Can you elaborate on CSA Global’s plans to expand its business geographically?

CSA Global is committed to expanding its presence globally, and it has already acquired A.C.A. Howe International, a firm in Toronto, which has helped bolster its capacity in Canada. The company is looking to expand its presence in Latin America, where a significant portion of the global exploration funds are directed, with around 25% of it being directed to that region. CSA Global is exploring several Latin American countries to establish its presence and grow its capabilities in that market. However, while the Americas remain a focus, the company is also striving for growth in Australia, Africa, and Europe. CSA Global is investing in Central Asia and the Middle East, and it is pleased to see increased activity in Southeast Asia.

What is the importance of greenfields exploration to the future of Australian mining, and how does CSA Global support this form of exploration?

Greenfields exploration is crucial to the success of the mining industry, especially in Western Australia, where there has been a significant reduction in greenfields investment in response to equity markets. CSA Global plays a vital role in fostering top talent that aids in conceptual greenfields targeting by providing specific expertise and being a repository of information for companies. The company also works with governments to do subcontinental geological studies so that countries can highlight the investment potential of particular regions. A key component to successful regional exploration is government commitment to pre-competitive geoscience data to provide free or low-cost regional information to attract exploration and mining investment.

What is CSA Global’s outlook on Western Australia’s involvement in commodities such as lithium, graphite, and cobalt that have close ties to the renewable energy sector?

Western Australia is very well-endowed for minerals used in the manufacture of batteries, and the region’s geographic proximity to Southeast Asia makes it particularly well-suited to supply the battery manufacturing industry in the region. Apart from the hard rock lithium projects being explored and developed, Western Australia also has significant nickel-cobalt laterite resources, huge bauxite operations, and some graphite deposits. With the increasing demand for minerals like silica and bauxite, which are essential components in solar systems, Western Australia’s growth in renewable energy will continue to be upward.

How have new innovations improved the mining industry’s safety standards, and what is CSA Global’s role in this process?

Innovations such as augmented reality have been used to enhance safety training and allow better visualization of mining sites. CSA Global has also introduced technology that enables the provision of a 3D model of the mine that can be viewed on a smartphone. This technology allows better identification of hazards, making it easier to improve safety standards. Additionally, virtual reality can be used in training to run through different emergency scenarios from the safety of a controlled space, which can help to improve an individual’s response time and reaction to crises.

How must the mining industry evolve to keep up with the rapid pace of technology, and what is CSA Global’s role in aiding that process?

CSA Global believes that outsourcing IT functions to service providers is the way to keep up with the rapid pace of technology. Investing too heavily in in-house IT infrastructure risks a greater level of redundancy because the technology changes at such a rapid pace. CSA Global now offers IT and technology as a service to augment its technical services. The company encourages its clients to move away from older hard drives and server backups to cloud-based services with multi-storage locations and encrypted security to protect their data from cyber-attacks. CSA Global recognizes that new cyber threats can emerge quickly, and therefore, it is crucial to stay ahead of the game and not limit one’s options.