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Opencast Quarries News
New colliery construction planned for early 2022
By: Darren Parker 10th December 2021 Pending offtake negotiations, construction of coal mining company Canyon Coal’s new Bekezela Colliery and its facilities is planned to start in the first quarter of next year. Canyon Coal holding company Menar projects head Gerhard Cronje tells Mining Weekly that the construction of the colliery... →
Name change for new colliery
By: Darren Parker 10th December 2021 One of coal mining company Canyon Coal’s – a subsidiary of investment company Menar – new collieries has changed its name from De Wittekrans to Gugulethu ahead of the start of construction. The new name means “our value” or “our pride” in Nguni languages. “The purpose of the name change was to... →
Dog-like robot launched in South Africa to automate hard-to-reach mining environments 
By: Donna Slater 19th November 2021 Mining technology integration partner Dwyka Mining Services this week launched US-based robotics developer Boston Dynamics’ quadruped robot, known as Spot, in South Africa, targeting specifically a variety of mining applications. Dwyka MD Jamie van Schoor says Spot can be used in the mining... →
Health, safety training increases productivity
By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 5th November 2021 Mining training company Prisma Training Solutions ensures that its customers can realise a return on investment by increasing productivity and efficiency through training. The company states that this is vital for all mining operations. Each mine and mining method offers unique risks. →
Explosives company achieves world-class rating
By: Halima Frost 29th October 2021 Mining explosives and blasting technology supplier BME, a member of diversified chemicals group Omnia, tells Mining Weekly it has achieved a record-low recordable case rate of 0.05% in the blasting sector for the last financial year. A recordable case rate is a well-established measure of safety... →
Illegal sand mines continue to profit
By: Claire O'Reilly 22nd October 2021 Statistics released by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) inaccurately reflect the volume of illegal mining operations in South Africa, says mining industry body Aspasa (formerly Aggregate and Sand Producers of Southern Africa). →
Market responds well to high-pressure pumps
By: Claire O'Reilly 22nd October 2021 High-head pumps are the workhorses of many fluid control systems, and their role can often be mission-critical in dewatering applications in construction and mining, where the control and removal of surface water is a primary safety concern, says industrial equipment manufacturer Atlas Copco... →
Lightning protection requires careful consideration as digitalisation of mining expands
By: Donna Slater 30th September 2021 With the increased use of electronic and digital systems in modern mines comes the issue of lightning protection, which Wits Mining Institute's Professor Ian Jandrell suggests can be addressed in unique and simple ways, stemming from careful consideration and clear understanding. He gave a... →
Association applauds upcoming event
By: Halima Frost 24th September 2021 Surface mining industry association Aspasa (previously known as Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa) applauds the conference concept and the efforts of the organisers of the upcoming Joburg Indaba, Aspasa director Nico Pienaar tells Mining Weekly. “The companies being... →
New valve manufactured for tailings pipelines
By: Halima Frost 24th September 2021 Although South African company Dynamic Fluid Control (DFC) has only soft launched its new slurry knife gate high-pressure valve, the SKG-HP, it has been well received by clients. The clients intend to use the valve in highly corrosive applications such as moving tailings from a processing plant... →
Real-time ore analysis set for African market
By: Halima Frost 27th August 2021 Digital mining solutions provider MineSense is establishing offices in Africa and Europe to introduce its real-time ore analysis technologies to the African Copperbelt by the fourth quarter. “Once we have successfully introduced the technology to the upper Africa region, we intend on filtering... →
Partnership formed to teach rural women excavator operating skills
By: Donna Slater 19th August 2021 As part of efforts to uplift women during Women’s Month, South Africa-focused platinum developer Nkwe Platinum and multinational gold and copper explorer and developer Zijin Mining Group, have partnered with heavy machinery manufacturer Sany Southern Africa, to provide an entry-level excavator... →
An excavator instructor supervises one of the women undergoing excavator operating training at Sany's Boksburg depot
Victorian resources sector performing well - report
