“Water rarely announces a shutdown,” says Tsurumi Pumps Africa’s S Kotze, adding that, consequently, maintenance teams are often responding under pressure, with access narrowing and water levels continuing to rise.

By the time flooding becomes visible, cost has already entered the operation through lost time, reduced mobility, delayed development and greater pressure on equipment.”

Kotze adds that while the purchase price of a pump appears on a quotation, the cost of poor selection appears through repeated failures, higher energy consumption, damaged infrastructure and lost shifts.

“A unit selected according to discharge size or motor output alone might move water under ideal conditions; [however,] mine water seldom presents ideal conditions.”

Flow rate, total dynamic head, fluid temperature, pH, solids concentration, particle size, specific gravity, voltage, pipe diameter and transfer distance, among other factors, shape performance.

“Specific gravity deserves particular attention. Water carrying suspended mineral solids places greater load on a motor than clean water. A selection based on clean-water performance risks reduced delivery once density increases.”

The scope also matters, Kotze points out, noting that oversized equipment often operates outside its preferred range or cycles too frequently, while undersized equipment runs continuously without lowering water levels fast enough.

“Both outcomes raise operating cost and shorten service life.”

Head Changes & Abrasive Water

Depth and distance place added demands on mine water systems, says Kotze noting that high-volume drainage and high-head transfer serve different purposes. “Moving large volumes from a shallow sump requires a different hydraulic approach from lifting water through deep workings or transferring water across long pipelines.”

As mines deepen, the required pumping head increases, with Kotze explaining that each additional stage introduces friction losses, pressure requirements and further points of risk.

Fortunately, Tsurumi’s LH and LHW ranges address medium-to-high flow at higher heads, including deep mine dewatering, staged pumping and long-distance transfer. “These duties require more than motor capacity. Seal protection, impeller design, discharge configuration and system planning all influence reliability.”

Kotze adds that mine drainage typically contains sand, silt, clay, fines and fragmented mineral matter, with each particle contributing to wear across the impeller, suction plate, casing and sealing arrangement.

“[However], high-chromium cast iron resists abrasive wear [and] slower-speed motors reduce impeller tip velocity in high-volume duties. Agitator-equipped slurry pumps suspend settled material before transfer, supporting sump cleaning and sediment removal.”

Tsurumi’s KTZ range supports dewatering applications through its cast-iron construction, high-chromium impellers and protective features suited to abrasive conditions. KRS models, meanwhile, address high-volume drainage through low-speed, heavy-duty construction. Further, GPN slurry pumps use high-chromium wear components and an agitator to move settled solids.

“Mechanical-seal design also influences operating life. Seals isolated inside an oil chamber remain separated from abrasive fluid, [while] anti-wicking cable entry helps prevent moisture movement along damaged conductors. [Additionally], thermal protection guards the motor against excess heat and unsuitable running conditions.”

African Application Thinking

Mine water systems must reflect the scale of the operation and the consequences of interrupted transfer, Kotze notes, pointing to a diamond mining operation in Angola, where four Tsurumi LH8110 pumps were installed on a modular pontoon system. Each 110 kW unit deliver about 26 000 ℓ/min.

“The installation demonstrates a clear principle. Water-transfer capacity must match the hydraulic duty, site infrastructure and level of production risk. Large mining operations require more than equipment delivery. They require a clear understanding of inflow, discharge location, future depth, standby capacity, available power and maintenance access.”

Moreover, many African mines operate in remote areas or depend on constrained electrical infrastructure, generators and long cable runs.

By ensuring correct motor sizing companies can reduce energy demand. Accurate motor sizing also affects cable selection, control equipment and the ability to respond during peak inflow.

Kotze notes that automatic level control limits unnecessary dry running and reduces manual intervention, while electrode-based controls especially suit narrow sumps where traditional float arrangements create movement or space constraints.

Critical workflows also require redundancy.

A working, assist and standby arrangement provides added protection during sudden inflow, maintenance or equipment failure. “Standby equipment still requires adequate power, correctly sized discharge lines, suitable valves, lifting arrangements and tested controls. Emergency planning should take place before seasonal rainfall, pit expansion or deeper development changes the hydraulic duty.”

Water Responsibility

Kotze says mine water management does not end at the sump or discharge point.

“Abstraction, reuse, treatment and discharge decisions affect surrounding communities, downstream users and the wider catchment. Poor water management creates operational, environmental and reputational risk. Responsible planning protects production while recognising water as a shared resource.”

Consequently, Kotze points out that mine water applications require teams staffed with people with mechanical engineering and electrical knowledge, as well as hydrology, environmental management, maintenance planning and operational experience.

“Reliable infrastructure depends on skilled people with the authority and experience to make informed decisions under changing operating conditions.”

Tsurumi Pumps Africa states that it approaches mine dewatering as a complete operating requirement.

Kotze adds that mine water systems should be judged by the production they protect, the access they preserve and the operational risk they remove.

Tsurumi Pumps Africa invites mining companies, engineers, contractors and project to discuss dewatering applications and mine-water planning at its stand.

Hall 6 Stand D21