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Blockchain solutions available to African mining

JOSH HORNEMAN
Africa is an attractive destination for new systems because it is much easier to create a new system for an as yet unserved client than to convert an existing one

JOSH HORNEMAN Africa is an attractive destination for new systems because it is much easier to create a new system for an as yet unserved client than to convert an existing one

8th November 2019

By: Darren Parker

Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

     

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Australian software developer Blockhead Technologies has partnered with South African mining technology provider Dwyka Mining Services to distribute the full suite of Blockhead software solutions to the resources sector across sub-Saharan Africa.

The distribution agreement, announced last month at the Dwyka Technology Showcase, in Sandton, aims to broaden mining organisations’ ability to leverage blockchain technology, thereby enabling better trust and analysis of the significant amount of data they currently manage.

Blockchain technology refers to an increasing collection of records or data, called blocks, that are linked using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp and other relevant transactional data. By design, a blockchain is resistant to the modification of data and is useful for securely tracking and maintaining records of resources, transactions and supply chains.

“This is a great outcome for Blockhead as we gain a running start at entering the African market with Dwyka’s support. We look forward to exploring in-country development and implementation capabilities to allow for fast turnaround and local support for new clients,” says Blockhead Technologies CEO Greg Leach.

Blockhead Technologies business development adviser Josh Horneman tells Mining Weekly that the challenge of implementing new technologies and systems in developed countries, such as Australia, is that one has to contend with legacy systems – even when such systems are plagued by inefficiencies, data mismanagement, poor maintenance or an inability to integrate with other products and brands.

“From our perspective, the developing African market is ripe for adopting new technologies because it is still technologically behind developed markets and, therefore, more open to implementing new systems,” Horneman adds.

Blockchain for Mining

Blockhead implements simple software solutions that increase transparency in a mining value chain. The company’s Smart Tracking Asset Management Platform (STAMP) enables companies to have surety in the validity of data, and provides visual analysis tools through its dashboard and reporting functions.

Blockhead’s blockchain-enabled software platforms include the STAMP Supply, STAMP Fuel and STAMP Stream.

STAMP Supply is designed to trace supply chains from beginning to end and was designed specifically for the mining sector, owing to the sector’s particular need to ensure ethical and sustainable products through improved supply chain management.

However, in recent years, this solution has proven useful in other applications such as the food and clothing sector supply chains.

STAMP Fuel is designed to combat fuel losses, with which many businesses struggle, yet accept as unavoidable, says Horneman, who claims that Blockhead Technologies is the first company to develop a reliable blockchain-enabled solution that effectively brings to attention possible fuel loss.

STAMP Fuel identifies fuel use variability and anomalous fuel card transactions, including fuel variability reporting, unexplained fuel loss, fuel receivables versus consumption reporting, as well as fuel card audits and reporting.

STAMP Stream is a specially formulated solution for the precious metals streaming sector, streamlining the process of metal accounting. It uses a live, operational client interface that tracks commodities through the supply chain to improve the auditability and transparency of the metal accounting process from mine to product.

This includes production variability, unexplained material losses and gains in payable metals, production forecasting and tracking, as well as ethical sourcing and sustainability monitoring.

Importantly, Blockhead Technologies has created Blockcard, a gateway between blockchain and any existing software application. It allows for accessing a blockchain to ensure that the data used within an application is true and cannot be tampered with. This protocol standardises the way data is stored and managed on any blockchain.

Horneman explains that most blockchains are not interoperable. “However, Blockcard provides interoperability between chains, enabling clients to transfer data or contracts between blockchains, regardless of a blockchain’s privacy or language.”

He says Blockhead aims to incentivise organisations to adopt Blockcard for their applications through ease of integration, continuous blockchain interoperability and simplicity of use.

“There is an immediate opportunity for the mining industry in Africa to adopt software solutions that can rapidly improve operations. Dwyka is excited to support our clients in accessing the benefits of cutting-edge technology, such as blockchain, in such a simple way,” says Dwyka Mining Services CEO Jamie van Schoor.

Edited by Nadine James
Features Deputy Editor

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