Mining Weekly

Outsourced operation and maintenance (O&M) specialist Minopex South Africa, a member of global multidisciplinary engineering firm DRA, believes that 2016 will be a year of diversification for the company in terms of the types of commodities projects it will be servicing.

As a specialist in the field of mineral processing plants in the coal, gold and platinum sectors, this year, Minopex expects to be awarded new projects in the phosphate, iron-ore and coal sectors in Africa, says Minopex business development executive Renira Reddy.

Minopex has refined its project delivery methodology to ensure that it is able to deliver a service that is faster and more efficient than its competitors.

Reddy points out that the organi- sation has grown to become a leading specialist in the field of outsourced O&M of metal and mineral processing facilities, adding that the company has been working hard to ensure it is prepared to take on work in any commodity going forward.

Minopex MD Gerhard Hendriksz states that clients should make use of Minopex’s services as the organisation will be able to enhance the functionality of their operations faster than anyone else.

The Methodology

The ‘FASTIR’ methodology revolves around Minopex being focused on delivering a predetermined set of measurables, as agreed by clients, on the efficient and effective O&M of their mineral processing plants. This includes well-trained processing and maintenance teams working strictly according to the deliverables of the contract.

The Minopex team is led by a site manager who will be held accountable for delivering the service to the client as agreed within the outsourcing contract. This accountability is based on a penalty/incentive model that drives performance and, therefore, accountability.

The organisation has also developed the Minopex Risk and Safety Management (MRSM) system. This in-house system is an integrated ISO 9000/ISO 14000/ ISO 18000-certified system that incorporates quality, safety and environmental outcomes in one auditable system. As such, the company has multilisted accreditation, giving clients the confidence that their plants will be operated and maintained to the highest international standards, notes Minopex.

The company will always strive together with DRA to use the latest technology available to the benefit of its clients. This includes maintenance and procurement systems, a team of graduates focused on the use of better reagent combinations and the employment of superior equipment to improve a client's overall bottom line.

One of Minopex’s key values is to execute each outsourced contract with the highest level of integrity. This value will be driven from the top down, ensuring that each employee understands what is expected of employees.

Minopex also tries to approach each project with respect for the client, fellow employees and the environment in which it operates. This ensures that all stakeholders, from the client to the community, are accommodated.

Owing to the company’s methodology, Reddy says, by handing over the O&M of plants to Minopex, the upfront capital cost of equipment and engineering facilities at new mines can be reduced, as well as the operating costs at existing mines.

While larger mining companies operate their mines on a traditional owner/operator basis, many juniors still prefer to outsource the operation of their processing facilities to a specialist, as it eliminates unforeseen costs and secures proven skills, technologies and associated systems.

Minopex currently operates and maintains 14 processing plants for clients in Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania and Saudi Arabia, ranging from platinum-group metals and chromite concentrator facilities to coal processing facilities and diamond processing plants.

The Minopex team, comprising 1 500 people in Africa, includes process, mechanical and electrical engineers, as well as specialised maintenance artisans and experienced operators who are able to unlock value for clients by improving mineral processing plant efficiencies, adding to their bottom line.

Providing services tailored to suit client needs, Minopex offers contract management and administration; purchasing, store control and asset management; training and skills development; subcontractor management; plant process control and analysis; scheduled and preventive maintenance; metallurgical quality management, control and analysis; as well as health and safety, environmental, waste and tailings-dump management.

“Minopex is able to guarantee continuity of production, having the flexibility to manage exceptional conditions and the ability to remain focused on the specifics of the operation under its control. [This ensures] that [the company] achieves the financial and quality goals of the contract,” Reddy concludes.