CRADLE TO GRAVE •
EXPLORING PMC: SAFETY, ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE, TECHNOLOGICAL COURAGE, HUMAN-CENTRED INNOVATION( PART 2)
By Sharyn Macnamara
African Mining, incorporating Mining Mirror takes an inside look at how innovation is redefining safety and efficiency in modern mining at Palabora Mining Company( PMC). mining industry. As a publication that has long prided itself on integrity, accurate reporting and elevating the voices of real experts, African Mining welcomed the opportunity when PMC invited us onsite.
In June 2025, we visited PMC, known for its unequivocal commitment to‘ safety first’, an ethos evident from the very moment a rare series of in-depth interviews began with the mine’ s inhouse engineers, project managers, metallurgists and specialists driving groundbreaking initiatives across underground expansion and ventilation, magnetite projects, milling technology, flotation efficiency and copper recovery, among so much more.
All images supplied by PMC
Pieter Coetzer handled the underground installation of modular Crusher Five – a world-first design which has already drawn international attention for being the largest and deepest crusher of its kind globally, installed at around 1 700m underground.
This story is one of unique innovation driven by mine leadership’ s commitment to Zero Harm, together with employee initiatives at Palabora Copper( Pty) Ltd – a subsidiary of the Palabora Mining Company( PMC). This leading South African copper mine’ s latest flagship projects and technological feats have enormous production objectives that are aimed at ensuring current and future business sustainability.
It is not often that one is granted access to a team of next generation mining innovators – those quietly re-inventing and reshaping safety, sustainability and technological direction of the
“ Before we start,” said Aidan Schoonbee, executive manager for PMC’ s Lift II Projects, Concentrator & VIP,“ we always open with a safety share – it’ s part of who we are.” This set the tone for a sequence of revealing, deeply technical conversations that underscore why PMC shines as a leader in innovation, research and development – and the nurturing of its employees and the future mining talent. Schoonbee introduced the session saying,“ Our underground construction and infrastructure teams have recently completed 1 000 days lost time injury-free, which is an excellent achievement when considering heavy construction in an underground environment.”
Over the course of several hours, African Mining heard stories of ingenuity – often world and regional firsts – that demonstrate how the discipline, curiosity and creativity of mining professionals can meaningfully transform an industry.
World’ s first modular crusher Our first conversation was with Pieter Coetzer, a seasoned project manager with sixteen years’ experience underground, working on the Lift II, PMC’ s Growth Expansion Project. Coetzer explained that the project includes conveyors and crushers, offering a current production rate of around 2 000 tonnes / hour. The aim is to complete Lift II in three years to develop access to ore resources sufficient to extend the life of this copper mine beyond 2040.
Coetzer handled the underground installation of modular Crusher Five – a world-first design which has already drawn international attention for being the largest and deepest crusher of its kind globally, installed at around 1 700m underground. He noted that the crusher is installed at 1 269m below sea level which makes it
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