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Project Management News

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,... →

Trainer to benefit from investment, mature sector

By: Cameron Mackay 22nd May 2020 Virtual mining training solutions provider Immersive Technologies is encouraged by the “maturity level” of companies in Botswana, particularly in terms of technology. It is, therefore, looking forward to contributing to the wave of development in the country, spurred by continued investment from... →

MAUN TRAINING CENTRE The mining simulators are deployed to optimise operational techniques for new hires

Consulting company hopes to enter mining sector

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 15th May 2020 Engineering consulting and management practice Zimile Consulting Engineers intends to diversify into the mining sector and believes that it is equipped and skilled to deliver quality service, says Zimile Consulting Engineers COO Fergus Feltman. “Given the scale and nature of work that the company... →

WATER PROJECTS Bulk earthworks for Metro Municipality water reservoir

Spillway gates increase dam capacity

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 8th May 2020 Increasing the capacity of return water dams results in additional water for mine use, particularly when considering the water-intensive nature of mining activities, and the consumption of water by staff and residential communities in and around a mine. Automatic water control equipment supplier... →

FREE FLOWING A dam can be raised up to 6 m and can double its capacity with the addition of spillway gates

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... →

WORKING AT THE WASH BAY A well-equipped wash bay has multiple benefits for an opencast operation

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... →

COAL-ITION Ukwazi Mining Solution's has partnered with a major coal mining client to maximize the efficacy of its planning processes

Morale high as Covid-masked South African miners get back to work

By: Martin Creamer 28th April 2020 Morale is reportedly high as Covid-masked and physically distanced South African mineworkers get back to mining underground for companies that have gone the extra mile to ensure that they have been fully remunerated and host communities generously funded during the national lockdown. In a... →

Mineworkers with personal protective equipment.

Wesizwe Platinum expecting earnings to soar

By: Martin Creamer 24th April 2020 Platinum group metals (PGM) mining company Wesizwe is expecting earnings to soar. Wesizwe stated in a stock exchange news service trading statement that its board of directors is expecting to report 2019 basic earnings per share of between 5.80 c and 6.87 c per share, which would be between 207%... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Wesizwe's Bakubung.

Acquisition enhances ability to service mining sector

By: Cameron Mackay 17th April 2020 Operations management consulting firm DuPont Sustainable Solutions (DSS) has acquired the assets of global consulting firm Lodestone Partners. The acquisition, effective as of February 29, reportedly deepens DSS’s knowledge and capacity for operational excellence, particularly in the natural... →

DAVIDE VASSALLO The companies’ experience of working in the base metals industry enables DSS to better service this sector

Sorting solution shows potential in metals sectors

By: Cameron Mackay 17th April 2020 Ore-processing equipment supplier TOMRA Sorting Mining has provided X-ray transmission (XRT) sensor-based ore sorting technology for two local mining plant projects on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex, in Limpopo, which were commissioned recently. TOMRA Sorting Mining senior VP... →

XRT TECHNOLOGY MARKET P2E realised that sensor-based sorting, as a toll-treatment option, has benefits over DMS technology

Micromine launches software subscription model for Africa-based users

By: Donna Slater 15th April 2020 Mining software solutions provider Micromine has launched a new pay-as-you-go subscription model for African clients to keep pace with industry needs. The Australian-headquartered company, with a regional office in Johannesburg, will make the change from contract-based licensing to subscription... →

Company provides flexible power for Tanzanian mines

By: Cameron Mackay 10th April 2020 Mining companies in Tanzania continue face the challenge of ensuring continuous and stable power to their operations, and that their carbon footprint is reduced. Global energy services provider Aggreko, a company specialising in temporary power solutions, aims to support its mining clients in... →

CONNECTING THE WATTS The current energy situation in Tanzania has ensured that renting solutions from Aggreko is beneficial

Covid-19 impact might extend to resource nationalisation

By: Cameron Mackay 10th April 2020 The spread of Covid-19 is likely to significantly impact on the Tanzanian mining and natural resources sector. This could be exacerbated by artisanal, small-scale and illegal mining, which could further pose health and environmental concerns, according to multinational law practice Eversheds... →

WARREN BEACH Investors are understandably cautious but investments are still being made because of the vast natural resources available in Tanzania

Gold miner announces doubling of resources

10th April 2020 Gold miner Tanzanian Gold Corporation announced last month that it had received an update of the estimated mineral resources in the company’s Buckreef Shear Zone, from engineering services provider Virimai Projects, the company’s technical adviser. The update more than doubles the estimated... →

GOLD DOUBLE UP

The updated mineral resource for the Buckreef Shear Zone, measured and indicated, totals about 40.9-million tonnes grading 1.73 g/t and comprising 2.27-million ounces of gold

