principal investigator on two active projects including Reducing Energy Consumption & Carbon Footprint through Improved Production Practices and CO2 Flux Field Delineation for Construction on Reclaimed Mine Land.

GoodOil: You have a lot of practical, research and teaching experience in both the United States and the Ghana mining markets. Can you talk about the some of the common trends in mining between the two countries and perhaps some of the differences?
KA-O: The resilience of the miner! Mines are valued by financial institutions based on the reserves they have. But we all know the best operations are the ones with the best people. That is the same in Ghana and the US. Miners do things daily that other workers will complain about. Miners are, by and large, proud of what they do. Management teams that take care of their best people are guaranteed to do well in this increasingly global market for mining talent.

GoodOil: You have a key interest in sustainability and the environmental impact of mining? What do you mean by "sustainability"?
KA-O: Our culture and economics are highly dependent on the minerals and metals that come from mining operations. We must find ways for mining and environmentalism to co-exist. When we discuss sustainability in mining, the conversation must be a holistic one. We must consider social issues, economic issues, environmental issues, and the impact on future generations.

GoodOil: Can you expand on that a bit?
KA-O: We have to be smarter and better in both our mining and environmental decisions. That means that we all recognize the critical need we have for a strong and healthy mining industry, but we also need to find ways to save energy and be smart on how we mine. We, as miners, need to deploy current technology in such a way as to ensure that we can mine profitably while having the least possible impact. We also need to keep an eye on current research and actively participate in generating new technology to meet the challenges that society places on our industry at a time that we are depleting easily accessible deposits. At the same time, policy makers, and the public, need to realize that the mining industry provides products that are necessary for the survival of today's generation and its life-style. Even the "green" economy will rely on mined products like rare earth metals.

GoodOil: In addition to producing needed products, what are some ways that mines are good for their local economies?
KA-O: First, of course, is that mines offer relatively stable employment and high income for the local labor force. In addition, mines and their employees spend dollars in their local communities, which support societal and cultural programs, products and services from local businesses, and provide a financial resource for local governments. This is more evident in developing countries, like Ghana, where the mine provided infrastructure and services are often the only ones in the local community.

GoodOil: How can Universities, mining companies and suppliers work together to help develop a skilled future workforce for the mining industry?
KA-O: Obviously, the Universities need the participation of industry (mining companies and suppliers) to keep their curricula relevant. But given the special situation of mining engineering programs in North America, there is even a greater need for active participation of industry and mining professionals through the provision of scholarships, guest presentations, and training opportunities for students and faculty to ensure quality education for those in the programs. This is also necessary to attract new students into these programs. These are things the mining industry in North America does quite well and should continue to do. However, we need similar participation in graduate education. The numbers for tenured-faculty do not look good. We all need to work hard to ensure that those that choose that career path succeed so that there will be faculty to sustain the programs. The Universities on the other hand need to listen. The more we listen to all stakeholders the more relevant we can be to the industry we serve.

GoodOil: What are some of the myths that the general public has towards mining?
KA-O: I think one of the biggest myths for mining companies is that sustainability is bad for the bottom line. This is simply not true. For instance, saving energy consumption in mining operations is good both for the environment and for the mine company's bottom-line.

GoodOil: How can industry and university leaders better educate the public to the importance of mining in our society?
KA-O: I believe the biggest battleground is the K-12 schoolyard. That age group is impressionable and do not have as much preconceived notions of mining. In that regard, I think initiatives that provide literature and information that can be included in K-12 education is crucial. Also, opening up our mines for these students to come and see what we do is important. Faculty at the mining schools should also get involved in outreach activities. If we wait for them to get to college, it may be too late to reach them.

GoodOil: This newsletter goes out to several thousand mining leaders, many of whom have different experiences than you. Can you share some thoughts on lessons that you've learned over the years that could be helpful to our readers?
KA-O: I think you need to be hungry for knowledge and information in this industry. I've learned to not miss an opportunity to learn. When I went to work in industry after my PhD, I had mine supervisors and workers who had not had one college credit hour affirm and sometimes teach me concepts that took months to prove in my own research or that I didn't know about. These guys had come to know that by years of experience. In some cases, it is the uniqueness of their particular operation that gives them the perspective that you lack. You have to constantly be willing to learn otherwise you stop growing.

To learn more about Missouri University of Science & Technology, visit http://www.mst.edu.

If you are interested in Dingo's University collaboration work, you are invited to visit Dingo at www.dingo.com contact us directly by phone or email at goverboe@dingo.com. In North America call +1 888 346-4630 and in Australia, call +61 7 3115 9000."