Safety in the workplace is a significant challenge in the African mining industry and it will be a while before some countries catch up with the industry standards of countries like Australia; however, much progress has already been made and the industry’s future is bright.

Mining services provider Ausdrill, which recently secured some of its largest-ever contracts in Africa, is committed to improving safety in the workplace for its employees and is taking various steps to address this concern.

These steps include significant investment in staff training and in the skills transfer of systems and knowledge from site to site to ensure that a safer working environment is created for the staff, says Ausdrill CFO José Martins and its African operations COO, Chris Tuckwell.

Ausdrill will exhibit at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba, which will be held in Cape Town from February 4 to 7.

Africa is becoming an increasingly important focus for the company.

Therefore, Ausdrill is increasing its investment in Africa, as it believes the continent offers significant growth opportunities, such as providing increased product and mining services, say Martins and Tuckwell.

“While we originate from Australia and still generate a significant proportion of our revenues from the Australian resources industry, we are experiencing increasing demand from Africa.”

We hope to highlight the scope of Ausdrill’s service offering and connect with other operators in Africa at the Indaba,” say Martins and Tuckwell.

Because the Indaba has a worldwide reputation, Ausdrill ensures that it has a significant presence at the conference, and has been involved with it for the past decade.

Ausdrill will showcase all group businesses operating in or servicing Africa to build on its existing relationships with major mining companies, Martins and Tuckwell point out.

Staff from West Africa, East Africa and Australia will manage the booth and represent the company at the Indaba.

Ausdrill’s African mining services division supplies a comprehensive suite of surface contract mining and exploration drilling services for the industry throughout West Africa, including Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire.

The company offers an underground mining service in Ghana, Mali and Burkina Faso through joint venture company Barminco and provides contract drilling and exploration drilling services in Tanzania and Zambia.

It also supplies grade control, blasting, exploration, mineral analysis, procurement and logistics and manufacturing services.

“We will continue to work closely with our customers and provide an ever-expanding range of services to them as we have done throughout our 25 years of existence, as well as the last 20 years in Africa,” they conclude.