Photo by Bloomberg
GOLD DOUBLE UP The updated mineral resource for the Buckreef Shear Zone, measured and indicated, totals about 40.9-million tonnes grading 1.73 g/t and comprising 2.27-million ounces of gold

Too early to comment on when mining will resume – Minerals Council

By: Martin Creamer 9th April 2020 Comment on when mining industry operations will resume is premature but what is certain is that when resumption does occur, it will not be business as usual, Minerals Council South Africa said on Thursday. Noting reports on the resumption of mining operations after 16 April, Minerals Council... →

Satellite imaging helps monitoring of remote mining operations

By: Donna Slater 9th April 2020 Satellite imaging of remote mining operations can be used to track and visually represent surface changes, ranging from the areal extent of surface operations, surface water, surface disturbances and the addition or removal of surface infrastructure – a vital component of mining management amid... →

Miner confident of new licence

By: Cameron Mackay 27th March 2020 Local coal miner Canyon Coal has applied for a new water use licence (WUL), in terms of the National Water Act, to develop its De Wittekrans coal project. De Wittekrans has an environmental authorisation, a mining right and a WUL. The reserve will be mined using opencast and underground mining... →

ACE IN THE COAL Product from the mine has been offered to Eskom through two separate tender processes

Coal remains vital to energy mix

By: Cameron Mackay 27th March 2020 Despite increased regulatory pressure regarding the environmental impacts of its mining, storage and use in power generation, coal is still essential to the local energy mix, says engineering consultancy WSP power generation consultant Wayne Lindecke. “We are not naïve to the negative... →

WAYNE LINDECKE As a country, we’re evolving and trying to get our energy mix right, so we are dependent on coal and will still be for a while

Coal faces funding troubles

By: Cameron Mackay 27th March 2020 While demand for coal is still rising, there has been a local trend towards financing more sustainable and ‘green’ projects. Through public and shareholder pressure and aligning with global trends, local financial institutions are also reconsidering their approach towards funding new coal... →

Photo by Creamer Media
THE COAL STORY Currently, about 77% of the country’s electricity is generated from coal

New-generation loader set for South Africa

27th March 2020 Orders have already been placed by major South African coal miners for solutions provider Sandvik’s new LS312 flameproof underground loader. The first active units will start rolling off the local production line in the second quarter of this year, according to Sandvik Mining and Rock... →

QUIETER & CLEANER Powered by the C7.1 mechanical engine, the new generation LS312 complies with Tier II emissions standards while ensuring quieter, and more efficient operation

Sector rich in opportunities, despite recent trends

27th March 2020 In South Africa, as well as globally, there has been a trend towards renewable energy sources and away from thermal coal. Empowered coal miner Seriti Resources CEO Mike Teke states that, as the company aims to become State-owned power utility Eskom’s largest coal supplier and also has hopes to... →

AT BECK AND COAL Coal-fired power will continue to fundamentally underpin of the growth of the local economy for the foreseeable future

Stormwater, earthworks completed, company continues growth

By: Cameron Mackay 27th March 2020 Local bulk earthworks solutions provider Icon Group finalised the stormwater and civil infrastructure earthworks at the end of February this year for an expansion of coal miner Canyon Coal’s opencast Phalanndwa Colliery, which situated east of Delmas, in Mpumalanga. Icon’s work on the site is... →

A COAL NEW WORLD Involvement in this project has provided an ideal way for Icon to become more established in the local coal sector

R2.8bn staff housing project continues apace

By: Halima Frost 27th March 2020 Platinum group metals mining company Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) has to date invested almost R1-billion, of a projected R2.8-billion, in the housing project devised for its staff, in line with its aspirational creed to engage in “More than Mining”. The intention with the housing project is... →

MORE THAN A HOUSE Royal Bafokeng Platinum continues to uplift its workers by affording them the opportunity to own their own homes

Policy crucial to decarbonisation

By: Cameron Mackay 20th March 2020 The local mining industry, while dealing with challenges stemming from production decline over the past few years, is witnessing an evolving regulatory landscape, particularly with the development of an integrated carbon and air-quality regulatory framework. According to the Intergovernmental... →

SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES The industry faces challenges to reduce emissions given associated financial implications, including the impact on capital and operational efficiency

Kangra awaits licence approvals

By: Cameron Mackay 20th March 2020 Local coal miner Kangra Coal is planning an extension to its Savmore/Maquasa coal mining operation, in Mpumalanga, with Kangra Coal environmental specialist Niketiwe Dlamini noting that the company is awaiting the approval and issuing of the necessary environmental licences. The miner is required... →

NIKETIWE DLAMINI As a main contributor to our GDP and as an extractive industry, mining has environmental and community impacts, hence the importance of environmental impact assessments

Moves afoot to 'futureproof' South Africa's drones regulations

By: Donna Slater 20th March 2020 Regulations governing drones, officially referred to as remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), have been stagnant since July 2015, when the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) first introduced regulations to formalise the industry. →

