Project involvement increasing for contractor
PROJECT UNDERWAY The expected completion of Shaft 1 sinking at Platreef is July 2020
UNDER CONSTRUCTION Semiskilled employees at Gamsberg mine are employed from the surrounding communities
Mining contractor Moolmans is showcasing its shaft sinking and access development capacities at the Platreef platinum project, in the North West, with Shaft 1 close to the planned shaft bottom, at 982 m below the surface.
The project’s mineral reserve is expected to support a 32-year mine life at steady-state production of four-million tonnes a year.
It will include five shafts, with shafts 1, 3, 4 and 5 providing ventilation for the underground operations. Shaft 2 will be the primary hoisting shaft to the Platreef mining zones. Shaft 1 will be used for initial access to the deposit and early underground development, later becoming the primary ventilation shaft.
As the contractor for Shaft 1, Moolmans’ scope of work includes the construction of a terrace, the sinking and lining of the 7.25-m-diameter shaft to the 750 m level, cover drilling and the development of two underground stations at 450 m and 750 m.
Additional scope of work was negotiated and Moolmans still has stations at 850 m and 950 m that need to be cut, and additional development work that needs to take place before mining can begin. These underground stations are important, as they provide the initial underground infrastructure and access to the high-grade Platreef orebody.
The Platreef contract was awarded to Moolmans by Canadian mining company Ivanhoe Mines in August 2013 and work on the project began in January 2014. Moolmans MD Jerome Govender tells Mining Weekly that the revised completion date for Shaft 1 is July 2020.
“Despite some challenges at the start, the Moolmans team excelled on safety and development, with a record monthly shaft-sinking rate of 54 m that was achieved in March 2018.”
Moolmans developed the two mine access stations at 450 m and 750 m, while moving to a continuous operations model with 330 permanent employees and 50 subcontractors, Govender enthuses.
One of the most notable technological advances that Moolmans is engaged in is a switch from the conventional sinking approach to a two-kibble loading system. “This enhances the safety of employees by ensuring that they are no longer at the bottom of the shaft during lashing operations.”
Projects
Within the company’s broader portfolio, several other contracts have mine construction elements, such as at diversified miner Vedanta Zinc International’s Gamsberg zinc mine, in the Northern Cape.
Moolmans is creating the access road to the North East Pit pushback at the mine. “We currently have 471 full-time employees on site, as well as 56 apprentices who are undergoing training. “Many of Moolmans’ semiskilled employees are employed from the surrounding communities,” Govender states.
Meanwhile, Moolmans is collaborating with one of its key equipment suppliers to develop an intelligent drill with scalable automation.
“The drill rig comes with multiple features to enhance productivity while reducing costs, with advanced serviceability and reliability features increasing availability by up to 20%, compared with conventional rigs,” Govender adds, stating that Moolmans bought the first of these machines to use at Gamsberg.
Other projects include activities for the Kolomela and Sishen iron-ore mines, in the Northern Cape, where Moolmans, in addition to a load and haul contract, is involved in the construction of haul roads and dump rehabilitation activities on behalf of the client.
Moolmans was also contracted by Anglo American in 2014 to rehabilitate the ore-pass system for the underground operations of the Amandelbult platinum group metals (PGMs) mine, in Limpopo, and is executing the final stages of the major repair of these passes.
Additionally, Siyanda Resources, who owns the Union PGMs mine, in Limpopo, appointed Moolmans for the rehabilitation of its haulages, which included removing the old rails and replacing them with new ones to ensure alignment for the smooth transitioning between the old and new rails. Additional support – bolts, anchors and shotcrete – was also provided in areas identified by the client.
Industry Challenges
Increased investor confidence, owing to improved certainty created by South Africa’s mineral legislation, has helped the mining construction industry, as clients can confirm operational plans for the longer term, Govender notes.
“However, the main challenges are the increased costs of mining, as orebodies become deeper, especially for gold and platinum, and mining companies tending to move away from new deep-level investments,” he points out.
Collaboration is key in mitigating these challenges, and Moolmans has established long-term partnerships with its equipment suppliers to develop innovative mining solutions.
Moolmans is also looking to broaden its footprint in Africa, where it has more than 40 years’ operating experience and a record as one of the largest mining contractors in Africa, Govender concludes.
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