GENERAL

The mining industry faces various issues when it comes to sustainability or the ‘green’ agenda. This is where ESG comes into the picture. The term might be slightly unfamiliar with common people but it is well-known to miners and professionals in the mining industry. Table of Content 1. What is ESG and how is it related to the mining industry? 2. Issues covered by ESG in the mining industry 3. Reasons why ESG practices are on the rise in the mining industry In this blog, we will explore the ESG practices in the mining industry and how these will impact the future of this industry. What is ESG and how is it related to the mining industry? The full form of ESG is Environmental, Social, and Governance. Responsible corporations implement these principles to guide corporate behaviour by ethical, sustainable, and corporate governance issues. Exploration and mining activities have a potential impact on the environment. This is the reason that ESG has been a concern with NGOs, governments, and industrial organisations along with other key stakeholders, who are deeply involved and concerned about the social and environmental impacts of the mining sector. Mining companies have to adhere to the various ESG codes, regulations, and principles which address the various concerns of this industry. Senior mining executives have ESG goals at the top of their priority list. ESG for miners covers operational and strategic ESG goals along with the quantitative benefits of reaching these goals successfully. Issues covered by ESG in the mining industry All mining issues will not be covered under ESG. Mining companies must know what is important and which issues need to be reported. Here are the issues which are covered by ESG in the mining industry: Environment – Issues which are categorised under ‘environment’ include ecosystem services, biodiversity, hazardous substances, climate change including greenhouse gases and carbon footprint, noise, energy, air, water management, mine closure, and mine tailings/waste. Social – Items under ‘social’ issues are vulnerable people, community/worker health and safety, resettlement, land use, human rights, security, mine after use/closure, gender, artisanal miners and labour practices. Governance – Anti-bribery and corruption (ABC), legal compliance, transparency and ethics are issues which are classified under ‘governance’. Mining companies have to consider if risks in any of the above-mentioned fields might impact obtaining permits, raising capital and funds, protecting assets from impairment and working with communities, NGOs and various regulators. By implementing and practising ESG, mining companies can enhance operational performance, reduce carbon emissions, minimize energy and water bills, manage closure viability and improve regulatory and community relationships. Also Read: The Scope Of Iron Mining Industry In India Reasons why ESG practices are on the rise in the mining industry Now that we have a fair idea of ESG and the various ESG issues in the mining industry, let us now understand why the mining industry emphasises ESG practices so strongly. There is a strict watch from the regulators, government bodies, communities and NGOs External as well as internal stakeholders demand performance and transparency on various ESG issues. Stakeholders in the mining business face challenges on various fronts including ecosystem services, land use, climate change, sanitation, local infrastructure, food, water, energy, corruption, etc. Priorities vary according to individual mining sites and mining companies. However, when stakeholders are aligned with the same ESG agenda and interests, the whole mining industry benefits from the same. Lenders, investors and customers care and know about ESG Very few transactions in the mining industry take place without reviewing ESG issues. Investors, purchasers or lenders involved in the mining industry prefer to confirm and remain informed that various ESG issues have been handled and there are no compliance issues. Demonstrating good ESG performance and a positive track record is highly appreciated as this increases access to funding and more customers. The failure to show good ESG results will increase the funding cost and vice versa. Strong ESG performance opens up significant opportunities ESG not only helps in managing downsides but opens up significant opportunities as well. Some of them are as follows: Better use of water, reduced energy costs and efficient and effective management of various other resources. Strong stakeholder relationships and good performance records open up access to new clients, funding, resources and other quicker development schedules. The ability to retain the best people in the mining industry. Helps in avoiding risks associated with poor ESG performance Taking unnecessary risks in the mining industry might halt a critical project or bring in disruptions. The mining company can avoid certain ESG risks by managing this agenda properly. Poor design and planning leading to climate change risks Unhappy communities hampering mine site operations or expansions Inefficient use of energy, water, etc. disrupting business continuity Environmental pollution and failed tailings dams cause operations disruption, license loss and criminal or civil liability Poor workplace safety and health conditions With the rise of ESG practices in the mining industry, mining companies can assess their risks better. They can make necessary preparations to evade the risks and make the workplace a safer one for the miners and other professionals in the mining industry.

