WATER MANAGEMENT
Sykes Group – energy efficient mine dewatering
IM caught up with Sykes Group Global Product Manager , Chris O ’ Brien , for some insight into the approach and technology that have helped it achieve sustained growth in the mining market
Q You supply some of the most energy efficient pumps in mining - how did you achieve this in terms of the design and is the energy factor an increasingly important part of mining company / contractor decisions when it comes to dewatering pump selection ? A At Sykes Group , we are proud to supply some of the most energy efficient pumps in the mining industry . Our advanced design is anchored by a unique wet end featuring removable shims and gaskets between the front adaptor plate and the casing , allowing for up to 5 mm of clearance adjustment between the impeller and the wear plate . This innovative feature not only negates the need for major overhauls but also enables quick , efficient maintenance to restore pump efficiency swiftly . By optimising the wet end , our pumps require less power to achieve more , a critical advantage in an environment of rising fuel costs and a growing emphasis on sustainability . As mining companies and contractors set ambitious environmental targets , energy efficiency has become a key criterion in dewatering pump selection . Sykes Group is up for the challenge , delivering solutions that reduce operating costs while supporting environmental goals and ensuring our clients receive the best in performance and efficiency . Furthermore , we are constantly exploring new options , including electrically driven and solar powered pump systems , to further reduce power consumption and drive sustainable innovation in the industry .
Q Predicting weather extremes has become more difficult today - are mines having to factor in more contingency when it relates to the ability to respond to extremes such as flash flooding ? A The ingress of water into mining areas due to weather extremes is difficult to predict so it is imperative to factor in contingencies to ensure the mining areas are accessible thus maintaining mining efficiency . Sykes pumps can operate over a wide range of flow rates and heads in order to maintain normal water ingress to dealing with the extreme weather conditions . It is convenient to have a standby pump available to cater for the extraordinary weather conditions . The standby pump can be situated alongside the duty pump and can be activated manually or automatically based on sump water levels by a level transducer . The standby pump can pump in tandem through a common discharge line or have its own dedicated discharge pipe depending on the static discharge head pipe size and length . For sites situated in extremely wet regions subjected to constant heavy rain events it is common to have the pumps mounted on a pontoon to ensure any sudden increase in water level ensures the pumps do not become submerged thus damaging the diesel engine or electric motor . The pump will simply go up and down with the water level . This also ensures the pumps suction capability and performance remains constant when the water level subsides .
Q A lot of mines are getting deeper as brownfield expansion is often an easier prospect than a greenfield mine - does this create extra dewatering demands and how is Sykes placed to meet this demand ? A Around the world mines are getting deeper and expanding their footprint which creates extra demand on their ability to dewater the mining area . As Sykes specialises in dewatering solutions , we are well placed to meet this demand , in terms of both ability to supply direct globally or through our distributors , as well as having an extensive product range specifically
Sykes ' Extra High Head ( XH ) pump is helping to meet the increasing demands of the mining sector as open pits go deeper
designed for these applications . Sykes have a range of High Head and Extra High Head pumps designed to cater for deep mining , where water needs to be moved over significant vertical and horizontal distances . They are designed to generate high discharge pressures , enabling them to lift water from great depths and away from the mining area . These pumps are also available in high-flow rate models which are capable of moving large volumes of water , essential in mines with substantial water ingress . They ensure a rapid response to water accumulation , maintaining safety and operational continuity . All Sykes pump models are available as skid , tow or trailer mounted options which allows pumps to be transported and moved around site quickly and with a minimum of fuss .
Q Sykes is a pumps specialist - does that specialism give you greater insight or understanding of the market needs ?
A Sykes is a specialist dewatering pump design and manufacturing company , and as such all our people are experts in the challenges faced to dewater mining & construction sites around the world . We pride ourselves in being the global leaders in mine surface dewatering , and this expertise extends to our engineers , production , sales , commissioning , service and aftermarkets reticulation and water treatment plant for a gold mine in Burkina Faso . This project builds on WEC Water ’ s comprehensive experience with water and wastewater treatment in West Africa .
WEC Water was appointed by the mine to conduct an audit of the existing wastewater handling facilities at the mine in February 2023 in anticipation of a planned pit expansion , which would result in an increase in the number of personnel in the area . At the time , the mine was using tanker trucks to remove sewage from seven collection points , including the camps and other operational locations . This method presented the following challenges : increased operating expenditure due to rising diesel costs ; undesirable traffic entering the mine area ; the risk of sewage storage facilities overflowing , resulting in malodours and disease vector attraction ; and loss of reusable water in dry regions .
WEC Water ’ s objective was to find a long-term solution to treat the sewage at the mine and reclaim water for use as dust suppression and irrigation , reducing the demand on potable and rainwater reserves . The solution consists of the following three main components : a collection and pumping system that directs sewage to a new , centralised wastewater treatment plant ; biological treatment of 60-100 m 3 / day of wastewater to reduce COD and nitrogen ; and a lagoon to store the treated water before re-use . The sewage treatment plant ( STP ) was designed by a WEC Water team of specialist
WEC Water has recently completed a wastewater reticulation and water treatment plant for a gold mine in Burkina Faso
International Mining | MARCH 2025