CONTRACT MINING
An evolving group of companies , contract miners are both in demand and ‘ in with ’ the OEM / technology crowd , Dan Gleeson reports
Defining and refining
The bulk of the contract mining world would argue that the designation ‘ contract mining ’ no longer does justice to the realities of the work they carry out on the ground .
More accurately called mining service providers , these companies have become an even bigger part of the mining ecosystem – whether that is in development , production , expansion or other capacities .
Regionally , too , there is change , with models that might have initially been created for , say , the Australian marketplace now being exported over the globe .
With skilled labour shortages showing no signs of easing , projects to fill the projected commodity supply deficit continuing to come up and an increasing need for operating cost certainty in a very uncertain world , it is fair to say the future is bright for mining service providers .
A pipeline of personnel
Contractors are employed primarily to execute projects on behalf of mining companies and project houses , yet experienced underground mining specialists like Murray & Roberts Cementation also offer invaluable insights from earlier stages of development .
“ Over the decades , we have found that our early engagement with clients provides many vital opportunities to optimise their ideas and plans ,” Graham Chamberlain , New Business Director at Murray & Roberts Cementation , says . Chamberlain highlights how the company is
often engaged in the very early days of a project , to work with the client right from the concept and design phases . Often , third-party consultants even use Murray & Roberts Cementation to conduct project designs , he says , as this creates a more seamless flow into the execution stage .
“ Our approach is to work with the client on developing a range of options for each aspect of the project ,” Chamberlain explains . “ This provides a broader scope of what is possible , with each option being discussed in the light of the client ’ s goals ; these alternatives can be steadily whittled down to the two or three best , so that an intensive comparison can be conducted to make a final selection .”
A shaft design , for example , is a central factor in the successful performance of a mining operation – not just at its start but over its entire lifecycle . Whereas it may be considered feasible to reduce the diameter of shaft in the planning stage to reduce capital costs , a more far-sighted view will expose the limitations that such a decision will create for the mine ’ s future . Murray & Roberts Cementation can advise on this full scope within its existing wide offering .
“ Technology in crushing , milling and processing is always evolving , and many mines can upgrade this infrastructure to generate more revenue ,” Chamberlain says . “ However , such changes will be limited to 10-15 % improvements if shaft capacity is at its limit . The shaft design therefore needs to accommodate the longer term goals of the mine – where market demand could
Murray & Roberts Cementation ’ s Graham Chamberlain says the company works with clients on developing a range of options for each aspect of every project to allow for an intensive comparison to be conducted to make a final selection
allow throughput to grow in orders of magnitude .”
He emphasises the importance of understanding local conditions – both regulatory and physical – in managing risk projects . Where there are requirements for local procurement and hiring , for instance , the company has aligned its policies and developed extensive experience putting these into practice . These social and labour regulations , which are well established in South Africa , are also being applied across Africa and even in some South American countries . Every project should be regarded as a ‘ monument ’ to the efforts of the developer , he explains , and therefore needs to leave a strong and positive legacy . This extends beyond the structural elements to the livelihoods , skills and prosperity of local communities . Murray & Roberts Cementation actively contributes to these developmental aspects , not least through its Bentley Park training academy .
This academy has proven to be very useful for training up both new and experienced personnel with the tools they need to get on in the mining services space .
Chamberlain told IM : “ Murray and Roberts Cementation follows a consistent training approach across all its sites , ensuring a clear
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024 | International Mining 51