By: Esmarie Iannucci 5th August 2021 New data released on Thursday showed that mineral expoloration investment reached A$135.8-million in Victoria, in 2019-2020, with some 388 662 m of drilling completed. Mineral exploration expenditure, a measure of industry confidence and a precursor to future investment, is at a record high,... →
Mining vital to economy, can help guide country's path – President
By: Martin Creamer 5th July 2021 Mining is vital to the South African economy and the opportunities that exist in mining can help guide the country’s path to a more inclusive and equitable economy, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on Monday. Writing in his From the Desk of the President column, Ramaphosa placed mineral and... →
New excavator suited to local mines
By: Halima Frost 2nd July 2021 Construction equipment supplier HPE Africa says its new crawler excavator series is suited to earthmoving applications in South Africa’s mining and construction environments. The R210 Smart Plus crawler excavator series was introduced to HPE Africa’s portfolio in May, with advanced design... →
New excavator teeth cutting ground
2nd July 2021 Earthmoving and utility equipment manufacturer Komatsu’s new Kprime Tooth System from wear solutions specialists Hensley Industries is now available as standard on new Komatsu excavators. The Kprime Tooth System has been designed as a stronger and longer-lasting product, offering additional... →
RMF encourages extractives supply chain disclosure of transactions with States
By: Donna Slater 18th June 2021 Research done by independent research organisation the Responsible Mining Foundation (RMF) has found that very few of the trading companies making transactions in extractive value chains, including for metals, minerals and oil and gas, publicly disclose data on these payments to governments,... →
Surface miners developing remote environmental audits - Aspasa
By: Schalk Burger 18th June 2021 Planning is under way for members of surface mining industry association THE Aggregates and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) to deliver detailed environmental audits remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic that may be extended beyond the lockdown if required. “Covid-19 and... →
Northern Cape manganese ready to be mined
By: Halima Frost 18th June 2021 Specialist mining advisory company Ukwazi Mining engineer Jaco Mans tells Mining Weekly that South Africa has the capacity and capability to meet the increasing global demand for manganese. He explains that the Northern Cape holds more than 70% of the global manganese reserves and that the area... →
Aspasa hopes to have concerns heard via online meetings with the DMRE
By: Simone Liedtke 15th June 2021 Surface mining industry association the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) has compiled its “big four” priorities to address problems and opportunities in the industry. The association has been mandated by its members to approach the with the Department of... →
Air classifiers replacing wet classification in quarries
By: Claire O'Reilly 4th June 2021 Pressure on the quarrying industry and mining sector to reduce water consumption is at an all-time high, resulting in an increased shift towards quarries’ moving away from wet classification technology towards dry classification technology, such as the Fisher Air Separator (FAS), this is... →
Colleagues pay tribute to Wits’ Fred Cawood as he prepares to retire 
By: Donna Slater 10th May 2021 After 22 years with the Wits School of Mining Engineering, Wits Mining Institute director Professor Fred Cawood is planning to retire at the end of May, starting what he calls his “second life” at the age of 60. He explains that the theory behind a “second life” is based on Japanese work ethics... →
Skills development integral to sector mandate
By: Darren Parker 7th May 2021 The mining industry needs to employ more skilled workers with higher qualifications to progress and modernise, which will, in turn, enable the industry to operate safer and more efficiently, says mining investment company Menar group social licensing manager Xolile Mankayi. Menar runs several... →
New excavator hits local shores
By: Darren Parker 30th April 2021 Original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Bell Equipment, which through its Southern African distribution network is the exclusive distributor of Japanese OEM Kobelco excavators in Southern Africa, has introduced the tenth-generation Kobelco SK220XD excavator to South Africa. Bell Equipment marketing... →
New drill promises better efficiency
By: Darren Parker 30th April 2021 Original-equipment manufacturer Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions launched its new Top Hammer XL large-hole drilling system for large-scale surface mining and quarry applications through a global virtual event on March 24. The new machines are available to order, with the first machines ready for... →
Menar extends opencast coal operations
