Seequent, a global leader in subsurface earth modelling software, is significantly reducing geological modelling time for West African mining operations. The company's platforms enhance collaboration and accelerate crucial subsurface decisions for mining companies. This technological advancement is improving efficiency across diverse teams, including those in Ghana.
This efficiency gain stems from the adoption of cloud-connected collaboration platforms like Seequent Central. These tools provide a single, trusted source of geological data for geographically dispersed teams. The technology addresses challenges such as geological complexity and fragmented historical datasets in West Africa's mining sector. Seth Miah, Seequent's Country Manager, highlighted Ghana's leading role in adopting modern subsurface technology.
Ghana serves as a central hub for Seequent's operations across West, Central, and North Africa. The country's diverse mineral base, credible regulatory framework, and relentless exploration activity make it a model for regional development. The increasing demand for modern subsurface modelling tools coincides with growing exploration capital in the region. This trend supports Ghana's position as a key player in the global energy transition.
Seth Miah explained, "By providing a single, trusted source of geological truth, the platform enables real-time collaboration, reduces version-control issues and supports faster, more confident subsurface decisions across the life of the mine." He added that this process significantly reduces geological modelling time. It also measurably improves coordination among widely distributed teams, demonstrating the benefits of cloud-connected workflows.
The successful implementation at Ghana's Asanko Gold Mine illustrates the practical value of Seequent Central. There, the platform manages and shares geological models simultaneously across teams in Ghana, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. This real-time collaboration reduces errors and speeds up critical operational decisions. It helps mining companies navigate increasing geological complexity and integrate legacy data more effectively.
This adoption of advanced technology has significant implications for Ghana's mining sector and the broader West African region. It can unlock new value from decades of historical geological data. Governments and agencies, such as the Kenyan Geological Authority, are already using Seequent solutions to convert old datasets into modern geological frameworks. This digitisation supports new exploration strategies for brownfield and greenfield projects.
The reinterpretation of historical data using modern 3D modelling and machine learning has revealed previously unrecognised geological controls. This opens new discovery potential in mature gold systems. Miah noted the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in this process, especially when embedded directly into geological workflows. AI can speed up data preparation and highlight patterns that might otherwise be missed.
Human expertise remains central to this process, with AI augmenting geoscientists' judgement. This allows them to focus on higher-value interpretation and discovery. The industry faces significant data management challenges, with mining specialists spending nearly a third of their time on data tasks. Yet, only 39% of mining organisations have a defined data framework, indicating a need for more structured digital solutions.
More than half of mining organisations are now using or actively considering AI to manage data complexity. Seequent addresses the skills gap through academic partnerships with twenty universities across Africa. In Ghana, its collaboration with the University of Mines and Technology provides students with industry-standard modelling software. Similar partnerships have extended to institutions in Mali, offering free student licenses and building local capacity.