Policy review could improve investor confidence

By: Darren Parker 21st February 2020 Mining consulting firm The MSA Group is hoping that the review of Namibia’s Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act will enhance the country’s “friendliness” toward mining investors. The MSA Group principal consultant Mike Robertson says the 1992 legislation has been under review since 2018.... →

DRIVING INVESTMENT Namibia’s reliable transport infrastructure, despite the remote nature of many sites of mineral interest, is attractive to investors

Copperbelt spells opportunity for firm

By: Darren Parker 21st February 2020 Superior, modern exploration techniques have resulted in a surge of interest in the Kalahari Copperbelt in recent years, with the uptick in the 2019 year-end copper price spurring exploration activity. The Kalahari Copperbelt, which is regarded as one of the world’s most promising underexplored... →

BELT OF POTENTIAL The 1 000 km long Kalahari Copperbelt Is regarded as one of the world’s most promising underexplored copper provinces

Unified systems enable optimal analysis

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 21st February 2020 Mines typically use various disconnected systems, which creates silos or pockets of disparate information, necessitating that an employee manually collate and analyse the information to reach a conclusion – a time-consuming process that could last for weeks. This has resulted in mining companies’... →

Short-termism hinders project management

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 21st February 2020 Developing strategies is much easier than implementing them, which is why many strategies are never successfully implemented, says University of Pretoria (UP) Graduate School of Technology Management project management specialist Professor Herman Steyn. He adds that project portfolio management... →

GET THE JOB DONE project portfolio management is an effective way of implementing company strategy through projects

Leaders must adapt to seize opportunities

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 21st February 2020 Africa’s status as a continent of abundant resources crucial to global development has prompted foreign investors to increase their presence in Africa to capitalise on growth opportunities, says Project Management South Africa (PMSA) director Robert Best, adding that project leaders need to focus... →

ROBERT BEST Project managers need to focus on a success-building mindset in the mining sector

Budget deficit reflects mining decline in DRC

By: Halima Frost 7th February 2020 Macroeconomic researcher Fitch Solutions expects that the Congolese budget deficit will widen from an estimated 0.7% of gross domestic product in 2019 to 1.1% in 2020, owing to declining revenues from the mining sector. The Congolese mining sector has a major bearing on government revenues,... →

DARK DAYS The mining industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced some dark times over the last few years

Gold paper released at global forum

By: Halima Frost 7th February 2020 The collaborative paper, titled Kibali Gold Mine sulphide concentrate treatment – understanding the pre-oxidation of sulphide concentrates, was presented by dual-listed miner Barrick Gold’s Kibali gold mine technical manager Dr Thamsanqa Mahlangu at the World Gold 2019 conference held in Perth,... →

RAMP UP The separators at Kibali will be ramped up to full sulphides in future

Land agreement in motion for cobalt producer

By: Halima Frost 7th February 2020 Katanga Mining, the Glencore subsidiary that operates in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has, as reported by Mining Weekly Online last month, reached an agreement to acquire land where it could build a new long-term tailings facility for its 75%-owned Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) operation.... →

Mechanical seal solution saves water at mine

By: Cameron Mackay 31st January 2020 Pump solutions provider Mechanical Rotating Solutions (MRS) contributed to a Limpopo-based platinum mine’s water-saving initiative towards the end of 2019 by replacing the existing pump gland packing with AESSEAL single cartridge seals. The replacement project resulted from the mine’s... →

SEAL OF APPROVAL MRS can provide affordable seal conversion kits to upgrade seals or change the OEM equipment seal environment to improve seal life

Global pumps manufacturer brings training and expertise to SA

By: Cameron Mackay 31st January 2020 Pump manufacturer and independent maintenance specialist Sulzer is investing in its South African operations to ensure that it is well positioned to cover the needs of the mining sector locally and in Southern Africa. “Sulzer is continually investing in its personnel and facilities to enhance its... →

HANDS-ON TRAINING Training can involve using a cut-away model to help explain the function of the internal components and how they interact

Minister publishes Draft Mine Community Resettlement Guidelines 2019

31st January 2020 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe published the 2019 Draft Mine Community Resettlement Guidelines (Draft Resettlement Guidelines) for public comment on December 4. As the public comment period ran over the festive season, the closing date for submission of written... →

Change management key to digital success

By: Darren Parker 24th January 2020 When investing in digitalisation and automation, change management is one of the key challenges that needs to be addressed globally, and not only in the African mining industry, says global engineering company Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology Southern Africa automation business line manager... →

AUTOMATION GENERATION Part of the change management required is the need to upskill and reskill personnel

Company Announcements

Dealing with fire risk in a mining environment

The outsourced asset care service – is this a panacea for the struggling maintenance departments of small to medium-sized enterprises?

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