Indaba preview
Do you think mining will be
disrupted, and how is your
company countering and
preparing for the ‘fourth
revolution’?
Yes, large-scale disruption will occur.
Multotec will continuously scan the
environment for opportunities to
improve in both our products and
processes, as well as continuously
improve on our ability to handle
knowledge within the organisation. This
means identifying the core competencies
we will require for the future and
ensuring we can develop these (where
strategically important) or partner
where non-core, but essential skills are
necessary.
Faan Bornman
Technology manager – Multotec
Process Equipment
What is your understanding
of the term ‘modernisation of
mines’?
Modernisation means ‘super mines’:
large operations that are expected to
display the best environmental practices.
Modernisation also means automation,
mechanisation, and digitisation. Mines
will be remotely operated with a fleet of
driverless trucks and other equipment.
The mines will be more focused on
the valuable mineral — concentration
at source — to bring just the valuable
ore from below the surface and not
the waste as well. Modern mining will
be high tech: intelligent computing
systems to run the mine, the use of
renewable energy, energy storage
systems, and cleaner operations.
Are you involved in any research
or development of new products
or technology that will play
[14] MINING MIRROR FEBRUARY 2018
a role in the ‘modernisation’,
‘mechanisation’, or automation
of mines?
Yes, cyclone wear and monitoring of
cyclone wear are critical components
in any operation. Cyclones must be
changed out before a breakdown occurs.
This leads to unnecessary downtime.
Preventative maintenance is the keyword.
The Multotec Technology Division
is working on a method to track
early wear in ceramic lined cyclones.
The outcome will be a computerised
system that eliminates physical
inspection of the cone or spigot.
How should mine managers and
operational managers prepare
for the future, and what are the
major changes they should start
introducing?
Mine managers and operational
managers should be more focused on
efficiency and the environment. New
technologies will be introduced in
the future, and plant operations will
be monitored by computers. This, of
course, will require highly skilled labour.
Education plays an important role, as
training will be required to operate
at a higher level. Managers need to
know that carbon taxes and other
factors will put pressure on mining
operations to have environmentally
friendly operations. Both mine- and
operational managers must know what
technologies are out there and must use
them to the benefit of their operations.
Which aspects of mining should
we prioritise when we talk about
modernisation?
We should focus on safety — on
technologies that will remove
people from potentially dangerous
areas. These areas must be
automated to mitigate risks.
What is your vision of the ‘mine
of the future’?
The mine of the future will have
technologies to make the operation
efficient, safe, and environmentally
friendly. It will require less labour, albeit
highly skilled labour. I predict that it will
be partly off the grid and be powered
by renewable energy. Some mines are
in arid regions, which makes it ideal
for solar power. Water reticulation and
aiming to zero discharge will also play
an important role. Mines will, to a large
degree, be remotely controlled, therefore
eliminating the mass transport of people
to remote locations. There will be huge
savings in terms of cost and time.
With the Mining Indaba coming
up in February, what are the
major issues in the mining
industry that you would like to
be discussed, even if it is on
other platforms? (In South Africa,
Africa, and globally, respectively.)
A critical issue is investment in research
and development (R & D). Funding
must be made available and opportunities
created to spend more on R & D. This
will bring more innovation: continuous
incremental improvement, adaption
of technologies (developed abroad or
locally), and greenfield inventions. Also
important is the efficient conversion of
innovations into commercial products.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution
also needs properly skilled, qualified
workers to meet the challenges.
What is your outlook for mining
in Africa in the short, medium,
and long term?
During the annual conference of The
South African Mineral Processing
Equipment Cluster (SAMPEC) and the
Economic Research Advisory Network
(ERAN) in March 2016, Hoosen Essack
said that Africa will account for 12%
of global mining investment between
2013 and 2031. There are 52 processing
plants in various stages of development,
valued at USD17-billion for both
greenfield and brownfield projects.
Africa is where the opportunities
are — vast resources are untapped.
However, Shirley Webber at the financial
institution Barclays Africa said that
any political or regulatory uncertainty
will undermine African countries’
attractiveness as natural resource
investment. She also noted that stable
political environments, compliance
with environmental legislation, labour
peace, and democracy in Africa are
important to ensure growth and
investment in the sector this year.
There seems to be a dearth
of new exploration projects in
South Africa specifically. Do you
feel this is the case in the rest of
Africa as well? Do you think it is
a global concern? If it is, what
are the reasons for it?
No, it is not the case in the rest of
Africa. It is not a global concern;
there are massive investments
in other areas of the world like