Indaba preview
Which new, exciting products, technologies, or innovations are your company researching or developing that would improve the traditional methods of mining?
There is a huge need for spirals to treat ultrafine materials(< 45 µ m). This is the size range typically being treated in flotation circuits. However, flotation is costly due to the addition of reagents. Therefore, should Multotec’ s spiral plants be able to separate efficiently in this particle size range, it will be a major breakthrough.
Veli Sibiya
Shaft engineer – Sasol’ s Middelbult Mine
What is your understanding of the term‘ modernisation of mines’?
The first thing that comes to mind is changing from a traditional state of doing things to a modern state of doing things. It is almost common sense that development and improvement are required for change to take place. Change is inevitable if the mining industry were to be sustainable. The traditional approach to mining is no longer relevant in modern times and in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous( VUCA) environment. Any industry not riding the wave of technological innovations will perish.
In essence, modernisation of mines has to do with, but not limited to, the implementation of innovative ideas, particularly innovative technologies, that will bring about improved safety production at low cost.
Are you involved in any research or development of new products or technology that will play a role in the‘ modernisation’,‘ mechanisation’, or automation of mines?
I am, to a certain extent, involved in the co-creation and the development of technology with suppliers. We realised that as a mining house, we need to do more to create the‘ mine of the future’. We came to the realisation that we must be more involved in piloting and implementing various technologies. If we all sit back, the entire mining industry will die a slow death. We see this approach from the perspective of the‘ first mover advantage’ as opposed to the perspective of the‘ guinea pig’. This approach would allow us to get our infrastructure and equipment ready for Internet and Wi-Fi for future technologies.
How should mine managers and operational managers prepare for the future, and what are the major changes they should start introducing?
Mining and operations managers must accept that modernisation is inevitable. They must develop an interest in the technology innovations happening around them and try to pilot certain technologies. Such an incremental approach is good for cash flow, and helps management to understand gaps in terms of infrastructure and equipment upgrade. Not all technologies will deliver results immediately, but will prepare the way for the implementation of meaningful technologies at a later stage. For example, getting the infrastructure and equipment Internet and Wi-Fi ready is a prerequisite for future technology innovations.
Mine managers and operations managers have a direct influence on the successful implementation of change. They have a role to communicate the need to modernise.
Which aspects of mining should we prioritise when we talk about modernisation? What are the challenges and the opportunities in what we refer to as‘ modernisation’?
• Infrastructure upgrade to make the mine Internet and Wi-Fi ready.
• Real-time information— artificial intelligence is crucial for decisionmaking. With real-time information, one can monitor production and machine performance. As a result, improve safe productivity at low cost. This information would inform future strategy.
• Implementation of gadgets to make the mines paperless. These gadgets would assist with legal inspections, ordering of spares, machine fault finding, connecting to machines and equipment remotely, and performing human resource activities, among others.
• Further mechanisation and automation.
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.)
The most important for me would be how to create stakeholder buy-in to modernisation; what the future would be without technology and innovation; and what skill set will be required for the modernisation of mines.
In your opinion, how has the mining industry performed in the past few years?
The mining industry has regressed over the past few years. Notwithstanding other factors, the conventional methods used in mining are partly to blame for the decaying sector. These methods are no longer relevant in current modern times. As a result, we have seen a number of mining houses selling their assets due to increased mining costs without an increase in safe productivity levels.
What is your outlook for mining in Africa in the short, medium, and long term?
The mining industry will remain pivotal for Africa’ s economy in the future, and commodities will remain crucial in the global economy. To that end, the sector is there for the taking. In the short to medium term, the picture is not looking so bright, and not so dim either. As much as some distressed assets are getting sold, there are buyers willing to buy and revitalise the distressed assets. I think the outlook for mining in Africa in the long term is bright, provided the mining houses invest in technology to modernise the mines. Modernisation of mines will make the mining industry profitable and sustainable, as modernisation would bring about improved productivity at low cost.
How has the downturn and then the subsequent recovery in commodity prices affected your company?
Everyone would get negatively affected by unexpected changes in commodity prices. The downturn in commodity prices served as a wake-up call as we can no longer afford to continue with business as usual. Our strategy focuses on the mine of the future, aimed at improving safe productivity at low cost.
In your opinion, which constraints are preventing investments in global, African, and South African mining projects?
Over and above the lack of investment in technologies that would improve mining methods, mining in Africa is more expensive because of political and policy uncertainty.
Do you think mining will be disrupted and how is your company countering and preparing for the‘ fourth revolution’?
Given the fact that activism on global warming is gaining more and more momentum, the future of coal as a source of energy is debatable. Research on alternative sources of
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