CRADLE TO GRAVE •
the ongoing magnetite expansion project of the disc filter plant, aiming to increase drying capacity for the magnetite stream to 12 million tonnes per annum.
“ The disc filter plant will allow us to eliminate reliance on drying ponds( with a cycle of about 14 days). TSF reclamation has the potential to extend the life of the mine beyond 2040, with up to 60 years’ worth of historic tailings,” she explained.( Scan this QR code to view a short excerpt of the interview with Mulaudzi.) https:// youtu. be / aIUTF3wEoa8
Project manager, Tshepo Malatji, who is currently managing four magnetite beneficiation projects to improve quality then spoke to yet another awe-inspiring initiative – the refurbishment of old milling circuits. This project involves the resurrection of moth-balled mills manufactured in 1964, long considered beyond salvage.“ These mills were cannibalised for spares and left dormant for years,” he said.“ They used to process copper decades ago, and now we are repurposing them for modern magnetite recovery.”
Schoonbee added important context,“ This innovation lies in reusing obsolete equipment, rather than purchasing new mills. These assets were so old that spare parts no longer existed and many of the OEMs themselves no longer exist. So, the team had to reverse-engineer every component from scratch.”
Modern upgrades are already incorporated into the new mills which now include state-of-the-art lubrication systems and magnetic liners – the first of their kind in the country. Unlike traditional liners, these adhere magnetically to the mill shell, extending lifespan from 18 months to an anticipated five or six years.
Other innovations Malatji is working on include a new reclaim conveyor to replace hydro-mining; a new magnetic separation plant and a new ball mill designed and built from scratch.
Together, these projects will significantly enhance beneficiation, upgrading magnetite from the country’ s standard 58 % iron to beyond 65 % – capturing more value locally before export.( Scan this QR code to view a short excerpt of the interview with Malatji.) https:// youtube. com / shorts / fgw9vSVqGsk? feature = share
A culture of innovation Wendy Maritz, manager of the organisation’ s powerful employeedriven innovation VIP( Value Improving Practices) programme, pointed out the driving force behind all of these innovations.“ We have received more than 3 000 ideas from employees,” she said.“ We have implemented between 10 % and 15 % of them. Some improve safety – helping prevent incidents. Others enhance productivity or sustainability. We have also rewarded around 670 employees with monetary vouchers for their contributions.”
The company’ s philosophy is simple: Every employee has a voice. Every idea is considered. No supervisor’ s permission is required.
Linked to this programme is a robust, well-funded research and development function involving partnering with OEMs, academic institutions and research bodies. These teams publish papers, present at global seminars and are preparing patents – several from the very projects discussed in this article.( Scan this QR code to view a short excerpt of the interview with Maritz). https:// youtu. be /-kcuLYfh7q8
PMC – building the future Mining is undergoing transformation – shaped by digital intelligence, ESG imperatives and a workforce that demands meaning and purpose.
PMC embodies mining‘ reimagined’ with a commitment to safety, engineering excellence, technological courage and humancentered innovation. It is not theoretical, it is lived daily by a fully engaged workforce, in underground crushers that break world records, in fan stations pushing the limits of CFD analytics, in flotation plants governed by smart sensors and cameras, in mills reborn with magnetic liners, in refuge bays capable of saving 100 lives in a worst-case scenario, and so much more. Most importantly, however, it is lived by people – young, driven, brilliant minds empowered to question, redesign, reinvent and improve.
Where safety, innovation and sustainability meet, the result is not just operational excellence but a blueprint for the mining industry of the future. •
To read,“ Exploring PMC – so much more than a mine( part 1)”, visit https:// www. africanmining. co. za / 2025 / 06 / 01 / exploring-pmc-somuch-more-than-a-mine-part-1 /
African Mining, incorporating Mining Mirror thanks the PMC team – and in particular Aidan Schoonbee, Abby Ledwaba and Zani Kutumela – for sharing the company’ s story and for their fearless drive to innovate for posterity’ s sake. Their passion for mining, community and our beautiful world shines through the headwinds currently pounding the mining industry – the backbone of global economies essential to the survival of the human race.
www. africanmining. co. za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • January 2026 • 73