Africa’s mining sector is at a pivotal moment, with safety, sustainability and smarter operations firmly in the spotlight. Against this backdrop, the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town brings industry leaders together to explore how the sector can unlock long-term value. Siemens sub-Saharan Africa CEO Sabine Dall’Omo will join the conversation, highlighting how electrification, automation and digitalisation can support people on the ground and enable better, data-driven decision-making across mining operations.

“Mining is central to Africa’s economic strength and indispensable to the global energy transition,” says Dall’Omo. “

As demand for critical minerals accelerates, the future of mining will depend on how effectively the industry can electrify, digitalise, automate, and develop the skills needed for a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable future. Siemens is Africa’s partner in this journey, combining advanced technology with human capability to move mining from possibility to reality.”

She states that this is an opportune time for sector experts to discuss how the industry can move from pilot projects to real outcomes, including safer operations, smarter maintenance and reduced energy intensity by combining trusted automation with industrial AI and reliable, contextualised data. "I’m also looking forward to sharing lessons on governance and scaling with the right partners,” Dall’Omo adds.

Siemens is helping African mines reduce exposure to hazardous work, automate complex tasks, and improve decision-making through advanced process control, condition monitoring, digital twins, and AI-enabled assistance. “These technologies do not replace people; they empower them,” says Dall’Omo.

By embedding expert knowledge into intelligent workflows and AI copilots, Siemens preserves institutional expertise, supports workforce transition, and equips the next generation with modern, future-ready skills - ensuring a just and inclusive evolution of the mining workforce.

Our digitalisation approach connects data across the mining value chain, from geology and planning through processing and energy systems, enabling real‑time, actionable insights and supporting more autonomous operations,” Dall’Omo says.

“Digital twins allow mines to simulate scenarios, optimise production, and anticipate failures before they occur, improving throughput, resilience, and sustainability outcomes. Our approach to AI is grounded in engineering discipline, transparency, and industrial‑grade cybersecurity ensuring it delivers measurable operational value rather than adding to the hype.”

Sustainability remains central to Siemens’ role in mining. As African mining confronts global competition, skills shortages, productivity pressures and climate commitments, Siemens is ready to partner with mining companies, governments, and communities.

“Siemens stands for partnership, interoperability and implementation discipline - enabling mines to decarbonise, digitalise, and de-risk operations while strengthening social legitimacy and long-term value creation,” Dall’Omo comments. “Together, we can shape a mining sector that is safer, smarter, and more sustainable; today and for the next generation.”

Dall’Omo  will join the Mining Indaba panel “AI in Mining – Separating Hype from Reality”, on the Cape Town International Convention Ccentre Main Stage from 16:00 to 16:50 on Tuesday, February 10.