Torque Africa Group - A Record-Breaking Operation BF112

TORQUE AFRICA GROUP A RECORDBREAKING

OPERATION

WE LEARN HOW TORQUE AFRICA GROUP HAS DELIVERED RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCES, BUT THIS IS ONLY THE START FOR THE COMPANY.

A RECORDBREAKING OPERATION

PROJECT MANAGED BY: DEAN BROWN

Torque Africa Exploration was founded in 2014 by Nardus Bezuidenhout, who brought his 22 years of experience in the onshore drilling industry to the firm. Seeing the rapidly growing demand for turnkey drilling solutions at home and abroad. It was a demand Bezuidenhout positioned his company to meet. As the company expanded to become the Torque Africa Group, its offering would also expand to include RC exploration drilling, air core drilling, percussion drilling, and input grade control drilling.

Torque Africa is an onshore drilling company that does large diameter and deep wells in the exploration and gas industry,” Bezuidenhout tells us today. “The company, which is under my sole ownership, runs a fleet of over 30 drilling machines alongside a range of additional equipment.”

Torque Africa runs topperforming, modern drilling rigs as part of its fleet of 200 licensed vehicles, run and maintained by a team of over 200 employees. This wealth of resources means that Torque Africa Group is positioned to deliver the very highest standards and quality in the drilling industry.

“We are working in Southern Africa including South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana and

elsewhere, such as Central Asia, Pakistan, Algeria, and West African countries as well,” Bezuidenhout explains.

But while the company has a growing fleet of vehicles and equipment and an expanding international footprint, it has maintained the bespoke approach, strong interpersonal relationships and innovative approach that are the key selling point of a smaller business.

“We are not yet a large corporate company, so you get that one-on-one customer service,” Bezuidenhout says.

“We are not scared to do new things, and we can think outside of the box. We are entrepreneurs. This is how we have achieved a few world records. We hold the record for the deepest RC well in the world.”

POWERBIT ROCKTOOLS

POWERBIT: POWERING PROGRESS IN THE ROCK DRILLING TOOLS INDUSTRY – FROM TAIWAN TO AFRICA AND BEYOND

As technology advances and mining and drilling operations expand globally, more organisations need hardy, reliable tools to conquer the extreme environments within which they operate. Energy efficiency, cost reduction, lasting strength and enhanced safety in drilling operations are nonnegotiable. And in a fast-paced, demanding industry, professional operations require equally professional products and service from suppliers to stay ahead.

Established in 1996, Powerbit Rocktools (PTY) LTD is a trusted supplier and specialist in the rock drilling tools industry with a name that has become synonymous with steadfast quality and world-class service at highly competitive prices.

Powerbit’s product range includes DTH hammers and bits, RC hammers and bits, top hammers, bits and rods, casing systems, grinding machines and grinding pins – and more of the tools that help global drilling operations achieve optimum efficiency and longevity.

Having served the southern African mining industry for almost 20 years, Powerbit’s expertise is singularly focused on addressing the unique demands of drilling-related industries and is fuelled by passion and a commitment to excellence.

Director at Torque Africa Exploration and Powerbit client Nardus Bezuidenhout says, “Rock drilling and geotechnical excavation operations are a vital cornerstone of African industry. They are our primary means of resource extraction and optimisation that drive our survival and progress.

“In this context, it is imperative that we foster long-term partnerships with our suppliers so we can confidently maintain the exceptional levels of quality we need at prices that align with our budget. Our longstanding relationship with Powerbit is a testament to their quality specialist drilling products and unparalleled service.”

Thomas Chao, Managing Director at Powerbit Rocktools, adds, “Rock drilling, blasting, rock crushing, mining and all the industries Powerbit services are constantly evolving. As a trusted supplier, we must consistently stay at the forefront of emerging engineering challenges in the global industry.

“We maintain and adapt to new quality standards by collaborating with our facilities in Taiwan, China and Japan, where we have advanced research capabilities and applied technology experts in the rock drilling tools industry. We continuously work alongside our clients to understand their needs and provide products that serve their specific requirements.”

Economical, long-life rock drill bits, hammers, grinding machines and related equipment are paramount to efficiently and cost-effectively handle the complexities of 21st-century drilling operations.

Powerbit Rocktools recognises the pivotal role these tools play in enabling their clients’ success, along with expedited infrastructure projects that drive local economies. Powerbit’s unwavering commitment to innovation, quality and precision drives the cutting-edge ingenuity needed to optimise performance, enhance efficiency and ensure cost-effectiveness.

“We take immense pride in the trust we have established with our clients. Our expertise is deeply rooted in understanding their unique demands. Our heat treatment processes ensure superior wear resistance, outperforming similar products in the market. And with different product ranges tailored to various working conditions, including DHD, MISSION, QL, SD, NUMA, BK and more, we service a diverse range of industries.

If you can’t find the best bit for your unique needs in our wide selection of standard models, we can also design it for you. Our one constant is our commitment to offering high-quality products and solutions to our clients through excellent service at the best price,” says Chao.

INTRODUCING THE POWERBIT PRODUCT ROUNDUP: UNLEASHING THE POWER OF REMARKABLE ROCK DRILLING TOOLS

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TOP HAMMER DRILLING TOOLS: Unleash precision and speed

Top hammer drilling tools are the ultimate choice for hardwearing operations. Powerbit offers a wide selection of drilling options for small hole drilling, drifting and tunnelling, bench and production drilling or furnace tapping. Equipped with various carbide button types, these tools exhibit remarkable abrasion resistance and deliver fast drilling speeds for boundless efficiency and reliability.

