The mining industry is learning to operate without mining engineers.

A dearth of graduates means the industry is training hybrid leaders to meet future opportunities.

In 2018 , The Minerals Council of Australia said ‘close to 300 mining engineers were graduating every year during the resources investment boom. ‘

‘Based on current enrolments at eight mining universities across the country, that should fall to around 50 graduates in four years’ time.’

That’s now.

Mining engineering vacancies are being filled by technicians from other spaces, said mine planning consultant and author Mark Bowater.

Mine employment had always been cyclical said Mr Bowater but numbers of mining engineers were on a downward spiral. 

The industry was adapting without mining engineers per sae he said.

“I spoke with a tech services manager last week, who’s trying to recruit, effectively, a whole new team for a mine site. 

“And, he so far, has got one mechanical engineer, who’s going to switch into a mining engineering role. And, he’s got one former mining industry operator, who’s going to take on a technology role. That’s in Central Queensland. 

“Spoke to another planning superintendent in the Hunter Valley last week, and out of 13 of their team, eight of them, I think, were geos, surveyors, et cetera, working in other roles.

“So, definitely seems to be a trend there, in the respect that you have to fill the position, the work has to get done somehow or other, dragline designs, or drill and blast designs, and mining schedules, and so they can’t not happen. They have to happen.”

Outsourcing not an option

There were also few options for mines to outsource the roles said Mr Bowater.

“It’s whatever way you can, at the moment. There’s even a shortage of consultants. 

“In the past, the industry has always relied on outsourcing. 

“I’m doing some work now, and, basically, the client is saying, ‘I have no internal resources, and there are no external resources that I would place my faith in paying money to, to get the job done.’”

The cracks would appear in the event of a downturn said Mr Bowater.

“It’s going to get interesting. I always take that perspective of engineers are supposed to be about doing things smarter, not harder. 

“So, therefore, in times when ore prices are high, you can almost get by without engineers. Yes, your designs will be very average, because they’ve been rushed by a lack of resources, and so, people are doing too many roles, and so on.

“And so, you will underperform operationally, but high ore prices with mask that. However, when the cycle reverses, you’re getting a downturn, which is when it’s critical to be operating effectively and efficiently. That’s when it’s really going to be noticeable.”

While millennials were put off mining by myths and stereotypes the industry would look overseas to fill vacancies for senior roles said Mr Bowater.

“While we might have a shortage of Australia mining engineers coming out of our tertiary institutions, that’s not necessarily the case overseas. 

“And, that, I think, is still a potential resource that maybe we’ve got to think about, and get better at, to some extent.”

The issued was raised at the Brisbane Mining Club this week (Thursday 21 Apr 22) with MC Professor Rick Valenta saying the issued is exacerbated by the lack of skilled migrants.