By: Darren Parker 30th April 2021 Mineral resources investment group Menar’s subsidiary Canyon Coal is ploughing ahead with plans to begin the development of two new coal mines – De Wittekrans near Hendrina, in Mpumalanga, and Bekezela Colliery in Springs, Gauteng – this year. Menar MD Vuslat Bayoglu said in a statement issued in... →
WIDENING PROSPECTS Several opencast mine exptensions are currently being planned and developed by Menar’s coal mining subsidiaries
Demand high for automated fuel system
By: Darren Parker 30th April 2021 Since the launch of a fuel automation system at the Investing in African Mining Indaba in February last year, mining technology company Minetec Smart Mining has seen significant demand for the technology. The fuel automation system allows for the management of fuel allocation and expenditure to... →
V-shaped economic recovery to help surface miners recover, says economist
By: Donna Slater 9th February 2021 With signs of a V-shaped economic recovery, economist Dr Roelof Botha says the surface mining industry will recover in line with hard lockdown’s ending and increased demand for building materials. Speaking during a recent 250 member attended webinar on behalf of surface mining industry... →
Contractor learns lockdown lessons
By: Darren Parker 29th January 2021 The main lesson learned over the past year is that, regardless of the challenges and new limitations brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, good relationships are key to keeping businesses well-enthused and optimistic, says mining services company Basil Read Mining CEO Nathan Williams. “Even... →
Online hub launched to boost home-grown mining equipment development
By: Donna Slater 12th November 2020 To increase local manufacturing and the attractiveness and attention thereof, the Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP) and the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (Memsa) have launched the Technology Availability and Readiness Atlas (Tara). The launch on November 12 coincided with the... →
Collision avoidance system installed, investment on track for Menar
By: Mamaili Mamaila 23rd October 2020 Mining investment firm Menar recently procured a collision avoidance system (CAS), which has been installed in all the company’s opencast mobile equipment, notes Menar chairperson Mpumelelo Mkhabela. →
Aspasa tightens requirements for its members around fair competition, social aspects
By: Marleny Arnoldi 21st October 2020 The Aggregate & Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) has introduced a new set of policies for members to uphold, which relate to all aspects of surface mining operations. Aspasa director Nico Pienaar says the code documents good, ethical behaviour and says that, while most... →
Mobile pumps prove useful in opencast mining
11th September 2020 The mobility of trailer-mounted pumps has earned them a reputation for versatility and efficiency, according to pump-leasing agent Integrated Pump Rental. The company claims that its range of Sykes pumps in mobile configuration has encountered “enthusiastic” take-up in various markets, from large... →
Strategic penetration of pumps market under way
By: Darren Parker 11th September 2020 Engine manufacturer Cummins is strategically targeting the dewatering pumps market in Africa and the Middle East using a two-pronged approach by working with original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end-users. “We see a lot of opportunity in the pumps sector, with much room for growth. Pumps,... →
Plug-and-play pumps range launched
By: Darren Parker 11th September 2020 Industrial pump manufacturer Verder Pumps South Africa has launched the Verderflex iDura – a new range of pumps – during the 2020 Electra Mining Connect week online event, hosted from 7 to 11 September. The iDura pump range is a plug-and-play version of the existing Dura hose pump range and... →
Rental pump option preserves capital
By: Darren Parker 11th September 2020 Portable air and power rental company Rand-Air, a subsidiary of industrial equipment manufacturer Atlas Copco, has introduced the Weda range of dewatering pumps to its suite of rental options to meet demand from the market. This comes after the range of pumps was added as a purchase-only option... →
Aspasa echoes Minerals Council South Africa’s call to root out corruption
By: Donna Slater 4th September 2020 Surface mining industry association Aspasa has thrown its full weight behind the Minerals Council South Africa’s call for visible leadership in the eradication of corruption. Representing mainly smaller surface mines, Aspasa accounts for a large portion of the overall number of mines in South... →
Accommodation for Aus SoP mine on track
28th August 2020 Work on the Beyondie sulphate of potash (SoP) project’s non-process infrastructure, which includes 60 additional rooms for construction accommodation, has continued apace, notes a press release by ASX-listed exploration and development company Kalium Lakes. The Beyondie SoP project initially... →
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