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Opencast Quarries News
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... →
Pandemic prevents further engagement on housing draft
28th August 2020 A call for further engagement with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) regarding the 2019 Draft Review of Housing and Living Conditions Standard has stalled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown in South Africa. The draft standard requires that mines... →
Electra Mining Africa 2020 going digital with Connect – and it’s free of charge
By: Martin Creamer 20th August 2020 The Electra Mining Africa Connect week will enable exhibitors to promote their products and services free of charge alongside industry-related informative webinars, media activations and product showcase opportunities from September 7 to 11. For the first time in 48 years, Electra Mining Africa... →
Keras acquiring a controlling stake in high-grade Utah phosphate project
By: Donna Slater 31st July 2020 Project developer Keras Resources is acquiring a 51% interest in the Diamond Creek phosphate mine, in Utah, in the US, from phosphate miner Falcon Isle Holdings on the basis that Keras provides a $2.5-million loan facility to Falcon Isle. The loan agreement will be paid in four tranches and... →
Afrimat continues pursuit of UCP
By: Schalk Burger 23rd July 2020 Industrial minerals and construction materials company Afrimat on July 22 announced its firm intention to acquire Unicorn Capital Partners (UCP). UCP’s business comprises of mobile crane hire, exploration drilling services, drilling and blasting, opencast and underground mining and earthmoving... →
Next-generation shovel designed for better performance
By: Darren Parker 17th July 2020 Original-equipment manufacturer Caterpillar opened orders for its next generation Cat 6060 hydraulic mining shovel late last year, although none have been sold in Africa yet. Caterpillar hydraulic mining shovels senior product application specialist Dirk Tegtmeier explains that there are many... →
Automation technology solution can help smaller mines
By: Cameron Mackay 3rd July 2020 Earthmoving technology supplier Caterpillar’s new cloud-based technology platform, MineStar Edge, can be used to manage production cost effectively, particularly on small surface mines. “Many smaller mines rely on people, often haul truck operators, to manually record production information on... →
Supplier saves mining industry time, money
By: Theresa Bhowan 19th June 2020 Power transmission products distributor Bearings International (BI) is supplying bearings manufacturer Dodge ISN bearings to the quarrying sector to address contamination – the leading cause of premature bearing failure in the industry. →
Miner works at lower capacity owing to demand, not legislation
By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th June 2020 Demand for premium-grade aggregate material is dwindling and so is production from quarrying operations, says building material company AfriSam. →
Mobile screening plant proves highly efficient
19th June 2020 Earthmoving equipment supplier HPE Africa’s McCloskey S250 screener – one of the largest tracked-mounted mobile vibratory screening plants available – has been designed for highly-efficient aggregate material screening. →
New compressors provide faster drilling, reduced fuel costs
19th June 2020 Compressor and generator supplier Rand-Air has acquired two Atlas Copco DrillAir Y1260 variable high pressure (21 bar to 35 bar) compressors. This new technology – from the world’s leading manufacturer of compressor and generator equipment – has been scientifically designed around pressure and... →
This year's Electra Mining cancelled
By: Donna Slater 29th May 2020 Organisers of Southern Africa’s mining, manufacturing, automation, electrical and power trade exhibition Electra Mining Africa, Specialised Exhibitions, reports that the 2020 edition of the trade fair has been cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s show had been scheduled to... →
Nondigital mines losing out on R213bn in value
By: Donna Slater 28th May 2020 An updated version of a 2017 study conducted by professional services firm Accenture in collaboration with the World Economic Forum – the 'Extracting Value and Building Resilience with Data-led Mining in South Africa' report – highlights that, with a combination of seven digital initiatives,... →
Afrimat says all its mines will be at full operating capacity in June
By: Marleny Arnoldi 21st May 2020 JSE-listed openpit miner Afrimat says it entered the Covid-19 lockdown with a strong balance sheet that will help it weather the uncertain and volatile business climate that is expected to prevail in the immediate future. The company points out that the partial reopening of the Demaneng... →
PEA estimates 'robust' economics for Deep-South's Namibia copper project
By: Donna Slater 21st May 2020 TSX-listed Deep-South Resources reports that, using a heap leach treatment operation, its openpit Haib copper project, in Namibia, demonstrates robust economics. An updated preliminary economic assessment (PEA), conducted by METS Engineering Group, considered an indicated mineral resource of... →
Miners learning lessons from global Covid-19 experiences
By: Simone Liedtke 12th May 2020 Information gathered from across the globe is paving the way for South Africa’s surface mines to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 disease in the workplace and mitigate its effects during and after the pandemic, Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) says. With the... →
Aspasa advises on preparing stockpiles for rapid post-lockdown deliveries
By: Donna Slater 6th May 2020 Surface mining industry association Aspasa has advised its members to use the time between the reopening of surface mines and the delivery of products wisely, by preparing smart stockpiles, internal roadway systems and traffic separation measures to deal quickly and safely with a pickup in demand... →
Miner implements enterprise, supplier development
By: Halima Frost 1st May 2020 Ranked as one of the top five coal miners in South Africa, diversified miner Exxaro Resources has sought to implement leading practices in enterprise and supplier development across the company’s core functional areas. Exxaro currently supplies local and domestic markets with thermal,... →
Autonomous rig to boost safety, efficacy
By: Halima Frost 1st May 2020 Drilling and blasting contractor Blasting & Excavating (B&E) intends to add the REL C650 series of autonomous drill rigs to its portfolio to offer a higher level of safety and efficacy to the opencast operations it services. The first rig is being manufactured in India and will be handed over to... →
Zero harm difficult to attain – Aspasa
By: Halima Frost 1st May 2020 Surface mining association Aspasa director Nico Pienaar tells Mining Weekly that the surface mining industry currently faces many challenges that need to be addressed so that mines can achieve the ultimate goal of zero harm. These include illegal mining not being adequately addressed by the... →
Proper wash-bays prove beneficial
By: Halima Frost 1st May 2020 Investing in a ‘proper’ wash-bay water cannon can save money and time on vehicle upkeep and maintenance for an opencast operation, says fire protection supplier DoseTech MD Mike Feldon. He notes that operations often uses standard fire protection ‘monitors’ or water cannons, which are not fit for... →
Adviser streamlines mine processes
By: Halima Frost 30th April 2020 Specialist mining advisory company Ukwazi Mining Solutions was selected to assist a major mining client with the streamlining and automation of its planning process for a sizeable Southern Africa openpit coal operation last year. “The client had many challenges ranging from inconsistent data... →
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