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Consulting Engineers News
Limpopo miner chooses rope-based conveyor system to overcome topographical challenges
By: Dylan Slater 23rd September 2016 Limpopo-based platinum mine Booysendal Platinum – a subsidiary of platinum group metals producer Northam Platinum – recently accessed the Booysendal South ore deposit as part of its expansion of mining capacity at the Booysendal concession, which required it to employ an alternative conveyor... →
Waste coal gasification could offer alternative power generation source 
By: Nadine James 16th September 2016 To facilitate the gasification of low-grade fine waste coal that is discarded as a by-product of coal processing, State-owned mineral research council Mintek is developing the concept of direct current (dc) arc plasma gasification, intending to produce a synthesis gas (syngas) that could be used... →
WASTE NOT WANT NOT The amount of waste coal accumulated by South African coal mines over the past 35 years is about two-billion tons
South African coal industry needs to pursue mechanisation
By: Nadine James 16th September 2016 South African coal industry stakeholders need to pursue mechanisation if the industry is serious about streamlining operations and improving efficiencies, stresses international market research company BMI Research. BMI commodities analyst Mitchell Hugers states that the benefits of... →
Consultant promotes technology over subsidies to ensure sustainability
By: Nadine James 16th September 2016 Coal mining companies need to embrace the technological revolution if they are to overcome current challenges, including lower commodity prices, rising labour costs and increased regulatory pressures, says commodity and industrial consulting firm Bryanston Resources. According to Bryanston... →
Gangama dry mine aiming for steady state production
2nd September 2016 Steady-state operation at the Gangama dry mine plant was expected to be achieved within four months, mineral sands company Sierra Rutile reported in June. Plant commissioning of the Sierra Leone-based Gangama dry mine project and the handover from mining project manager DRA Projects to owner... →
$900m engineering, procurement contract for copper smelter awarded
2nd September 2016 Engineering, procurement and construction management and consultation company Chiyoda Singapore, a subsidiary of integrated engineering company Chiyoda Corporation, has been awarded a $900-million offshore engineering and procurement contract for mining and processing company PT Freeport... →
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER Chiyoda was awarded a contract by PT Freeport Indonesia its wealth of construction experience in copper smelter related facilities
Drones offer significant benefits for mine surveying and analysis
By: Dylan Slater 26th August 2016 The remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) industry is growing at a staggering rate and such systems are increasingly being taken up by mining companies as a tool to manage their assets, operations and land. →
AERIAL OPPORTUNITY Remotely piloted aircraft systems open the doors to numerous opportunities for the mining industry
SA urged to grasp opportunities afforded by platinum and gold resurgence, rising coal exports
By: Dylan Slater 26th August 2016 According to consulting engineers and scientists SRK Consulting South Africa, the fact there are signs of resurgence in platinum, a stronger gold price and growing coal exports to India should be triggers for South Africa’s mining leadership to grasp the opportunities it missed in the last... →
Mining code aimed at helping countries attract investment launched
By: Dylan Slater 19th August 2016 Towards the end of July, the World Initiative of Mining Lawyers (WIOML) launched a mining code that is aimed at guiding countries in attracting investment while securing fair benefits from mineral exploitation within their borders. →
Omnia asks TSX-V to deny or reprice Nordex going-private placement
By: Henry Lazenby 12th August 2016 Johannesburg-based Omnia Holdings has submitted a letter to the TSX-V asking it to consider denying or repricing a proposed change-of-control transaction through which Société Anonyme d’Explosifs et de Produits Chimiques (EPC) intends to take Canadian firm Nordex Explosives private. According to... →
Wits mining school in push to improve teaching, learning effectiveness
By: Dylan Slater 12th August 2016 One of Johannesburg-based University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) School of Mining Engineering’s primary strategic initiatives, in its endeavour to become a top mining school in the world, is to improve teaching and learning effectiveness. →
Wits mining school eyeing increased research output as it seeks to be among top 100 varsities by 2022
By: Dylan Slater 5th August 2016 The Johannesburg-based University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) School of Mining Engineering plans to increase normalised research output as a primary strategic initiative in its quest to join the top 100 universities in the world by 2022. →
