Providing ventilation systems for mining companies with deep-level operations necessitates the understanding of every client’s specific needs, which can be attained through ongoing communication, says South African-founded and South Africa-based underground ventilation systems provider Terramin.

Terramin chairperson Martin van Schoor tells Mining Weekly that the company has always ensured during its 34 years of existence that it formed and maintained positive relationships with clients and industry stakeholders.

Van Schoor attributes Terramin’s success in supplying ventilation systems to deep-level mining projects to the company’s understanding of the shared challenges that all underground mining stakeholders face.

“Our partnership-focused approach enables us to identify and develop customised solutions. In our experience, this is what satisfies the three core challenges of deep-level mining – managing the logistics of products and people, as well as product lead-times; developing user-friendly products that facilitate easy installation and operation; and manufacturing local systems of unparalleled quality for the required working environment.”

Van Schoor adds that, with open and equal communication, Terramin has managed to attain positive results in all these areas.

He further states that this approach has enabled the company to manufacture custom-made systems that meet clients’ specific requirements.

“Exact specifications are essential to an effective and efficient ventilation network. These specifications are sometimes overlooked in the procurement process, but Terramin asks the correct questions during the procurement process to develop a solution that satisfies the objectives of its end-users.”

Van Schoor further emphasises the importance of understanding the real opportunity costs of deep-level mining products, as those products carry additional costs, owing to the time allocated for installation and maintenance requirements.

“Because of the misunderstanding of the all-inclusive value of products, end-users often buy inferior-quality products at a lower unit price and, owing to higher replacement costs, they are placed at a disadvantage, which in our experience could have been avoided had they invested in a quality, value-based solution, which limits replacement orders and reduces installation time,” he elaborates.

Product Portfolio

Van Schoor tells Mining Weekly that all Terramin’s products are locally sourced and manufactured, adding that the company supports job creation and skills development among locals.

“South Africans are the pioneers of deep-level mining and, as such, we represent the ideal test platform for products in harsh underground conditions. This has provided Terramin with the opportunity to research, develop and test our products in conjunction with our South Africa clients to innovate these solutions and share these with our local and export clients,” he explains.

He adds that the company has successfully marketed and sold its patented Terrajet Airmover, and its accessories, as a user-friendly confined-space ventilation device to assist with ventilation, cooling and dust-suppression in deep-level, narrow-reef mines and to promote the dilution of hazardous gases in confined spaces.

Other Terramin ventilation-control products include mine specific Terravent flexible ducting for logistics- and installation-friendly development-end ventilation.

Terramin also manufactures Ventmesh ventilation seals, which are a cost- and time-effective way to mitigate short-circuiting in a ventilation network in a movement away from traditional brick and mortar vent seals.

Further, Terramin launched the Terrablast water-atomising range for dust suppression in January to improve the quality of respirable air underground.

Terramin at IMVC

Terramin is listed as one of the sponsors and will be exhibiting at the upcoming tenth International Mining Ventilation Congress (IMVC), which will take place from August 2 to 8, at Sun City, in the North West.

Van Schoor says the company considers the congress a valuable platform for information sharing. He adds that it enables the company to engage with local and international clients who usually do not have sufficient time to brainstorm or problem solve with their service providers.

“As an active participant in the industry and a manufacturer, supplier and distributor of ventilation equipment, I look forward to engaging with the various local and international industry stakeholders,” he elaborates.

Van Schoor expects the IMVC to feature sessions that will focus on innovative technologies that will improve ventilation at deep-level mines.

“The challenges currently facing deep-level mining can partly be attributed to the additional complexity and scope of the ventilation network. This makes it difficult for mining companies to control the network’s airflows, mitigate heat and improve the quality of respirable air to ensure the wellbeing of underground workers in these challenging working environments,” he concludes.