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The Future of Mining: Optimizing Mining Travel Management With LodgeLink

Nov 27, 2023

Industry focus: Breaking down the challenges of mining travel management and how the industry is evolving with innovation.

Canada’s mining industry has remained one of the nation’s largest sectors for decades. In 2020 2021, mineral production accounted for $43.8 billion while peaked to a high of $55.5 billion, providing careers for nearly 400,000 403,000 mining workforce jobs for Canadians.

But record highs don’t stay high forever. It’s critical to have a holistic comprehensive understanding of the sector as the world moves towards a cleaner, greener future.

Resources such as Increased advocacy from the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) and innovation from LodgeLink’s mining travel management technology are working to support the future of the industry.

1. Workforce Accommodations

The mining sector regularly facilitates large-scale projects in remote locations that exist outside the bounds of the normal work commute. As a result, workers often require suitable accommodations to ensure a healthy and comfortable environment away from the workplace.

However, the logistics of mining travel management can become increasingly complicated as companies grow and resources deplete.

In turn, the need for affordable group housing in remote locations is becoming increasingly important for mining companies to find.

a picture of group of construction workers posing in front of bulldozer with an infographic beside the picture showing a person and building representing LodgeLink logistics.

a dump truck in a coal mine representing declining mineral reserves and lack of infrastructure in the Canadian mining industry.

Expansion remains a challenge for the mining sector.

One major issue is a reduction in critical infrastructure, which has increased exploration and development costs in northern Canada by up to 250%.

With the possibility of declining mineral reserves on the horizon, mining will require the use of high-power technology to dig deeper in more remote locations.

Canada’s mining leadership will need extended support from federal resources like the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC) to help offset the cost of mining in northern Canada.

However, access to capital is increasingly difficult to obtain as public opinion places increasing pressure on mining companies to adopt more sustainable practices.

4. Environmental Concerns & Social Opposition

It’s no secret that mining processes have a significant environmental impact. Between the use of water and the energy required to power mining materials, the industry is responsible for nearly four to seven percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Mining companies have already and will continue to face public scrutiny in the coming years to decarbonize operations and move toward sustainable practices — especially since the need for mining products is at an all-time high.

Since 2004, the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has promoted its Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative worldwide. Its main goal to “drive performance improvement in environmental and social issues” is a mandatory standard for its 44 Canadian members and has yielded major results.

Some of its principles include:

Promoting environmental practices
Emphasizing community involvement
Prioritizing employee and community safety

Encouraged by the program’s success, countries like Finland, Botswana, Spain and Argentina have adopted a TSM initiative of their own, proving Canada’s place as a global leader in sustainable mining.

an aerial view of an open pit mine showing sustainable mining.

A tablet showcasing a graph of Canada's clean energy production in the mining industry.

Canada’s transition towards clean energy presents additional opportunities for the mining industry. It could play a major factor in supporting its mining workforce in the future.

For example, solar PV panel production requires zinc, copper, lead, and iron ore materials — all of which are found and produced in Canada. Similar clean products like LED light bulbs and electric cars also depend on the same metals and minerals, pointing towards an economic revitalization for the industry.

When renewable energy-dependent minerals like lithium are increasingly mined in remote areas, companies will be seeking options for accommodations in those areas as the sector grows.

That’s where LodgeLink can help.

Our team of developers understands the difficulty of navigating these logistics and provides a complete workforce management solution for mining crews.

Our online technology is designed to revolutionize mining travel management by reducing the manual processes required to search, book and manage crew accommodations.

Using the LodgeLink platform, your travel management team can quickly find hotel accommodations and workforce camps/lodges to meet the needs of small mining crews or crews of up to 50, at the locations required in the industry.

With greater ease of access to these remote areas, the industry can facilitate larger economic growth and secure long-term success.

3. Safety Innovations & Improvements in Sustainability and Economy

To help maintain the momentum of this important Canadian industry, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne granted a $40 million investment to the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation Inc. (CEMI) in 2021.

The decision will help the CEMI continue and accelerate efforts to develop innovative technology for the mining sector, which could help it overcome a wide range of issues like sustainability and staffing shortages.

Additionally, companies leveraging mining travel management technology to find ways to lower costs and reduce efforts spent finding appropriate accommodations for staff are helping to further modernize the industry.

With one integrated online platform, LodgeLink provides online crew accommodation booking and management, access to a large network of hotels and lodges, and air and ground transportation services for customers who require more comprehensive crew travel management services.

The technology eliminates many of the manual processes and time-consuming activities with online technology that helps you find and book accommodations based on the amenities that are important to your crews.

With access to Duty of Care safety features, crew managers can quickly track and initiate emergency communications with crew members when plans change or disaster strikes.

After the assignment is complete, LodgeLink’s technology offers transparent and simplified payment methods, powerful reporting, visibility and cost control to make the reconciliation process smooth.

As one of the nation’s most influential economic powerhouses, the Canadian mining industry must continue to evolve to keep mining at the forefront of the economy.