Omnia raises bid for Nordex
By: Natasha Odendaal 4th August 2016 Shareholders of Canadian firm Nordex Explosives have one month to accept a now-formal fully funded, all-cash inflated takeover bid by JSE-listed Omnia Group. Omnia this week, through its mining division BME, raised the stakes with an offer of C$0.22 per Nordex share, taking the deal to... →
Industry growth in hands of junior explorers
By: Kimberley Smuts 29th July 2016 Diamond exploration enquiries received by mining industry consultancy The MSA Group from small players in Botswana, Lesotho and the Free State have increased considerably since May this year. This includes greenfield kimberlite indicator mineral testing, alluvial diamond mineral resource... →
Kudos for mine ventilation engineers
By: Dylan Slater 29th July 2016 Engineers from industrial fan manufacturer MechCal received awards for fan development, from the Mine Ventilation Society of South Africa (MVSSA), during its seventy-second annual general meeting (AGM) on April 20. →
Iron-ore market likely to stay in oversupply
By: Robyn Wilkinson 22nd July 2016 Despite China’s commitment to reducing its crude steel production capacity, the iron-ore market remains oversupplied and this is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, says engineering consultant Core Consultants CEO Lara Smith. →
Product reduces unplanned downtime, machinery replacement
By: Kimberley Smuts 22nd July 2016 Australian-listed speciality chemicals development company Alexium International has made significant inroads into the resins, films and polymers industry, owing to its newly commercialised environment-friendly flame-retardant (FR) treatment Alexiflam, which is well suited to the mining industry.... →
Finns unveil acid mine water solution targeted at South African mining sector
By: Dylan Slater 15th July 2016 A new solution to treat acid mine drainage (AMD), targeting the South African mining industry, was launched on July 5, in Johannesburg, as a viable and cost effective solution to remove metals and sulphates from contaminated mine water. →
Ncondezi contractor, financing yet to be finalised
By: Victor Moolman 8th July 2016 Construction of the Ncondezi Power Company (NPC) coal-fired power plant and the Ncondezi coal mine, in the Tete province of Mozambique, is expected to start in the second half of 2017, once power developer Ncondezi Energy has finalised an engineering, procurement and construction contractor and... →
Construction of tailings storage facilities at Tharisa platinum mine to be completed in six months 
By: Dylan Slater 8th July 2016 Mine development and construction company Fraser Alexander has concluded a contract for platinum group metals (PGM) miner Tharisa Minerals to install and commission a tailings storage facility at its Tharisa mine. →
Altura signs native title agreement for Pilgangoora lithium project
By: Mia Breytenbach 7th July 2016 ASX-listed lithium developer Altura Mining has agreed to the terms of a native title agreement (NTA) with the Njamal People, the traditional owners of the land at Altura’s 100%-owned Pilgangoora lithium project, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The signing of the NTA was the final... →
Some services firms report business revival as several commodity prices rise
By: Henry Lazenby 6th July 2016 Certain mining services providers have reported increased interest from customers on both the investor and mining side, saying the slight recovery for many major commodities so far this year had translated into improved business. “Yes, there’s definite improvement in our business, especially... →
Incremental mine development key for gold sector
By: Simon Sonnekus 24th June 2016 In the face of global capital constraints, gold mining companies have been forced to look into alternative options for the development of mines. The gold mining industry is known traditionally for larger-sized operations that require the establishment of a large reserve base as well as large... →
GROWTH The steady gold price has been a bright light in an otherwise deflated commodities market
Skills compatibility, dual-skilled labour enhance agreements
By: Sebastian Whyle 17th June 2016 The mine maintenance industry is facing a significant skills shortage, exacerbated by commodity price instability, industrial conveyor maintenance service provider ELB Conveyor Maintenance director Sharmlin Govender tells Mining Weekly. →
Cutting corners to cost mines in long run
By: Sebastian Whyle 17th June 2016 Many sites are trying to cut costs by moving away from using original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) spares and components when undertaking maintenance, says technologies, products and engineering services provider Tenova TAKRAF Africa aftermarket GM Paul Davies. →
Essential maintenance supplied despite budget cuts by mines
By: Sebastian Whyle 17th June 2016 Rope access service and equipment provider Skyriders is, to a large extent, immune to the current commodities price slump, as inspection and maintenance is an essential part of keeping sites operational, notes marketing manager Mike Zinn. →
