MBA - Jan/Feb 2024 Magazine by miningbusinessafrica

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CONTENTS

January - February 2024

Editor’s Note

16 Cover Image: Xscann COVER STORY: PG 06 Turnkey Body Scanning Solutions for Precious Metal Mines & Refineries

“Unaccounted for, the potential loss of precious metals through employee theft should worry producers as, cumulatively, it could represents a considerable loss of revenue. Xscann Technologies says the surefire way for producers to mitigate this risk is employing its X-ray full-body scanning solution, which has excelled in different mine sites.“

Translate Untapped Potential into Concrete Gains

here is no more perfect way to kick off the year than with the biggest, most prominent event on the African Mining Event Calendar – The 2024 Investing in African Mining Indaba. The event coincides with an exciting development set to shape the mining sector’s trajectory in the coming years – increasing demand for critical minerals driven by the green energy transition and other industrial initiatives. The African continent has an abundance of critical mineral reserves, including copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements. Sadly, many African countries have failed to translate these enormous resources into concrete economic gains. Instead, these resources have been a curse rather than a blessing, inviting untold misery to citizens – corruption, civil war, military coups, name it all. Now is the time to back the trend – turning the resources into an abundant blessing. The first step is creating an environment conducive to attracting capital investment in exploration, mining, and beneficiation ventures. It is heartening to note that one of the topics on the agenda centres around seeking the most practical ways of attracting investment in the continent’s mining sector. As expected, they will be moving speeches and standing ovations. But it is the aftermath that matters the most – transforming words into action. Hopefully, key players in the continent’s mining sector, including government departments of mining in respective countries, mining companies, financial institutions and non-profit organisations will collaborate to realise the untapped potential lying deep within Africa’s soil.

Nick Barnes

editor@miningbusinessafrica.com

TEAM Editor Nick Barnes editor@miningbusinessafrica.co.za +27 10 055 3356 Web/Sub-Editors Jimmy Swira Jimmy@miningbusinessafrica.co.za + 27 10 055 3356

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Investing in African Mining Indaba

Embracing the Power of Positive Disruption Two representatives of Hyve Group, organisers of the Investing in Investing in African Mining Indaba 2024, field questions from MINING BUSINESS AFRICA. They are Eve Harper, Global Natural Resources Portfolio Director, and Kathryn Barnard, Event Director.

MBA: Kindly share some insight into how successful Mining Indaba 2023 has been and what some of the events/topics that delegates have really enjoyed. Why was this do you think and will you be replicating these at Mining Indaba 2024? Eve Harper: Mining Indaba 2023 was undoubtedly the most successful event since Hyve took the acquisition in 2019. Not only were our delegate numbers just over 8000 in total, of this we also had a number of early-stage explorers, over 900 investors, around 470 junior miners and just over 700 mid-tiers and major miners. We also attracted an extremely large delegation of mining ministers that rounded out the key stakeholders who gathered under our roof to collaborate and network. Our focus in 2024 is to increase these numbers and the work we are doing to achieve this is varied across multiple focus areas, which includes content. Our 2024 theme: “Embracing the power of positive disruption: A bold new future for African mining” – aims to completely elevate the audience experience for our panel discussions and all content elements within our programmes. In supporting this our Main Stage has been rebranded ‘Disruptive Discussions’ so that we continually emphasise our content objectives. Here our priority is for our panellists to move away from typical corporate message delivery and start engaging around real challenges in mining to find solutions – in other words showcasing how they are disruptive in the industry so that other stakeholders can feel inspired and connected with these messages. Smaller panels, with more engaged and participatory moderators will deliver transparent and meaningful conversations that the audience can connect with and learn from.

2 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

Important to highlight is the attendance of H.E. João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola. Another Head of State has been confirmed, which we will unveil soon, so please keep close to us for this announcement. These distinguished leaders will deliver a keynote address to attendees on Monday morning, February 5, and share their insights and perspectives on the mining industry, highlighting the importance of collaboration and sustainable development in this sector. Their presence at Mining Indaba 2024 reflects the global significance of this event and reinforces its reputation as a premier platform for discussing critical issues in mining. The event has evolved over the years to include a variety of content streams and special sessions addressing diverse subjects of relevance in addition to unveiling this year’s programmes that will support the theme of the event. These additions aim to support the theme of the event and provide valuable information to attendees. The largest-ever conference will feature the following concurrent “special sessions” and showcases: • Explorers Showcase The Explorers Showcase is an opportunity for exploration and early development mining firms in Africa. It aims to help explorers find the right partners and generate capital for their projects through exclusive deal-making networks. •

Responsible Resourcing Awards Mining Indaba introduced the Junior ESG Awards two years ago to honour junior mining companies for their sustainable development initiatives. The Responsible Resourcing Awards, rebranded, continue to celebrate and recognise these companies for their efforts in reducing carbon emissions, improving access to clean

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Investing in African Mining Indaba

water, and promoting sustainable economic development in their regions. • Investment Battlefield The Investment Battlefield is an annual competition for Africa’s top junior mining companies, held in partnership with Mining Indaba and 121 Cape Town events. The relegation-style format sees non-relegated juniors advance to the finals for best exploration and development projects. •

