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Electrification

Electrification is the process of replacing technologies and systems powered by fossil fuels or other energy sources with those powered by electricity. In the mining and industrial sectors, electrification involves transitioning from diesel-powered equipment, vehicles and machinery to electric alternatives, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving operational efficiency. The shift encompasses underground and surface mining fleets, processing plants, transportation systems and ancillary infrastructure. Electrification is driven by climate commitments, regulatory pressure, rising diesel costs and advances in battery technology and renewable energy integration. In mining, electric vehicles and equipment offer lower operating costs, reduced ventilation requirements underground, quieter operation and improved worker health and safety. The transition requires substantial capital investment in charging infrastructure, grid connections and equipment replacement, alongside workforce retraining. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are increasingly paired with electrification projects to decarbonise operations further. Copper demand is expected to rise significantly as electrification expands, given the metal's essential role in electric motors, batteries, charging systems and power distribution networks. Electrification is a central pillar of the global energy transition and industrial decarbonisation strategies across mining, manufacturing, transport and built environments.

Electrification News


Schneider Electric Concludes Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa 2026 in Abu Dhabi, Launches New UAE Industrial AI Study
Schneider Electric Concludes Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa 2026 in Abu Dhabi, Launches New UAE Industrial AI Study
18th September 2026

Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, today concluded its Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa in Abu Dhabi, bringing together more than 2,500 attendees, including government... 


Building East Africa’s energy skills pipeline requires firm commitment
Building East Africa’s energy skills pipeline requires firm commitment
14th September 2026

By: Ifeanyi Odoh - Country President, Schneider Electric East Africa In a time when the global spotlight is firmly set on Africa, countries have the opportunity to truly accelerate their adoption... 


ABB South Africa local sales and marketing manager Ettienne Delport spoke with Engineering News & Mining Weekly at this year’s Electra Mining event, held in Johannesburg from 7 to 11 September 2026, about some of the challenges the company’s customers face today and how ABB is helping them improve performance.
ABB’s solutions help bridge the gap between engineering, digitalisation
10th September 2026

With a focus on enabling a more sustainable and resource efficient future, global technology leader in electrification and automation ABB connects its engineering and digitalisation expertise to... 


Speaking to Engineering News & Mining Weekly at this year’s Electra Mining Africa event, held in Johannesburg from 7 to 11 September 2026, ABB South Africa electrification commercial leader and ELDS division manager Egon Worthmann spoke about the future of mining and industry in Africa and the role of ABB in shaping it.
ABB’s innovative electrification solutions help drive future of mining, industry in Africa
10th September 2026

As a global technology leader in electrical distribution and management, ABB brings electrification solutions together to accelerate decarbonisation and increase energy efficiency. With its leading... 


Innomotics country director Tim Walwyn spoke with Engineering News & Mining Weekly during the Electra Mining Africa event, held in Johannesburg from September 7 to 11, 2026.
Innomotics showcases integrated technology for more sustainable mining
8th September 2026

As mining companies across Africa seek to improve productivity, energy efficiency and environmental performance, the integration of electrification, automation and digitalisation technologies is... 


Development Finance, Advisory and Research Leaders Join Power Africa Today at AEW 2026
Development Finance, Advisory and Research Leaders Join Power Africa Today at AEW 2026
13th August 2026

The institutional architecture around African power investment has grown considerably more sophisticated in recent years, with multilateral lenders, specialized blended finance vehicles, global law... 


Panguna copper mine
Lloyds Metals allowed to ready restart works for 40-year shuttered Papua New Guinea copper mine
12th August 2026 By: Bloomberg

An Indian iron-ore producer was authorized to work toward restarting a giant Papua New Guinea copper mine that’s been closed for almost 40 years and was once a flash point in a brutal civil war.... 


East Africa – electrification succeeds when it includes all
East Africa – electrification succeeds when it includes all
4th August 2026

By: Symphrose Ochieng - Infrastructure Segment  & Power Systems Business Leader at Schneider Electric There is a lot to be said for a region that leads by example and East Africa’s renewable energy... 


The above image depicts Valvulas Fevisa's Trunnion Mounted Ball Valve
Valve demand set to grow – manufacturer
31st July 2026

The mining sector’s steady recovery from Covid-19 pandemic-related slowdowns, combined with rising commodity prices and accelerating investments in mineral processing and power supply... 


Fossil generation ‘substituted’ by renewables in 2025  amid electricity tipping point
Fossil generation ‘substituted’ by renewables in 2025 amid electricity tipping point
17th July 2026 By: Terence Creamer

Record global electricity demand last year was met entirely by low-carbon sources, resulting in fossil fuels generation being substituted rather than supplemented, the Energy Institute’s... 


How South African organisations can turn sustainability ambition into measurable impact
How South African organisations can turn sustainability ambition into measurable impact
8th July 2026

By: Rohit Chashta - Sustainability Business Lead, Africa, SE Advisory Services at Schneider Electric In 2026, the question for South African businesses is no longer 'why' sustainability matters,... 


Mine truck with coal
US power use to beat record highs in 2026 and 2027 as AI use surges, EIA says
8th July 2026 By: Reuters

US power consumption, which hit its second straight yearly record high in 2025, will rise further in 2026 and 2027, driven by AI-hungry data centers and electrification, the Energy Information... 


AEW's Power Africa Today to Spotlight Energy’s Role in Strengthening Industrial Competitiveness
AEW's Power Africa Today to Spotlight Energy’s Role in Strengthening Industrial Competitiveness
3rd July 2026

The policy conversation across Africa is shifting from basic electrification toward interconnection and industrial enablement. More than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access... 


Regional Power Pools: Africa's Greatest Opportunity to Accelerate Electrification
Regional Power Pools: Africa's Greatest Opportunity to Accelerate Electrification
23rd June 2026

As Africa strives to achieve universal access to electricity while supporting economic growth and industrialisation, regional power pools are increasingly being recognised as one of the continent's... 


Magazine Cover Image
Demand for electricity to outpace economic growth and reshape investment
19th June 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Global electricity demand is set to outpace economic growth as part of a broader trend up to 2030, with electricity consumption projected to grow at least two-and-a-half times as fast as overall... 


IEA executive director Fatih Birol
Countries prioritising domestic energy options amid ‘largest-ever energy security crisis’
12th June 2026 By: Terence Creamer

Countries are increasingly prioritising domestic energy resources as they seek to reduce their reliance on imported fuels in response to what the International Energy Agency (IEA)  is describing as... 


COAL STILL CRUCIAL
For businesses reliant on high-temperature process heat, coal is a function of cost and availability, and these structural realities do not shift as quickly as policy or ambition
Coal still crucial for industrial applications
5th June 2026

South Africa’s decarbonisation debate often starts from a simple premise: coal must be replaced. In principle, the direction is clear. In practice, it collides with a far more complex reality, says... 


BlackRock sees merit in large-scale mining M&A
27th May 2026 By: Reuters

BlackRock would back consolidation among large miners because it would open the sector to generalist investors at a scale that would make it easier to bring on large and complex projects needed for... 


The retail industry’s next smart move must be data driven
The retail industry’s next smart move must be data driven
26th May 2026

By: Charles Coetzee - Buildings & C&SP Lead for Sub-Saharan Africa at Schneider Electric Large-scale retailers operate with notoriously tight margins while managing some of the most... 


Critical metal MOE plant
Critical metals processing innovator Boston Metal raises another $75m for scaling MOE tech
21st May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

A technology company with ambitions to redefine global metals production, Boston Metal, has raised $75-million to accelerate deployment of its Moltex Oxide Electrolysis (MOE) platform and scale... 


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