Table of Content 1. What is a channel partner? 2. The collaboration between manufacturers and the channel partners 3. Reasons why manufacturers and channel partners make a great team The manufacturing landscape is dynamic, where collaboration plays a pivotal role in staying competitive and driving success. With the increasing wholesale networks, brick-and-mortar retail outlets, and e-commerce, manufacturers are finding it quite challenging to manage orders efficiently across all channels while maintaining collaboration with partners and teams. This is where channel partners come into the picture. With channel partnerships, businesses can break into main verticals and markets. Customer engagement becomes a seamless process too with the right channel partners. With effective customer engagement, the business experiences higher sales, driving customers to the products seamlessly. This blog explores how channel partners play an important role in the manufacturing sector. But before we go on to discuss the functionalities, let us understand what channel partners are in the first place. What is a channel partner? A channel partner is a third-party agency or company which works directly with manufacturers, producers, or vendors for marketing and selling the services or the products of the manufacturer. The third-party partners or channel partners can be anybody from resellers to consultants, with the sole aim of bringing in more business and revenues. Collaborating with a channel partner, which already has an established customer network, helps in reaching a wider audience within a short period. The business also experiences exponential growth and development. Channel partners come in various sizes and shapes and have unique benefits. The collaboration between manufacturers and the channel partners The dynamic collaboration between the channel partner and the manufacturer acts as a foundation stone for the profitability and growth of both parties. While the manufacturers have the capability and expertise to create various products, the channel partners provide perspectives and unique insights for identifying the product needs. Once the manufacturer completes creating the product, it can leverage benefits from the channel partner to get the needed knowledge. A robust manufacturer usually has a talented team of employees and workers along with a variety of manufacturing resources and capabilities. The manufacturer must have the flexibility to expand and change as per the client’s requirements. On the other hand, a channel partner has the unique strength of understanding the demands and requirements of every client. The partner is well accustomed to the existing marketing network and has direct access to target potential customers. Both the channel partner and the manufacturer have to acknowledge each other’s strong areas for creating an effective action plan for achieving the goals and business objectives. Reasons why manufacturers and channel partners make a great team Here are some reasons why the collaboration between channel partners and manufacturers is a winning combination: Improves product quality of the manufacturer – The manufacturer might have different kinds of products for the customers. A certain product among the others could have a noteworthy loophole. Channel partners can identify these errors quickly and inform the manufacturers. Since the channel partners know the demand trends of customers, they can provide suggestions or recommendations regarding the improvement of manufactured products to cater to the needs of the customers. Helps in creating unique customer solutions – The partnership between the channel partner and the manufacturer unfurls the opportunity to create unique customer solutions. Generally, businesses like to flaunt their extensive line of products, various machineries and capabilities, but still don’t get the customer attention that they seek. With unique customer solutions, customers are made to feel special. This increases the conversion rates and boosts sales directly. Great knowledge of the market the business caters to – Just creating a random product and expecting it to be a great hit will cost dearly to a manufacturer from all aspects. It is best to manufacture products by understanding the demands in the market. Channel partners are highly effective in this regard. They are considered premier knowledge sources for the markets that they serve. When this knowledge is conveyed and shared with the manufacturer, suitable products can be created. Increases brand awareness – This is the age of marketing, advertising and branding. Creating brand awareness of the manufactured product is mandatory for the success of any manufacturing business. Channel partners play a crucial role in representing the brands and products of the manufacturer in new markets as well as in the known customer base. this enhances the brand’s recognition and visibility significantly. Better brand awareness leads to greater market acceptance of the manufacturer’s products and drives higher sales and revenues. With the right channel partners, manufacturers can open up new avenues of success and growth for their business. The advantages are transformative and far-reaching, highly effective for a comprehensive growth strategy.

