SOUTH AFRICAN SUPPLIERS machines at lower operational costs .”
This remote access capability has been particularly relevant during the height of during COVID-19 restrictions , according to Naidu .
“ Despite the fact that we were not permitted on site during the isolation period , we were still able to assist our customers seamlessly ,” Naidu said . “ Even in a post-COVID-19 environment , remote access delivers immediate results .”
Epiroc says developments such as its Control Tower in Johannesburg means it continues to play a significant role in a mine ’ s digital and automation journey .
Machine health monitoring , remote operation and automation technologies such as CERTIQ , Mobilaris Mining Intelligence and Rig Control Systems optimise machine performance and create safer working environments , improving uptime , productivity and , ultimately , profitability for customers , it says .
Forming part of its after-market portfolio , the Control Tower functionalities are relevant to all smart OEM machines equipped with these technologies , Epiroc says .
XLP and beyond
Croatia-based DOK-ING has been participating in the new technology space for more than 30 years , with its proven robotic systems finding homes across various industries .
According to Tom Sertic , Managing Director of DOK-ING ’ s Africa operations , the company has recently identified the mining sector as one of its key growth areas .
“ The only way is to mechanise mining where we can ,” Sertic told IM . “ This is a key target for miners over the next 3-5 years .”
At the same time as mechanising parts of the mining process , DOK-ING is also keen on electrifying these various aspects , having embarked on several projects involving not only battery-powered low profile equipment but also machines powered by fuel cells .
DOK-ING was the first OEM in the world to develop an extra low-profile ( XLP ) dozer , in 2003 , and , since then , has been leading the deployment of these machines in the South Africa platinum and gold industries .
“ We have almost 18 years of data from using this equipment , so we are able to advise clients with some certainty about how these machines will work in their applications ,” Sertic said .
The company is using this data bank to expand across the globe , having recently deployed a remote-controlled XLP for an underground mine site trial in Western Australia ( with the help of local distributor Mine Tech Australia ) and completed industrial testing of its DOK-ING XLPD Robotic System in a uranium mine in Krasnokamensk , Russia . The latter modified XLP dozer with bucket tool has since been acquired by the PJSC Priargunsky Mining and Chemical Production Association , part of Rosatom ’ s ARMZ mining division .
The platinum and gold sectors continue to provide ample opportunities for DOK-ING sales in South Africa , Sertic said , explaining that the price of both commodities and the potential for recovering more of these metals at mine sites were working in DOK-ING ’ s favour .
“ With the XLP technology , we can deploy machines in dozer or sweeper form that come into barren , unsafe areas and recover valuable material without putting people in harm ’ s way ,” he said . “ The cost versus benefit equation is very good at the moment .”
While continuing to look for sales outside of South Africa – the Zimbabwe platinum sector is one target – Sertic said DOK-ING was also getting closer to making a decision about relocating some of its manufacturing capacity from Croatia to the African continent .
“ We ’ re currently studying local manufacturing costs for South Africa and Croatia ,” he said . “ As we currently make only a small volume of machines for mining , the cost is high . Relocating this manufacturing to , possibly , South Africa may bring this cost down at the same time as we are expanding .”
One of the most high-profile projects the company is involved in will see a DOK-ING XLP dozer fitted with a fuel cell . The machine is currently being constructed and should start trials in South Africa next year , Sertic said .
“ These dozers are aggressively moving rock all the time , so we think it will act as a good ‘ guinea pig ’ for fuel cell powered equipment ,” Sertic said
He added : “ Realistically , in 12-24 months , this will be mature technology that we can commercialise , and start progressively replacing diesel-powered technology with ,” he said . The company is also pursuing wider electrification of the sector at the same time . “ Everyone is looking to replace diesel with batteries or fuel cells ,” he said . “ We ’ re trying to get a piece of that cake , assisting other
A DOK-ING XLPD Robotic System has recently been acquired by the PJSC Priargunsky Mining and Chemical Production Association , part of Rosatom ’ s ARMZ mining division equipment makers to make this conversion . By the middle of next year , we could be offering battery-electric conversion kits for other OEM ’ s equipment .”
And the company is also evaluating the mechanisation of other processes in the
underground mining space as part of its future roadmap .
“ Explosives insertion and charging is not mechanised to the extent that mining companies would like at the moment ,” he said . “ At the same time , transfer of the ore to the stope needs to be improved ; LHDs can only take so much in their bucket so there is room for the process to be optimised .”
Small-scale tailings filtration
The adoption of tailings filtration as part of an improved and often integrated mine waste management solution is being increasingly considered worldwide .
In many jurisdictions , it is deemed the gold standard approach and consequently is becoming the expectation of many regulators and third-party stakeholders , a condition likely to increase in coming years .
It is , however , worth noting that tailings filtration is not always the most technically preferred solution , and still faces commercial challenges in some situations , according to South Africa-based Paterson & Cooke .
“ To date , much of the technical research and development effort has be towards large-scale applications , programs such as EcoTails have sought to demonstrate the feasibility ( both
technical and commercial ) of large capacity fast filtering tailings application in conjunction with waste rock disposal ,” the company said . “ Less development has been directed to small-scale production , which is often challenged by acute
36 International Mining | JANUARY 2021