Water, energy and air-quality man- agement solution supplier Impro-Chem, which forms part of JSE-listed AECI, is well positioned to provide technology and services to the sub-Saharan African mining industry, owing to its focus on expanding its technology offering and market reach in recent years.

The company recently concluded the acquis-ition and integration of Clariant’s water treat-ment business in Africa, including its South African assets (Clariant BLWT), and its 50% shareholding in broad-based black economic-empowerment partner Blendtech.

The Clariant deal followed ImproChem’s 2012 acquisition of the sub-Saharan African water and process technologies business of General Electric (GE). The GE deal included an exclusive distribution agreement for GE chemical and monitoring solutions in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as a licence to manufacture GE’s range of speciality chemicals at ImproChem’s manufac-turing facility in Umbogintwini, KwaZulu-Natal. It further gave ImproChem access to GE’s range of engineered water, wastewater, desalination and process treatment systems.

“Having access to GE’s class-leading technol- ogy and domain expertise, as well as the expan-sion of ImproChem’s geographical footprint, will position ImproChem very strongly to be a leading provider of water, energy and air-quality management solutions in sub-Saharan Africa,” comments ImproChem MD Louis du Toit.

ImproChem’s mining division offers industry-specific treatment technologies and engineered solutions for the mining industry. The company’s integrated water management solutions cover the spectrum from raw water treatment, to sludge thickening and advanced wastewater recovery systems. Using a combination of GE-engineered systems and locally developed technology, ImproChem is positioned to provide integrated water treatment plant designs and turnkey projects, from conceptual phase through to commissioning and handover.

ImproChem will be displaying some of its engineered equipment and unique monitoring and control technology at Electra Mining Africa. This includes potable water plants, water softening units, demineralisation plants, reverse osmosis systems, membrane bio-reactors and ImproChem’s proprietary Settling Wizard for chemical control and optimisation of slurry thickening operations. Information on ImproChem’s chemical handling system, ChemTRAC, and its chemical treatment product range will also be available.

These technologies are currently being used in various mining operations in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Many mines are located in remote areas where water scarcity can hamper mining opera-tions. ImproChem’s focus is, therefore, to provide custom-engineered solutions for treatment and reuse of water to provide potable water supply underground, as well as to mining villages and towns,” comments ImproChem mining operations director Hugo Basson.

ImproChem uses advanced chemistries and reverse osmosis technology for the treatment and recovery of acidic mine water, particularly in the Lephalale region of Limpopo. ImproChem also uses advanced recycle technologies to produce potable water and for conditioning of wastewater.

Hall 6 Stand F27