About Natural Resource Ops by BCG X

Excavating data from mining operations is just as important as excavating ore. But in mining and other continuous-process industries, it’s hard to construct data models that can pinpoint exactly where changing operational controls could improve performance. Analytics alone aren’t enough. You need to account for the multiple variables and underlying physics involved in a given process.

Natural Resource Ops, the proprietary “human in the loop” AI solution from BCG X, provides real-time recommendations for changes that yield higher values at any stage of a continuous-process operation.

Harness the power of data, artificial intelligence, and industry expertise to optimize operations across the value chain.

How the Natural Resource Ops Methodology Works

Just as miners use headlamps to light their way, Natural Resource Ops helps clients in continuous-process industries—such as metals and mining; forest products, paper, and packaging; oil and gas; chemicals; and agribusiness—uncover opportunities hidden in existing processes. Our industry-agnostic AI applications go beyond black-box solutions by combining domain expertise with analytics, proprietary trade secrets, and code libraries to create transformational changes to frontline operations and advance their digital transformation.

Natural Resource Ops recommendations can be integrated into multiple client systems, including control systems, existing diagnostic displays, or custom dashboards. In addition, recommendations can be fully automated in process control systems, entered into the systems manually by client operators, or integrated into the systems but applied only when an operator reviews and approves them.

The Benefits of Partnering AI and Mining

Our clients can use Natural Resource Ops to progress through the five stages of AI for continuous-process industries. But even more critically, our AI in mining solution can be used to improve decisions at any level:

Our Clients’ Success on AI in Mining and Process Industries

Existing clients have paired AI and mining or other process industries to realize hundreds of millions of dollars in value by optimizing multiple operating setpoints in response to changing raw material and environmental factors. Examples of our work include:

$100+ million
increase in annual production
Diversified Metals Client
A copper mining client engaged BCG X to assess advanced analytics opportunities and enable next-gen integrated operations. Natural Resource Ops provided a value-driven, modular, sequenced approach and implemented a customized solution across the entire value chain, creating the most digitally advanced mining operation in the world. The client is now realizing over $100+ million increase in annual copper production, while reducing annual operating costs by $18 million.
25%
reduction in annual process losses
Oil and Gas Client
Using Natural Resource Ops, BCG X and an oil & gas client demystified plant operations, enabling a transformation to more efficient operating procedures and practices. Drawing upon a hypercube of optimal operating control settings, Natural Resource Ops combined machine learning models and optimization to create new operating directives for plant managers. Once fully implemented, the client saw a 25% reduction in annual process losses and $50 million in additional revenue.
OUR EXPERTS

Meet Our Experts on AI in Process Industries

Our Natural Resource Ops experts use their deep domain expertise and knowledge of end-to-end processes to develop and validate machine-learning methods, and then help clients operate and continue to refine.

Managing Director & Partner

Rohin Wood

Managing Director & Partner
Perth

Managing Director & Partner

Joakim Kalvenes

Managing Director & Partner
Chicago

Managing Director & Partner

Erik Ekevall

Managing Director & Partner
Sydney

Managing Director & Partner

Matías Raby

Managing Director & Partner
Santiago

Managing Director & Senior Partner; Head of BCG Casablanca office; Head of BCG Tech Hub in Africa

Hamid Maher

Managing Director & Partner
Casablanca

Explore Our Insights on AI in Mining

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