TEAM
EDITOR ’ S COMMENT
VOL 15 | ISSUE 4 | JULY - AUGUST 2023
In this issue ...
Women in the front line of progress at BME Pg 18 www . fmdrc-zambia . com
CENTRAL AFRICA ' S PREMIER BUSINESS TO BUSINESS MINING MAGAZINE
Why DRC mines need water stewardship collaboration
KCC promotes career development opportunities for young Congolese Pg 30
Pushing the limits of technical feasibility Pg 34
Cover Image : SRK Consulting
COVER STORY : PG 26
Why DRC mines need collaboration for water stewardship
While there is no shortage of water in the DRC ) mines have other water-related challenges to face – not least of which is their impact on ground water levels due to dewatering . SRK DRC country manager Susa Maleba and SRK Consulting partner and principal environmental scientist Wouter Jordaan explain why water stewardship is the right approach to deal with this increasingly sensitive issue .
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TEAM
Editor Bertha M . bertham @ fmdrc-zambia
Sub-Editor Anthony Kiganda
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EDITOR ’ S COMMENT
Digitizing African mines key to unlocking full potential
The mineral industry of Africa is the second-largest mineral industry in the world . Unfortunately , a lack of systematic geological mapping and
exploration means that the full scope of the continent ’ s resources remains unknown . According to Brookings , to unlock mineral-rich African countries ’ full potential , mining companies and African governments must embrace Fourth Industrial Revolution ( 4IR ) technologies . Artificial intelligence ( AI ), automation , and big data can help mining firms limit damage to the environment , improve working conditions , reduce operating costs , and boost productivity .
The digital age is set to disrupt the lives of individuals , communities , organisations , and industries , and the mining industries are no exception .
Better use of data and analytics can improve mine performance as well . Mining companies generate enormous amounts of data throughout their operations , but only a few use it in a way that provides real value .
This represents a major missed opportunity , because advanced analytics can optimize mine planning , increase yields , and reduce equipment downtime .
In South Africa for example , a 30-year-old mine boosted its mineral recovery by 2 percent by applying advanced analytics to its main processing steps .
Experts believe that by digitizing its mines , Africa will have placed itself on the path to a huge industrial revolution .
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Anthony Kiganda
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