Mining Mirror July 2018 | Page 38

Cradle to grave

Cable anchors curtail cable theft

Cable theft is a big problem in South Africa and often results in unnecessary downtime on mines . It is estimated that cable theft costs the country close to seven billion rand per annum . The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( SACCI ) views cable theft as very serious and describe it as economic sabotage and treason against business .
However , there is an innovative new product on the market that can result in a significant reduction in the number of cables being stolen . It is called Rugged Crocs and it anchors cables in the ground . The combined mechanical resistance of the cable and the Croc system makes it virtually impossible for the cable to be pulled from the ground . The secret lies in the combined resistance of each individual
Croc over the length of the cable . Taking soil type into consideration , the average resistance that one Croc will deliver is estimated at one ton per Croc . When 10 metres of cable is fitted with 10 Cable Crocs ( one Croc per metre ), the combined resistance needed to pull the cable from the ground is 10 tons . If this figure is extrapolated over the length of a 100-metre cable , it results in 100 tonnes of resistance .
The installation of Rugged Crocs requires no specialised skills . The correct size unit ( 25mm ; 50mm ; 95mm ) is simply strapped to the cable by using four industrial-strength cable ties at one-metre intervals . The fitted cable is then placed in the prepared trench , covered with soil , and compacted .
Cable theft is on the increase in South Africa , and Business Against Crime ( BAC ) states that the indirect cost to the South African economy is conservatively estimated at 10 times higher than the expenditure required for the replacement value of the cables lost ; therefore , law enforcement agencies have been granted extension of power to assist in the fight against cable theft .
Last year , former President Zuma signed the Criminal Matters Amendment Act into law to ensure severe sentences for cable thieves to combat this serious crime . The result of these new measures ?
Cable thieves are now even more organised and cable theft is still on the increase .

Data is king
A need exists for easy-to-use solutions to manage data in the mining industry .
With the quantity of data collected and its complexity in the mining industry rapidly on the increase , the ability to handle these large , complex data sets is critical . This has highlighted the need in the mining industry for easy-to-use , fast , function-rich , and fit-for-purpose solutions .
“ Data is king , and it is how we interpret , manage , and analyse that data that creates real benefits ,” says Renier Strydom , regional manager at Micromine South Africa . Micromine has developed the Pitram system , which is a fully configurable solution that captures , monitors , and reports on operational and production data . It provides real-time analytical capabilities to enable improved decision-making on critical areas such as safety , development , and asset utilisation .
The latest trend is for intuitive solutions that are not only user-friendly , but that also promote integration among different software solutions . This trend is becoming prominent due to increased human machine interface
( HMI ) applications in the mining industry .
“ The use of assisted-control equipment is more and more common , while fully autonomous equipment is common in haulage and drilling operations ,” says Strydom . Health and safety is also boosting the need for smarter analytics , with PPE now incorporating sensors to transmit information about potentially hazardous working conditions , for example .
“ I believe that ongoing advances in digital technology have the potential to unlock new ways of managing variability and enhancing productivity in the mining industry . Of course , the greatest benefit of this trend will be derived when such technology is integrated across the entire supply chain . This , in turn , will allow for more informed decision-making , as well as more consistent mining operations ,” adds Strydom .
Micromine
[ 36 ] MINING MIRROR JULY 2018