Mining sector faces surge in cyber threats amid rapid digital transformation

The Electra Mining Africa exhibition will be held from 7‑11 September 2026 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, South Africa. The event expands to 44,000 m² and will showcase more than 1,000 local and international exhibitors presenting automation, AI, robotics, predictive maintenance and other digital solutions for mining, manufacturing and industrial operations.

As mining operations adopt more connected and autonomous technologies, cyber threats have intensified. The number of cyber incidents targeting operational technology in the sector has tripled, with criminal gangs, state‑sponsored hackers and individual actors seeking to disrupt supply chains, extort firms or conduct espionage. A&O Shearman estimates breach‑response costs at an average of $4.88 million per incident in 2024, while the World Economic Forum notes supply‑chain vulnerabilities and a shortage of cyber‑security skills in sub‑Saharan Africa as major challenges.