Cognizant is to deliver an environmental, social and governance (ESG) data strategy and digital platform to Orica that, it says, complements the explosives and blasting leader’s “Net Zero strategy” and, specifically, its A$37 million ($27 million) Kooragang Island Decarbonisation Project.

The digital platform is, through agile methods, expected to provide real-time reporting and forecasting of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

As part of the agreement, Cognizant will leverage Orica’s existing technology investments, specifically its Microsoft Azure data lake, and provide Orica with a single ESG data platform.

This platform is expected to capture and curate Orica’s GHG emissions data, including structured, unstructured and real-time data, with the goal of enabling Orica to monitor, report and forecast its GHG emissions reductions and track the origination of Australian Carbon Credit Units.

Orica has installed catalyst abatement technology at its nitric acid production facility at Kooragang Island (pictured), forecasting a significant reduction in GHG emissions, specifically nitrous oxide. The Kooragang Island decarbonisation initiative is forecasted to provide cumulative emission reductions of 4.7 Mt of CO2e by 2030.

Chris Crozier, Chief Information Officer, Orica, said: “There is a growing market-driven need for large organisations in the resources industry to understand, report on and reduce their carbon footprint. As a major supplier to mining and construction companies, Orica also has an important role to play in reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions. As such, we needed a trusted partner with a similar focus on ESG goals and sustainability and one with an expertise in data analysis, AI, design and IoT. We look forward to working with Cognizant to help us achieve our own sustainability objectives, while we look for ways to support our customers meeting their own goals.”

Jonathan Smith, Sustainability Lead, ANZ, Cognizant, added: “Data is a crucial factor that allows companies to analyse their current emissions and measure against ESG goals over time, and we are incredibly proud of having been appointed as the data, AI and analytics partner for Orica to be able to measure Orica’s ESG efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.”

Orica has previously engaged Cognizant to move its IT infrastructure to the cloud to enable Orica to achieve higher levels of efficiency, agility and business impact and optimise operating costs.