Plant Equipment and Hire September 2018 | Page 6

AFRICA NEWS
The sixth annual Infrastructure Africa Business Forum to be hosted on 9 – 10 October 2018 in Sandton, South Africa, will bring together prominent African infrastructure experts, government officials, and business leaders to accelerate the business of
infrastructure development across the continent.
The event will place great emphasis on key industry sectors, namely water, ICT & telecoms, energy, finance, and transport. In so doing, the associated obstacles, solutions, and potential for
growth in each sector will be intricately explored.
The two-day conference and showcase exhibition provides an opportunity for companies to focus on the continent’ s growth hotspots, discuss infrastructure trends, meet project developers and relevant
government authorities, whilst exploring infrastructure business opportunities. The event partner is the NEPAD Planning & Coordinating Agency( NEPAD Agency).
For more info on this event, or to register for the Indaba, visit www. infrastructure-africa. com
Coal ash association joins Aspasa
In its ongoing effort to reach out to potential users of coal ash products, the South African Coal Ash Association( SACAA) has joined forces with the wellrespected surface mining industry association, Aspasa.
While the industries derive their products through different means, they share many of the same outlets and in some instances, coal ash can be used as a substitute for aggregates in the manufacturing of concrete and the construction of roads and other structures. Furthermore, the machinery used to process, load, and transport the two products are similar with similar legislation and challenges.
“ With its advanced programmes in safety, health and environment, as well as long-standing relationships with government and all other industry stakeholders, it makes sense to join a progressive association like Aspasa, which acts with the best interests of its members and the overall industry at heart, says SACAA general manager, Mark Hunter.
Growing base
He adds that Aspasa will extend its services in legal compliance, health and safety, technical, engineering, transport, government liaison, environmental, HR, training, public relations, as well as internal and international liaison, to its members.
Aspasa was recognised by peers from the Global Aggregates Information Network( GAIN), representing global quarrying industry associations, as a global leader in the promotion of safer, more sustainable operations in compliance with some of the world’ s strictest mining legislation. As a result, the association has drawn the attention of other industries for the sterling work it does among its members and behind the scene, working with government, industry, and employee bodies to improve these industries.
In the surface mining industry, Aspasa, which previously represented only sand and aggregate quarrying companies,
Aspasa
Nico Pienaar, director of Aspasa. Mark Hunter, GM of SACAA.
has had to diversify to include all types of surface mines to accommodate growing calls for assistance and representation from diverse operations who had not previously enjoyed all the benefits of broad industry representation.
Promoting ash
Aspasa director, Nico Pienaar, says the association wants to
Aspasa
play an active role engaging all stakeholders, from the ash producers to current users and resellers, as well as promoting the use of ash broadly to all levels of industry.
“ We welcome members of SACAA and encourage them to make use of our services and engage with us to find ways to promote the safe and responsible use of coal ash,” he concludes.
Pilot Crushtec International promotes accredited training
Crushing and screening specialist Pilot Crushtec International as well as training provider Opsmin Training Services South Africa, have announced a partnership that will add a new and professional dimension to the industry through the provision of accredited training.
The training, provided by Opsmin Training Services, is officially recognised by the Mining Qualifications Authority( MQA)— a tripartite statutory body established by the Mine Health and Safety Act of 1996. Opsmin is an accredited skills
development provider supplying training in crushing, screening, and occupational health and safety activities, both for operators and supervisory staff.
The new course offers industry employees the opportunity to gain official acknowledgement for their knowledge and skills.
Courses offered are flexible and they are based on the needs and operational pressures of companies and their employees, with practical aspects tailored to suit operators of Metso crushing and screening equipment
Opsmin
marketed by Pilot Crushtec International. Generic content, however, teaches the basic theory of crushing and screening within the South African context
Basic training includes maintenance with relevance to enhancing parts life cycle to reduce downtime and replacement costs. Manuals explaining crushing, screening, and systems are also supplied. This includes the processes
Opsmin director Alan Fletcher conducting training. Fletcher is uniquely qualified for his role, having served an engineering apprenticeship in the United Kingdom before emigrating to South Africa, where he joined the mining industry.
and products best suited to a specific type of application.
An additional benefit for employers is that as an MQA-recognised skills programme, the cost can be claimed via the work skills programme, and the annual training register submitted to MQA SETA. These incentives offered are to promote the development of industryrelevant skills.
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SEPTEMBER 2018