AI, robotics reshaping mining exploration, speeding discovery —Experts say at Indaba

Autonomous rigs, AI-powered targeting, and real-time data analytics are transforming mining exploration into a high-precision, data-driven process, experts said at the 2026 Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town.

Speakers highlighted that the industry was moving from traditional “blanket drilling” to confirmation-focused operations, where integrated artificial intelligence supports investment decisions and reduces geological uncertainty.

“Today, advanced analytics confirms geological models and assesses economic viability,” said Dave Goddard, president of Hexagon’s mining division.

“Technology needs to provide enough information to the person making funding decisions that they feel confident there will be a return on investment. Confidence comes from the data,” Goddard said

The shift toward data-powered drilling is also driving a need to upskill the workforce.

Experts said operators will increasingly become supervisors of automated systems and quality-control officers of drilling data, rather than performing purely manual tasks.

“A key challenge in hard-rock mining remains the time lag in obtaining Measure While Drilling (MWD) data,” said Prof. Glen Nwaila, director of the African Research Centre for Ore Systems Science (CORES) at the University of the Witwatersrand, adding, “We drill to reduce uncertainty, to gain confidence.”

Industry leaders stressed the importance of cross-disciplinary teams that merged geologists, data scientists, and AI specialists to accelerate project timelines, particularly to meet global energy transition demands.

“Reducing the timeline to discovery is key with energy transition requirements,” said Kendall Cole-Rae, expert in residence at Fleet Space Technologies. “We must increase the probability of success,” Cole-Rae said.

“Future drilling rigs will use machine learning to detect geological changes and recommend optimal parameters to operators, while ensuring safety and productivity at the same time,” said Glen McGavigan, Chief Executive Officer of Rosond.

Speakers also emphasised the need for formalised education and training programmes to create a new class of “geo-data scientists,” bridging the gap between operators, geologists, and mine managers.

The discussions underscored a broader consensus that partnerships and integration of technology across the value chain would define the future of mining exploration.

Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 runs until Feb. 12 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

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