Platinum producer Anglo American Platinum mining head Frik Fourie is scheduled to present a keynote address on how to make the South African mining business globally attractive again at the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy’s (SAIMM’s) seventh International Platinum Conference – ‘Platinum – A Changing Industry’.

A keynote address is also expected from TSX-listed mining company Ivanhoe Mines’ 64% platinum-focused subsidiary, Ivanplats South Africa, VP and executive head of capital projects Gerick Mouton on the Platreef project – “a platinum mining game changer” according to the company.

The conference will take place from October 18 to 19 in Polokwane, Limpopo, with technical tours scheduled for October 20.

Since its inception in 2004, the platinum conference series has covered a range of themes, traditionally addressing the opportunities and challenges that are facing the platinum industry.

The event is said to attract key role-players and industry leaders through several notable features – it boasts high-quality technical papers and presentations; facilitates industry networking; comprises large, knowledgeable audiences; facilitates global participation and gleans comprehensive support from industry role-players.

The Platinum 2017 conference will be held in association with the Department of Science and Technology’s Precious Metals Development Network’s Advanced Metals Initiative (AMI) Conference 2017.

The AMI conference will present a forum where scientists and technologists can come together to learn and discuss the latest advancements in precious metals (platinum-group metals and gold) science and technology. This will be under the broad themes of catalysis, materials and chemistry.

Platinum 2017 will, under the guidance of the organising committee, structure a programme which covers critical aspects of the continually evolving platinum industry.

Members of the industry are encouraged to participate in the event as an organising committee member, author/presenter, delegate or sponsor, with the SAIMM noting that “the success and relevance of this event to the industry really depends on your participation and support”.

Numerous companies have already been confirmed as participating sponsors. Manufacturer and supplier of explosives, related accessories and blasting services BME is the event’s platinum sponsor, along with globally operating supplier of high-grade refractory products, systems and services RHI. Global technology and product development company CiDRA is the exhibitor sponsor for the event. Supplier of equipment and services to the global cement and minerals industries FLSmidth is the lanyard sponsor, engineering and construction firm Murray & Roberts is the palladium sponsor and global separation technologies provider Eriez is the pens and pads sponsor.

Technical Tours

The itinerary for the technical tours is threefold. The first tour will take place at the Anglo American-owned Mogalakwena platinum mine, near Mokopane, in Limpopo, and at Ivanplat’s Flatreef project, located adjacent to the Mogalakwena mine.

Established in 1993, Mogalakwena is the world’s largest openpit platinum mine and produces 400 000 oz/y of platinum from Platreef using the truck-and-shovel mining method. The delegates, capped at 30, will be attending for an operation overview.

The Flatreef project is in the development phase, with the current focus on vertical access shaft development. The planned mining methods for the mine are set to use highly productive, mechanised methods, inclusive of long-hole stoping, drift-and-bench and drift-and-fill mining methods. Attendees, also capped at 30, will be presented with an operational overview, as well as shaft sinking.

Tour two will take place at the Twickenham platinum mine, midway between Lebowakgomo and Burgersfort, on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex, in Limpopo. A narrow-reef, underground mining operation on the upper group two (UG2) reef, the mine is under maintenance, but SAIMM indicates that it is concurrently being used to trial and develop new mining technology.

Currently, focus is on nonexplosive mining methods, rock cutting and ultralow profile mining equipment. Capped at 24 delegates, comprising two groups of 12, attendees will be provided with an operational overview and experience an underground visit to view mining technology.

Tour three will take place at the Mototolo platinum mine near Burgersfort, in Limpopo. Established in 2005, the low-profile, decline-access, trackless mechanised mining operation on the UG2 reef is designed to produce around 132 000 oz/y of platinum and 82 000 oz/y of palladium. The project has a life-of-mine of 20 years.

Delegates will go on an underground visit and be given an operational overview.