Industry intelligence
EUROPE: MASTER DRILLING’ S NEXT FRONTIER JSE-listed Master Drilling has acquired a 60 % interest in the Scandinavian raisebore specialist Bergteamet Raiseboring Europe.
In November 2015, Master Drilling International( MDI), a subsidiary of Master Drilling, entered into an agreement with Bergteamet AB through which MDI acquired 8 000 ordinary shares in the share capital of Bergteamet.
A shareholder’ s agreement was entered into between MDI, Bergteamet, and Bergteamet Raiseboring simultaneously, and it is through this agreement that MDI now exercises the call option to acquire 12 000 ordinary shares in the share capital of Bergteamet, resulting in a 60 % shareholding in Bergteamet.
The majority of Bergteamet’ s raiseboring customers are within the mining sector, hydropower projects, and other infrastructure projects.
“ This transaction provides a launchpad for Master Drilling to expand our operations in the European markets and further diversify our geographic exposure. There are many synergies between the two companies and this business complements our focus to provide innovative tailored technology solutions to our clients,” says Danie Pretorius, CEO at Master Drilling. The transaction is subject to several conditions to be fulfilled by 15 March 2018.
M & D Construction revs up
Construction of the access roads at Vedanta’ s Gamsberg zinc project in the Northern Cape is underway.
Construction of the access roads at Vedanta’ s Gamsberg zinc project, close to the town of Aggeneys in the Northern Cape, is underway. The contractor M & D Construction Group’ s Roads and Earthworks division started construction of the roads recently.
M & D Roads and Earthworks’ work scope includes constructing 2.5km of access roads. This includes 6 000m ³ of concrete surface roads and cape seal black tops, in addition to high-specification gravel roads.
The project is on track for completion in September 2018, and more than 100 people will be employed on the project when it peaks.
“ After complying with the Mine Health and Safety Act requirements, our team has commenced work on a project that is expected to open up more future opportunities for the Roads and Earthworks division. Certainly, the entire team is looking forward to the completion of yet another successful road project,” says Chris Porter, head of M & D Roads and Earthworks.
M & D’ s Civil Engineering division is also executing a second contract for ELB Engineering Services at the same mine, and the scope of work includes various surface civil infrastructure structures. Group chief executive officer Rukesh Raghubir says this project again reaffirms the group’ s standing as a leader in demanding mine infrastructure programmes.
“ Recovery in commodity prices bode well for the entire industry, while Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, has committed to improving policies that previously hampered growth in this sector in his inaugural State of the Nation address. We are looking forward to playing our part in the revival of this important sector of the South African economy,” says Raghubir.
M & D Construction Group
Mintek provides platform for treating waste
South Africa’ s national mineral research organisation Mintek recently showcased its latest mining waste treatment process technology.
Following years of research and development in intelligent process solutions for solid and liquid mine effluent, Mintek demonstrated its technology at the Mintek Technology Demonstration site in Randfontein, Gauteng, in March.
The demonstration site provides a platform for the intelligent integration of Mintek technologies that are developed to treat highly polluted wastewater sites, such as Robinson
Lake in Randfontein, with high uranium concentrates.
The technology, made possible by the unique partnership with Sibanye- Stillwater, highlighted Mintek’ s revolutionary processes for solid and wastewater treatment, namely SAVMIN, MetRIX, NICMembrane, Biological Oxidation, and Biological Sulphate Reduction.
Bonginkosi Nkosi, engineer at Mintek, said,“ These technologies are targeting the treatment of mine-impacted water, including acid mine drainage, and the removal of toxic and radioactive elements, such as uranium, from the lake sediments to minimise the environmental impact of mining and mining legacies.
“ This technology integration platform provides applicable processes for the remediation and potential restoration of heavy polluted natural sources such as lakes and rivers. By providing technologies for the prevention and treatment of pollution caused by mining activities, the sustainability of the mining industry is ensured, whilst also protecting the inhabitants of the impacted environments, as well as the national heritage sites and other natural resources in the proximity of mining activities,” says Nkosi.
[ 4 ] MINING MIRROR MAY 2018