Mining Technology Survey

NAME OF ORGANISATION
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

OVERVIEW
The Mining Technology Survey was a triennial collection held on two occasions 1990-91 and 1993-94 to survey the use of advanced mining technology in the Australian mining industry. It collected information on future plans to utilise advanced technology as well as details on the current usage of mining technologies. The scope was establishments classified to Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) subdivisions 11 (Coal Mining), 12 (Oil and Gas Extraction), 13 (Metal Ore Mining), 14 (Other Mining) and 15 (Services to Mining). Establishments within the scope of the survey and with employment of 10 or more were approached - these numbered about 550.

PURPOSE
The information provided from the survey was to:

• enable analysis and planning of technology in the mining industry to be undertaken by a variety of government and private sector users, and
• assist in the determination and monitoring of relevant government policy initiatives.

Conceptual framework
Details were collected from selected mining and exploration establishments about their acquisition or future intentions regarding a variety of mining technologies within the broad ranges of exploration, mining, mineral processing, engineering and environment technologies. The scope was establishments classified to Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) subdivisions 11 (Coal Mining), 12 (Oil and Gas Extraction), 13 (Metal Ore Mining), 14 (Other Mining) and 15 (Services to Mining). Establishments within the scope of the survey and with employment of 10 or more were approached.

The establishment is the smallest accounting unit of a business, within a State or Territory, controlling it's productive activities and maintaining a specific range of detailed data enabling value added to be calculated. In general, an establishment covers all operations at a physical location, but may consist of a group of locations provided they are within the same state or territory. The majority of establishments operate at one location only.

Main outputs
1. Proportion using technology
2. Common technologies
3. Adoption of technology
4. Mining technologies most acquired
5. Planning to acquire technology
6. Planned expenditure
7. Acquisition by State
8. Source of technology
9. Ownership of establishments
10. Employment
11. Strategies used to ensure staff are skilled
12. Reasons for introduction of technology
13. Effect of technology on production
14. Reasons for introduction of technology
15. Effect of technology on production
16. Reasons for introducing control techniques
17. Use of pollution abatement and control techniques

Classifications
The 1993 edition of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) (ABS Cat No. 1292.0) has been used to classify establishments included in the Survey of Mining Technology.

Data are published to the two digit ANZSIC level at the Australian geographical level with some information at the Division level by the State geographical level.

Other concepts (summary)
The mining industry has a large proportion of unincorporated joint ventures (UJVs), particularly in the oil and gas industry. A UJV is an arrangement whereby two or more participants agree to sharer the costs of operation of the venture for a share of the product. An operator is appointed to do the actual mining and may or may not be one of the participants. Generally, each participant records turnover items while the operator records employment and expenses. The Mining Technology Survey included establishments with employment of 10 or more, which excluded establishments that were participants in UJVs as they usually have little or no employment.

GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL
Australia
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
Northern Territory
ACT

Comments and/or Other Regions
not applicable

COLLECTION FREQUENCY
3 Yearly

Frequency comments
The final year that information is available for this collection is the financial year ended June 1994

COLLECTION HISTORY
Held on two occasions for 1990-91 and 1993-94

DATA AVAILABILITY
Yes