Upgrading, broadening industry services to facilitate growth
By: Sascha Solomons 10th June 2016 With better prospects for the pumps industry, owing to the favourable exchange rate, the Southern African Pump Systems Development Association (Sapsda) is encouraging its members to take advantage of export opportunities during this time, Sapsda treasurer Holly Smith emphasises. “There are vast... →
German company develops four machines for blind-shaft construction, enlargement
By: Dylan Slater 3rd June 2016 German mechanised tunnelling engineering company Herrenknecht AG has developed a range of four shaft boring machines for the safe and rapid construction of blind shafts or shaft enlargements to a depth of 2 000 m. →
Importance of fire-safe conveyers emphasised
By: Kimberley Smuts 27th May 2016 Fire is a pervasive threat to conveyor belt systems at mines and can cause substantial damage to the conveyed material, electromechanical components of the conveyor system and the belt if the necessary fire-protection systems are not in place. This can result in costly damage and downtime,... →
New solution simplifies water-use licence application, renewal processes
By: Dylan Slater 20th May 2016 Global consulting engineers and scientists SRK Consulting have prepared a manageable system and training programme, which is designed to simplify the process of aligning personnel responsible for implementing and renewing a mining water use licence (WUL) →
SRK Consulting: 40 years on
By: David Oliveira 20th May 2016 Global engineering consultancy SRK Consulting launched its fortieth anniversary book – SRK: 40 years in the deep end – during this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba, which took place in February at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The book covers SRK’s journey from its... →
IN THE DEEP END The book covers SRK’s journey from its formation in Johannesburg, South Africa, by Oskar Steffen, Andy Robertson and Hendrik Kirsten in 1974 to its global presence today
Enviro assessments for Delmas colliery pollution control dams project under way
By: David Oliveira 20th May 2016 Specialist assessments required for the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for the proposed extension and remediation of the discard dump and two pollution control dams at the North Shaft section of local coal mining and beneficiation company Kuyasa Mining’s Delmas coal mine is currently... →
Ukwazi
20th May 2016 Independent mining adviser Ukwazi strongly believes in following transparent and compliant mine planning processes by applying specialist teams that are focused on specific mining methods and commodities. “We follow outcome-driven project management principles and supply specialist technical... →
Adequate environmental management systems boost health, safety
By: Victor Moolman 13th May 2016 An effective environmental management system (EMS) has to reduce the possible environmental damage caused by and the overall cost of a mine, as well as ensure that workers are safe and healthy, says mining industry consultant The MSA Group. →
Optimisation process determines risk versus reward
By: Kimberley Smuts 6th May 2016 The use of multiparametric block models, which contain more than just geological data, to analyse the risks associated with the mining process, allow more informed business decisions to be made on the basis of risk and exposure to that risk. This is according to The MSA Group mine optimisation... →
OPENPIT RISKS PREDETERMINED When working an openpit resource, The MSA Group uses an optimisation process to determine the net present value generated from a particular geological resource
Feasibility study starts on phosphate JV
By: Mia Breytenbach 6th May 2016 ASX-listed exploration and development company Minbos Resources last month started work with joint venture (JV) partner Petril on the bankable feasibility study (BFS) work programmes for the high-margin, high-grade phosphate Cabinda project, in Angola. The 391.3-million-ton project, with an... →
HIGH PROSPECT The high-margin, high-grade phosphate Cabinda project, in Angola is an estimated 391.3-million-ton project, with an estimated ten-year mine life
Optimal rosters equal greater efficiency without significant cost
By: Sascha Solomons 22nd April 2016 According to consultation and research team Shiftworks Solutions, an organisation’s productiveness is more likely to grow without expenditure increasing when an effective work roster is in place, states customised roster solutions provider Shiftwork Solutions Africa manager Andrew Harding. He... →
OPTIMAL ROSTERS PROVED BENEFICIAL Keeping the same roster could increase company losses
Off-the-shelf solutions drive improvement
By: Sascha Solomons 22nd April 2016 To ensure that its consulting streams maintain their competitive edge, mining industry consultant Snowden continues to provide its technology solutions as commercial off-the-shelf solutions to improve performance at mining operations. This availability provides mining companies with access to... →
JOHN HEARNE Technology is an industry differentiator
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