MINING IN FOCUS
1990s. They redesigned the infrastructure; new shafts were sunk, and they
did away with the footwall development. Furthermore, they entered into
partnership with Sandvik Tamrock and travelled the world to observe best
practice. Importantly, they spent money on research and introduced low-
profile and extra low-profile equipment. Dixon says that one reason for its
failure, in his opinion, was that there was no alignment in the organisation,
particularly with the board of directors, and Mills paid the ultimate price.
For Dixon, Impala Platinum’s Zimplats operation in Zimbabwe, is the best
example of a mechanised operation. “I was involved with four feasibility
studies for their portals and their redesigned infrastructure in which they
stuck to less than nine degrees. Furthermore, they had the whole team on
board and understood the orebody,” he says.
A holistic view
Consulting engineer, Roger Dixon, speaking at the African Mining Network.
According to mine specialist and CEO of advisory firm Eunomix, Claude Baissac,
modernisation is not only about what happens inside the mine, but also what
happens around the mine. Baissac was the other guest speaker at the African
Mines Network. “We need to start thinking about how everything connects
and stop thinking that the environment, communities, unsafe roads and HIV
is somebody else’s responsibility,” says Baissac. “We have to start creating
intelligent systems around a mining operation. If a mine wants to move ahead,
it needs to be aware of its past and where they are today. There is a need for
people with vision to see where we are going in the future,” says Baissac.
“The disruption as a result of the fourth industrial revolution is affecting
twenty-first century mining, employment and skills. Organisational success
and sustainability begins or ends with leadership. A leader is inextricably
linked to an organisation’s culture and shapes the leadership team, which
in turn filters this influence through every area of an organisation, including
the performance and productivity of the workforce,” Cawood adds.
Driving a circular economy
For Kevin Reynders, managing director at South African equipment
manufacturer, Rham, modernisation of the mining industry is also
about creating a circular economy. He says that if mines support local
organisations, more jobs will be created, and the mines will be more
productive. “Mines need to collaborate and work with local organisations
to develop equipment that will meet their specific demands. A circular
economy thus happens when mines buy and use locally-manufactured
equipment. Rham specialises in the manufacture of underground mining
equipment and has recently launched the first battery operated LHD.
There are only a handful of underground mining equipment manufacturers
in South Africa, and they have to compete with well-known global brands.
But Reynders believes that new regulations in Mining Charter III, whereby
mining companies are required to procure a minimum of 70% from local
manufacturers, will give the local economy a major boost. “Using locally
According to Professor Fred Cawood, director at the Wits Mining Institute
at Wits University, effective leadership is crucial to achieve this vision. “The
need for growing talent and leadership for the South African economy – and
the mining sector in particular – is greater than ever before,” says Cawood.
Mine specialist and CEO of advisory firm Eunomix, Claude Baissac.
manufactured equipment will increase productivity and employment, and
will drive down cost,” Reynders tells African Mining.
Reynders and Rham carefully study trends and current operations before
implementing new technology. And it has worked for them. Mining
companies that are currently using Rham LHD machines have made
significant cost savings, and their productivity has increased. In one study,
three conventional LHD machines were compared with a Rham machine
and, according to Reynders, the fuel saving was so much on a fleet of 20,
that the mine could buy an additional two machines with the savings in
one year. The Rham LHD machines run off a hydrostatic system. According
to Reynders, the Rham machine consumed, during the study, 17 litres of
fuel compared with its closest competitor, which used more than 24 litres.
Another machine used close to 28 litres of fuel per hour. “The sad thing is
that most mines don’t even measure their fuel consumption. Our study has
proved without a doubt that fuel and tyres are by far the most expensive
cost on any mine,” says Reynders.
Reynders is a big proponent of modernisation, but he believes that mining
companies will have to adapt to changes and that will require a mind shift.
“Mining companies still design mines according to what equipment is
available, and then they get to a point where it is not profitable to mine
because the equipment available and the mining conditions don’t talk to
each other. Reynders adds that many underground mines in South Africa
need to use battery-operated machines as they don’t have the necessary
ventilation in place to ensure a safe and sustainable operation. “One of
the biggest challenges in underground mines is the high level of diesel
particulate matter, and by using battery driven equipment, the underground
environment becomes a lot cleaner and safer,” he says.
Professor Fred Cawood, director
at the Wits Mining Institute at
Wits University.
www. africanmining.co.za
Kevin Reynders, managing
director at South African
equipment manufacturer, Rham.
African Mining Publication
“Modernisation means we all need to work together, including the banks,
financial institutions and research institutions like the CSIR and universities.
The main aim should be to create sustainable jobs. South African mines
have become so deep that the mining companies are not always sure how
to mine these deposits. What better way to modernise than to use local
companies that are familiar with South African conditions, and who know
what the mines need, and are able to produce equipment specific to South
African conditions” says Reynders.
African Mining
African Mining September 2019
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