  Coarse aggregates are an essential component of a wide variety of construction applications. Sometimes, coarse aggregates are used on their own, such as a granular base placed under a slab or pavement. However, mainly construction aggregate is used as a component in a mixture, such as an asphalt or concrete mix. Both of these are examples of how coarse aggregates can be used. Rock larger than the standard but smaller than 2 inches is typically considered coarse aggregates. Table of Content 1. What are Coarse Aggregates? 2. How do we get the Coarse Aggregate? 3. How to find the density of coarse aggregate? 4. What properties of coarse aggregate make it the best construction aggregate? 5. Where do we use coarse aggregate? 6. What are the various types of coarse aggregate? 7. Types of coarse aggregate: Natural vs Manmade 8. Types of coarse aggregate: Fine vs Coarse Aggregate 9. What is water absorption of coarse aggregate? 10. What is aggregate in concrete? 11. Why do we use coarse aggregate in concrete? What are Coarse Aggregates? Concrete has many different components; however, most concrete is composed of materials referred to as coarse aggregates. In contrast to fine aggregate, which is more analogous to sand in appearance, coarse aggregates more nearly resemble ordinary rock particles. It gives coarse aggregates a more comprehensive range of potential uses in the building industry. Coarse aggregates are an essential component of a wide variety of construction applications. How do we get the Coarse Aggregate? The majority of coarse aggregate comes from quarries produced by various operations, including blasting, crushing, and screening. The aggregate characteristics are determined by the type of rock used to create it, which could be sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic. How to find the density of coarse aggregate? The density of coarse aggregate is an important property used in various contexts, such as when determining the required aggregate quantities for concrete or asphalt mix designs. The specific gravity of coarse aggregate, often referred to as its relative density, is the method used to describe the thickness of coarse aggregate most of the time. The ratio used to characterise the thickness of the aggregate in comparison to the density of water is referred to as the relative density. The range of 2.4 to 2.9 is normal for natural coarse aggregate. This range indicates that the coarse aggregate has a density between 2.4 and 2.9 times that of water. As a result, the thickness of the aggregate itself, expressed in units of mass per unit volume, can be calculated by multiplying the specific gravity by the density of water.  The moisture content of coarse aggregate, also known as the quantity of water in the coarse aggregate when the total is fully saturated with a dry surface, is referred to as the aggregate’s absorption. It indicates the potential amount of water aggregate particles can absorb when used in construction or incorporated into mixtures and density measurements. Mix designs are adjusted based on this absorption capacity, which indicates the potential amount of water aggregate particles can absorb when used in construction or when incorporated into mixtures. What properties of coarse aggregate make it the best construction aggregate? The ideal aggregate concrete must have the following properties It needs to have a long life and be resilient. It must be tough and sturdy enough to withstand loads of weight. It cannot contain dust or organic materials; otherwise, it will decrease the bonding capacity. It can’t cause the cement to react in any way after mixing. It should not be a porous or soft material or have high porosity. It must not absorb more than 5% of the water it is exposed to. It must not react with other chemicals in any way. To the greatest extent possible, it ought to be of a cubical, spherical, or angular shape. Where do we use coarse aggregate? The following are some applications for coarse aggregate: Its primary function is to add volume to the concrete to bring down the project’s overall cost. It contributes to the increased crushing strength that concrete possesses. It is utilised in the railway ballast to assist in uniform load distribution. It is incorporated into the flexible pavement’s base course and supports the granular load transfer mechanism. It is a filter component to separate water from undesirable particles in water filter plants. Used in the rainwater system, specifically in the top layer. What are the various types of coarse aggregate? The shape is one of the most essential and effective characteristics that can be used to differentiate aggregates. The workability of the concrete and the desired result will guide our decision regarding the aggregate to use. Although the shapes of aggregates purchased in bulk quantities from reputable suppliers are typically consistent, we can mix aggregates of varying conditions by the requirements and objectives of the project. The following are the various forms that aggregates can take: The rounded  Natural aggregates are rounded aggregates as they have been smoothed out by weathering, erosion, and attrition processes, for example, the rocks, stones, and gravel found in riverbeds.  These aggregates produce the fewest possible voids, giving them a greater degree of workability as a result. They are not utilised in high-strength concrete because their round shape causes poor interlocking behaviour and weak bond strength. The ratio of water to cement these aggregates require is relatively low. Irregular  Attrition shapes irregular aggregates, but this process does not entirely round them off. Compared to rounded aggregates, these particles have a lower high bond strength, but they cannot be used in high-strength concrete because of their shape. Instead, they are used for construction projects such as roads, etc. Angular Because of the suitable interlocking property and high bond strength that angular aggregates possess, they are utilised to produce higher-strength concrete. However, the workability of coarse aggregate with angular shapes is low; filling voids with either rounded or smaller aggregates is used to make high-strength concrete. Flaky It is said that an aggregate is flaky if its smallest dimension is less than three-fifths (0.6) of the aggregate’s mean dimension. The concrete should be able to flow