Africa’s mineral wealth gives the continent an enormous opportunity. However, realising that potential will require more than simply accessing the orebody. For Pieter Oosthuysen, Operations Executive at Redpath Africa Limited, the industry’s future will depend on how effectively mining companies and their partners combine technology, productivity, safety and human capability.
“Africa has some of the world’s most significant mineral resources, but the future of mining on the continent will be determined by more than just the orebody. It will be shaped by how effectively we develop local skills, embrace technology, improve productivity, and create sustainable operations,” comments Oosthuysen.
These themes were prominent at Electra Mining Africa 2026, which once again brought together mining companies, contractors, suppliers, technology providers and industry decision-makers from across the continent. For Redpath, the event provided an opportunity not only to showcase its capabilities, but to engage directly with customers and industry peers about the issues affecting mining operations today.
As a global underground mining contractor with more than six decades of experience, the company operates across the full mining lifecycle, from development and construction through to production, supported by in-house engineering, project controls and specialist technical expertise. However, Oosthuysen believes that expertise only creates lasting value when it is transferred into the operation itself.
Developing capability, not dependency
Skills shortages remain one of the most pressing challenges facing mining companies. At the same time, operations are under pressure to increase productivity, maintain stringent safety standards, control costs and meet increasingly demanding project schedules.
“One of the biggest challenges we encounter is the availability of experienced mining talent and the need to rapidly develop local capability,” says Oosthuysen. Redpath’s approach combines subject-matter expertise with structured training, on-the-job coaching, competency assessments, digital tracking and increasingly immersive learning technologies.
The objective is not simply to bring specialist skills into an operation, but to develop the capability of local teams to sustain improved performance over the long term. “For me, the most rewarding part is seeing these improvements become sustainable because they are embedded into the client’s own teams and processes,” adds Oosthuysen.
That emphasis on skills development is consistent with Redpath’s broader approach to training. The company describes ongoing training and professional development as central to its safety culture and continuous-improvement philosophy, while its operations also support local training and employment opportunities in the communities where it works.
Technology with a purpose
Technology will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in mining, but Oosthuysen argues that its value should ultimately be measured by the operational problem it solves. Redpath’s global operations already incorporate technologies ranging from modern underground equipment and automation to digital systems and battery-powered equipment.
Its corporate material emphasises the use of technology to improve safety, productivity and operational efficiency rather than technology for its own sake. “The real value is that these solutions are not technology for technology’s sake. They address practical customer needs: safer operations, faster development of competent people, improved productivity, and greater operational sustainability,” says Oosthuysen.
That practical focus is particularly important as mining operations become more complex. Technology can reduce exposure to risk, improve equipment utilisation and provide greater visibility into operational performance, but it needs to be integrated with the right processes and, critically, people who know how to use it effectively.
From contractor to partner
This is where Oosthuysen sees an important shift in the role of mining contractors. “At Redpath, we see ourselves as more than a mining contractor. We are a mining services and engineering partner that helps our clients build long-term capability.”
That partnership model brings together Redpath’s international experience and local execution capability. The company’s project portfolio illustrates the breadth of that experience, including major African projects such as Mogalakwena, while its global operations span mine development, shaft sinking, raiseboring, production mining, underground construction and specialist engineering.
Oosthuysen points to Mogalakwena as an example of how this combination can work in practice, where experienced international specialists are working alongside South African management and technical teams to establish the systems, skills and performance required from the outset.
For mining companies making substantial investments in new orebodies, that ability to establish effective operations quickly can have significant implications. “When a client invests millions of rand into developing a new orebody, every month matters,” highlights Oosthuysen. The challenge, however, is to ensure that early performance translates into sustainable operational capability.
A future built on people
Ultimately, Oosthuysen sees the human element as the thread connecting the industry’s major priorities. Safety, productivity, technology and sustainability may appear to be separate challenges, but all depend on people having the skills, systems and culture to apply them effectively.
“Mining has always been about people. Technology will continue to evolve, but the organisations that combine innovation, productivity, safety, and human development will be the ones that shape the future of mining in Africa,” he says.
The continent’s mineral resources provide the opportunity and technology can help unlock it. However, building the skills, partnerships and operational capability to develop those resources safely and sustainably will ultimately determine how much value Africa derives from its mining future. And that, concludes Oosthuysen, is where the industry’s attention should remain.
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Author: Mbali Zondo from NGAGE on behalf of Redpath Africa Limited.
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