VOL 13 | ISSUE 1 | January - February 2020
Optical Character Recognition systems in mining industry
In this issue ...
Ivanhoe posts another record month of development at Kamoa-Kakula Pg 05
Mine dewatering design and tailings management solutions in mining Pg 16
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CENTRAL AFRICA ' S PREMIER BUSINESS TO BUSINESS MINING MAGAZINE
Digital journey in blasting supports mines ’ sustainability Pg 28
Cover Image : MineWare ’ s Optical Character recognition system ( OCR )
COVER STORY : PG 09
Optical Character Recognition systems in mining industry
The process of using OCR on a mine or business involves creating check sheets using management data and relevant exploratory questions . These sheets can range from information pertaining to safety , production or just general employee feedback questions .
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Editor Bertha M . bertham @ fmdrc-zambia
Sub-Editor Nita Karume
Contributing Writer Oscar Nkala , Mfuneko Jack Lindani Mkhize Caroline Thomas
Sales and Marketing Victor Ndlovu victorn @ fmdrc-zambia . com + 27 11 044 8986
Isabel Isiziwe isabelsiziwe @ gmail . com zambia @ fmdrc-zambi . com + 260 96 187 4888
Advertising Consultants Meshack Ndzendevu Polite Mkhize Gladmore Ndhlovu Leslie Nyembe
Production Coordinator Kholwani Dube kholwani @ fmdrc-zambia . com
Graphic Design and Layout Irene Faith Omudho
Art Director Augustine Ombwa Arobia Creative Consultancy austin @ arobia . co . ke
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EDITOR ’ S COMMENT
New year , greater beginnings !
Happy New Year ! 2020 made a name for itself
as an oh-so unusual year , what with the way most industries were ravaged and businesses upended . 2021 is the year we are all looking into with optimism , especially in the mining sector . Industry experts have predicted that this year will see a recovery for minerals and metals demand .
According to Fitch Solutions ’ latest report , miners and metal producers should see a more favorable pricing environment this year as almost all mineral and metal prices ( except iron ore ) are expected to average higher in 2021 on a year-on-year basis . Now although metal prices made an impressive recovery over Q2- Q420 , following the drop recorded at the beginning of the year due to covid-19 , Fitch notes that prices will still average lower on a y-o-y basis in 2021 .
In 2021 , Fitch says prices will be supported by the broader and deeper global economic recovery as covid-19 vaccines are made available . Access to vaccines will also help reduce the disruptions to operations seen in 2020 in multiple key mining countries such as Peru and South Africa .
The year is however not off to that good of a start , following the cancellation of the Investing in African Mining Indaba event due to the ongoing uncertainty caused by COVID-19 . Fortunately , the 2021 Virtual Mining Indaba that took place earlier on in the month served as a much needed soothing balm in the mining sector , so all in all , not too shabby .
Catch the latest mining news from across Africa as well as a special feature on Mine dewatering design and tailings management solutions in mining and How Optimized Energy Management Delivers Reliability , Efficiency and Sustainability at the Fekola Gold Mineamong others .
Cheers to the new year and the fruition of a return to the semblance of normalcy in the mining sector !
Nita Karume
Mailing Times Media ( Pty ) Ltd makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of its publications , but no warranty is made as to such accuracy and no responsibility will be borne by the publisher for the consequences of actions based on information so published . Further , opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by Mailing Times Media ( Pty ) Ltd www . fmdrc-zambia . com
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