Louw
Mining in focus
Before a mine is started up again, the old
infrastructure needs to be checked again to ensure
the safety of mineworkers.
initial costs. Selling scrap metals on
site also contributes to generating
funds during t he revitalisation stage.
Open cast mining operations are
easier to revitalise than underground
workings. The main upside potential
on open cast mines is that once basic
geotechnical and rock engineering, and
social and environmental investigations
have been completed and the required
remedial work done, it can be brought
into full or partial production in a brief
time. Scott says that there are several
surface mining contractors that offer
competitive operating rates and that
can establish site in double quick time.
Underground operations require
more intensive work to be done before
re-starting operations. Depending
on the commodity mined, a major
uptick in price will make any existing
operation enticing though, even if it is
not premium grade ore. Lower grade
material, sweepings and vampings
can be sold off initially to offset
start-up costs. “Existing detailed
geological, metallurgical, geotechnical
and rock engineering data will aid in
determining whether or not selective
pillar mining or footwall ripping can
be done to recover saleable ore during
the revitalisation phase,” says Scott.
When a major sells a mothballed
operation to junior mining companies
that lack the resources to develop a
greenfields-operation, it presents many
opportunities for the new entrants.
At the same time the previous owners
can refocus their operations, while
stimulating the market by opening
it up to juniors. New agile, smaller
companies can fully optimise the mine
before bringing it back into production.
“Revitalised mothballed operations
have a knock-on effect and create
opportunities in the supplier markets
and other related industries,” says Scott.
Environmental concerns
According to Ingrid Watson,
programme manager: Environment
at Wits University’s Centre for
Sustainability in Mining and Industry
(CSMI), it makes business sense
to re-mine old shafts rather than
to sink a new one and install the
necessary infrastructure. “What we
have seen, however, is that major
mining companies pass the mothballed
mines onto junior miners that do not
always have the resources to carry
out the environmental programmes
and rehabilitation properly,” says
JANUARY 2018 MINING MIRROR
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