Mining Weekly

Taking a bullish stance on commodity markets, global consulting engineers and scientists SRK Consulting are building on their solid performance through the current slump – fostering their discovery-driven culture through embracing technology and “youthful energy”. The company, having celebrated 40 years since its formation in Johannesburg, expects the start of a commodity recovery in 2016 and plans to fuel this upswing by enhancing its technical excellence with new technology, its diversity of talent of all ages and backgrounds and its high levels of collaboration across the global network. According to SRK MD Vis Reddy, the industry knows SRK as a trusted and long-serving partner with unmatched experience in mining and related fields and is constantly raising the bar by applying the latest software and technologies to its work. Reddy highlights the ongoing research and development that flows from SRK’s experience in the field, where best practice can be applied, monitored, reviewed and improved. “Much of our emphasis is on learning from what we do and feeding that learning into our own methodologies and quality standards. Our experts regularly present and publish their research findings at professional, scientific and academic conferences to enrich the broader industry’s knowledge base.” SRK forums, workshops and webinars also bring colleagues together to discuss and assess the most recent developments with regard to their particular disciplines, so that new ideas and methods can be mainstreamed into client solutions. Innovation Through Collaboration Additionally, Reddy asserts that, with some 1 500 professionals in over 50 offices on six continents, SRK has a wealth of experience spread across an array of specialist disciplines from geology and geotechnical services to environmental- and social-impact assessments to mine closures. “Close collaboration between experts in each discipline ensures that all aspects of a project – including financial, geological, geotechnical, hydrological, environmental, social, legal and operational – are investigated and integrated.” He also highlights that collaboration within SRK goes further, reaching out beyond each office’s skills into the global network where even more expertise can be found, asserting that drawing on the experience of colleagues elsewhere allows the best team for the job to be quickly assembled. This accumulation of the top minds is central to SRK’s success in finding and implementing the best solutions, says the company. By finding better ways of managing water supply and water quality, for example, a key competence area at SRK, is becoming more complex in the light of climate change, migration and population growth. “Innovation frequently emerges from the application of certain technologies or methods pioneered in another part of the world. As [SRK’s employees] travel to various locations to run or support projects, the successes and challenges of this activity become part of the knowledge base available to all clients,” Reddy comments. Well-known for its mine-related services, SRK also engages in developing infrastructure around Africa – around mines, in municipalities and for a range of industrial clients. “We are particularly excited about the potential for renewable energy to help power Africa’s mining and other projects – especially in remote rural areas. There is also growing pressure following [the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 21], in Paris, to reduce carbon emissions from coal-driven power stations, as well as mining and industrial plants – a field in which we anticipate being much more involved in future.” Young Talent and Experience SRK’s strategy is to attract the best young engineers and scientists from across South Africa and the rest of Africa. A key factor in SRK’s allure is being open to new ideas and a collegial ethos that encourages innovative thinking, while insisting on the highest standards of quality, notes the company. Reddy emphasises that the mentoring of younger staff by their more experienced col-leagues ensures not just excellent performance but a constant embedding of lessons learnt in the professionals who will carry the firm forward in [future]. “Our close relationship with the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Mining Engineering includes an internship programme that allows us to give support and working experience to students and graduates. This also gives us the opportunity to work with young people who may in the future be attracted to our approach and values.” He says the input made by SRK experts at universities can inspire students to pursue that particular direction and the prospect of working with such experts also makes the company a popular option for top students. “As our young scientists and engineers gain experience and confidence, we encourage direct engagement with clients where appropriate, to display our trust and help younger leaders to develop. It is also vital that the more experienced staff can confidently share their workload so that there is no over-reliance or over-burdening of a few well-recognised experts,” Reddy avers. South Africa’s engineering sector urgently needs to invest time and energy in on-the- job training for younger professionals, he concludes.