SOUTHERN AFRICA SUPPLIERS
The Zone 5 project illustrates the importance of having an integrated paste backfill system designed by a specialist, Paterson & Cooke says
Home and away
South and southern Africa continue to be of interest from both an equipment / solution demand perspective – with numerous greenfield and brownfield projects in the region – as well as for the tech innovations developed there, Dan Gleeson says
In mid-November, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, officially opened the Platreef platinumpalladium-nickel-rhodium-gold-copper mine in the country, joined by a delegation of national, provincial and local dignitaries. President Ramaphosa unveiled a commemorative plaque and conducted a ribbon-cutting at the concentrator, marking the official opening of the mine, before pressing the button to start the concentrator’ s operations. This was followed by a ceremony attended by over 2,000 people, including Platreef’ s workforce, of which 70 % are from local communities and nearly 30 % are female.
Ivanhoe Mines’ Founder and Executive Co-Chairman, Robert Friedland, said during the ceremony:“ This will be the largest mine in the African continent for precious metals … today we just have Phase 1, the baby mine … the first little bubble … in two years, the giant shaft will begin, the largest shaft in Africa.”
South Africa is the land of large shafts, as well as a country hosting significant precious metals mines. There is, therefore, plenty for domestic and adjacent METS players to get excited by with the opening of Platreef – a mine that could reach a 10.7 Mt / y processing capacity in phase three of its operations.
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Africa’ s diverse demands
AECI Mining will be one of the companies looking to win business from this mine considering its experience serving the Kamoa-Kakula operation, run by Ivanhoe Mines.
Since blasting the Kansoko Box Cut in 2014, AECI has remained a strategic partner at Kamoa, playing a vital role in underground development through innovative blasting solutions, high-performance explosives and reliable on-site support, it says.
Today, AECI operates the region’ s largest fleet of Mobile Charging Units and is finalising an on-site emulsion manufacturing plant to secure production stability as copper output continues to rise. These achievements demonstrate AECI’ s ability to provide fit-for-purpose underground solutions – from emulsion vertical drop systems to advanced emulsion and charging technology – enabling mines like Kamoa to achieve production milestones that would not otherwise have been possible, it says.
At the recent Africa Down Under( ADU) Conference in Perth, Australia, the company showcased a suite of what it says are groundbreaking technologies.
Discussions at the event also centred on AECI’ s new electronic detonator system currently being trialled in Africa, which, the company says, has the potential to reshape the safety and precision of blasting operations across the continent. The detonator trial is one component of a broader technology suite AECI uses to optimise mining operations across Africa, including its PowerBoost technology which offers a safer, more sustainable alternative to traditional TNT or RDX-based boosters.
Jaco Human, AECI Mining Vice President: Africa & Rest of World, says:“ Mines across the globe are making the shift to PowerBoost, attracted by the elimination of sensitive military-grade materials and the enhanced safety this delivers. With AECI’ s ability to establish on-site production plants, we not only remove transport and handling risks from the equation but also generate meaningful local employment opportunities.”
Further reinforcing its underground mining offering, AECI Mining Explosives highlighted its emulsion vertical drop systems at ADU. Successfully deployed in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia, these innovative pipelines deliver emulsion directly from surface to underground storage facilities through controlled processes, ensuring product integrity while cutting costs, reducing environmental impact and transforming underground logistics, the company says.
Redpath deepens Northam ties
Looking at shaft work, Redpath Mining South Africa( RMSA) was recently awarded a mining development contract at Northam Platinum’ s number 3 Shaft, within its Zondereinde operations, in South Africa.
The scope of work includes the development of two pump chambers, a reef and waste ore pass, measuring flasks as well as associated construction activities. RMSA told IM that this included a combination of conventional and trackless mine development, as well as raisebore works to be executed with Redpath-owned raise drills( Redbore 70 and Redbore 50) and civil and steel construction work.
The project commenced in late 2025 and has an estimated duration of around three years.
This contract award is a proud achievement for the business and deepens a valued and long-standing relationship with Northam, Redpath says.“ It reflects the confidence placed in Redpath’ s technical expertise, operational capability and commitment to delivering safe, high-quality mining solutions.”
That relationship goes back over 30 years, with the contractor executing various
International Mining | JANUARY 2026