RC HAMMERS AND BITS: The epitome of epic performance

Unleash unparalleled drilling speed with Powerbit’s meticulously engineered RC hammers and bits. Optimised structural design ensures ideal energy transfer, maximising drilling efficiency. With a simplistic yet robust component structure, these products guarantee a long service life and effortless repairs.

The collection tubes’ carbonised surfaces provide exceptional wear resistance, allowing for pristine sample collection in even the most demanding operating conditions. Choose from comprehensive casing system options, including eccentric casing systems, slide block casing systems, symmetric overburden drilling equipment and double casing drilling tools. Hardened part surfaces exhibit excellent anti-wear properties, ensuring prolonged service life and consistently high drilling speeds.

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The Powerbit Rocktools team is driven by an unwavering commitment to providing rock drilling solutions that exceed expectations. Every Powerbit product is precision-engineered, incorporating the latest advancements in technology and manufacturing. With exceptional anti-wear properties, prolonged service life and high drilling speeds on demand, Powerbit rock drilling tools provide a gateway to unprecedented performance and productivity.

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CONNECT WITH POWERBIT ROCKTOOLS TODAY:

Website: www.powerbit.co.za

Contact Number: 082 467 4274 / 063 773 3661

General Enquiries: info@powerbit.co.za

Support Queries: support@powerbit.co.za

Sales Enquiries: sales@powerbit.co.za

Address: 87 Second Ave, Bredell, Kempton Park, South Africa

Powerbit Rocktools (PTY) LTD.

Rock drilling tools supplier and specialist – Proudly supplying the southern African mining industry for almost 20 years.

REG. 2016/467722/07 | VAT. 4330220635

This record, which involved drilling an RC hole down to 1019 metres in Amam, in the Northern Cape of South Africa, was established in 2020. That depth was reached in the astonishingly short period of only nine days of continuous drilling. But it was not simply a question of drilling downwards. It was an intricate and complex project that

required meticulous planning, leveraging years of experience and detailed knowledge of the ground conditions in the area. Bezuidenhout has reason to be proud of the achievement, having led the project personally. This is a handson approach that can be seen across all of Torque Africa’s projects.

“WE ARE NOT SCARED TO DO NEW THINGS, AND WE CAN THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.”

Nardus Bezuidenhout, Director, Torque Africa Group.

THE PROBLEM OF POWER

Another thing that all of Torque Africa’s projects have in common is that they all require power, and in South Africa that can sometimes be a major obstacle.

“We face challenges such as load shedding in South Africa, and that can have a knock-on effect on the supply of materials because suppliers don’t have electricity to manufacture,” Bezuidenhout says.

One of the solutions Torque Africa is deploying is to draw materials from further afield, by importing from abroad. The company is also carefully managing stock.

“We make sure we have on-the-shelf equipment to accommodate any shortfalls,” Bezuidenhout says.

However, when it comes to power supplies, the business has adopted its own innovative solutions.

“We have evolved our own solar power systems to create energy for our workshops,” Bezuidenhout points out.

THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACE

Of course, as Torque Africa expands its reach and enters new territories it faces new challenges, particularly from a regulatory point of view.

“Health and safety are not standardised around the world, so every time we enter a new market we must add new safety standards,” Bezuidenhout says. “It changes a lot from place to place.”

“IT IS ABOUT CHANGING YOUR MINDSET, LOOKING FOR BETTER WAYS TO ADDRESS EACH NEW SITUATION.”

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TORQUE AFRICA GROUP

To keep up with the changing regulatory environment, Bezuidenhout employs specialists to ensure its work is in accordance with any standards its clients might have.

“We employ safety managers that act as a key contact point between ourselves and the customer to accommodate all the health and safety standards we might encounter,” explains Bezuidenhout. “It is about changing your mindset, looking for better ways to address each new situation.”

This is just one example of the importance Torque Africa places on its people. When we speak with Bezuidenhout the company employs 200 members of staff around the world, and they are all vital to the company’s success.

“Because we are working all over the world, primarily in the southern part of Africa, we require different kinds of people across different categories,” he tells us. “We invest in people. We train them, we offer people courses to upgrade their skills. These people are our most important asset. That is what makes us successful- the people that work for us.”

To make the most of those assets, Torque Africa takes a personal interest in each of its employees.

“We know our employees’ personal problems, their living standards, and we have a good relationship with them,” Bezuidenhout tells us.

Bezuidenhout believes that the company’s future will depend on long-term relationships with Torque Africa’s staff, its supply chain, and its customers.

“Human resources wise, we try to maintain a good term relationship with the people that work for us,” Bezuidenhout insists.

“Our rule-of-thumb is that we will help any customer to build a programme, joining up with them as a partner in the drilling industry and working together for the long-term benefit of both parties. We want to be on the customers’ books as a partner of choice. That is why we make a commitment not to over-charge, to develop longterm relationships across the industry, especially with the green field exploration phase.”

Torque Africa’s approach is not on a project-by-project basis but with the goal of building relationships for fourto-five years into the future, or more. And that future is bright.

“Gas energy in Africa is booming because of the energy shortfall, so there is a focus on exploration right now. We have made a considerable investment in R&D within the onshore gas drilling sector. It allows us to design and implement a hole design and drilling technique uniquely suited for the Southern African conditions and requirements to accommodate the gas ‘gold rush’,” Bezuidenhout says. “We have plans up to 2026 to build the company, and then we are going to restructure, join up with other partners and build ourselves up. We are drawing a bigger picture for the customer base.”

“WE INVEST IN PEOPLE. WE TRAIN THEM, WE OFFER PEOPLE COURSES TO UPGRADE THEIR SKILLS. PEOPLE ARE OUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET. THAT IS WHAT MAKES US SUCCESSFUL- THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US.”

TORQUE AFRICA GROUP

WWW.TORQUE-AFRICA.CO.ZA