Mining Innovation and Research Battlefield New Leaders. Fresh Ideas. Real-world Impact The return of the Mining Innovation and Research Battlefield will empower new leaders and uplift fresh ideas in African mining, promoting cross-sector collaboration for catalysing and achieving real-world impact in the industry. We have further adapted our programmes to reflect areas what we know to be of greatest interest to our stakeholders. The first is the Intergovernmental Summit (IGS) – a single-day programme now extends over three days from Monday and is in essence an extension of the closed-door Ministerial Symposium, but in a public forum environment. This all takes place in the Westin and becomes the hub for government networking, conversations and content delivery at Mining Indaba – although we will see their presence through panel discussions in the CTICC and at their exhibition stands. Our sustainability programme – now called the Sustainability Series – has been extended to two days. This is our response to the industry’s need to talk about sustainability at length. It is a driving factor for the mining industry at present and forms one of the most important programmes we offer in 2024. New in 2024 is a Junior Miners’ Day programme that caters specifically to juniors – perhaps an audience that hasn’t had the strongest visibility in the last few years but is a target audience we are focusing on heavily. They are the drivers of the next generation of mining and we want to ensure our content and our junior mining presence reinforces and explores this. Likewise, the addition of an Investor Day emphasises the need to hear directly from our investors and understand the parameters by which junior companies need to focus to better position themselves for funding. Our technology programme, which has been an evolving programme for the few last years

4 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

has now been positioned correctly to best define what it truly aims to focus on and is a platform that showcases mining technologies that will move our industry into the future. The ‘Tech and Innovation Hub’ – which takes place on the show floor is designed to speak to our tech providers and exhibitors, in collaboration with the industry to explore the future of mining – not on a surface level but on a deep and meaningful level that our industry can learn from and adopt in order to process their own technology journey faster. This programme will include technologies in action, providing a visual and sensory experience that enables the audience to be better connected with the technology and its potential. Our youth day, which takes place on Thursday is perhaps seen as an outlying element to our event but we have also recognised the role youth will play in tomorrow’s mining industry. For 2024, we are working to integrate younger generations into Mining Indaba across the full event and look at how we can support young students financially to engage in a career in mining. While the industry is multi-faceted in terms of commodities we have a strong critical minerals underlying theme across many of our sessions – reinforcing again the need to provide knowledge sharing and content around the area of greatest interest at present. Mining Indaba also celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2024 – which is dedicated to ‘giving back’ primarily… We are looking at various projects to be involved in that represent Mining Indaba to be a responsible event that supports areas of mining that need support. We will also be introducing an ‘Icons of Women in Mining Awards’ in partnership with Women in Mining SA (WIMSA) to shine a spotlight on the road women have travelled to become meaningful contributors to our industry. Our event truly strives to connect industry experts while also making a positive social and community effect. By linking their mission with social and community benefits, we are promoting change that transcends beyond the bounds of the event itself. As a multi-national event company, we place a strong emphasis on selecting local suppliers and providing opportunities for entrepreneurs. This not only creates jobs and supports economic growth but also ensures grassroots benefits. Working with local suppliers ensures an authentic and meaningful event experience by leveraging their skills and market knowledge. Hyve’s events have contributed to society

by supporting young people through donations to Cotlands charity and student sponsorship programmes. We have partnered with Breadline Africa to build a school in Masonwabe, providing quality education for hundreds of children in the Western Cape. Investing in education empowers individuals and contributes to Africa’s development, driving innovation and sustainable growth. MBA: What have you gathered as the mood/anticipation from delegates, exhibitors/ international community for the Mining Indaba 2024 – what is driving this sentiment? Eve Harper: As mentioned, Mining Indaba turns 30 in 2024, and the excitement around this milestone achievement is high, with a large contingent of loyal participants, our stakeholders want to share in this unbelievable achievement,” Eve Harper, Global Natural Resources Portfolio Director. That aside, as mentioned, the war is in a race to secure critical minerals in order to contribute towards the overarching need to deliver an energy transition across the planet. Africa remains the last truly untapped continent with the greatest prospect for delivering vast quantities of critical minerals and so this remains an underlying feature throughout our content. We will have strong representation from international governments and investors including the United States, Europe, Saudi Arabia, India and more, all contributing to their ideals for supporting the development of critical minerals industries in Africa. Importantly, our discussions will explore how Africa can best utilise its minerals while still contributing towards global needs. MBA: How successful was the 121 Junior Mining event – anything new in this regard for the next Indaba? Eve Harper: The investors who attended 121 Mining Investment Cape Town 2023 ranged from small-scale individual investments to large institutional funds. The size and degree of development of the mining projects featured at the event varied, with some focusing on early-stage exploration and others on mature development or production. The commodities covered in the projects included gold, copper, platinum, and rare earth metals. Because of

the diversity of attendees, there was enough potential for networking and collaboration across all sectors of the mining industry. Several notable meetings and connections were made at 121 Mining Investment Cape Town 2023, which was a record-breaking year for attendance, bringing together over 700 investors and 111 mining projects for pre-scheduled meetings and networking.” With a sterling average of 19 per firm throughout the two days, capital-raising conversations took place and connections were enriched. With the demand we have received from the sector thus far, we foresee an even bigger and better 121 Mining Investment for 2024.

mining industry and needs to be explored from a variety of aspects – international requirements driving this, in the form of ESG ratings and standards are also changing. Our Sustainability Series programme will unpack a number of important topics in relation to this – from artisanal mining, to community development, the just energy transition, circularity, net zero mines, the future of coal and most mining economies. Please visit the website and explore this programme in more detail in needed. All the key programmes are available on the website and we suggest reviewing these to highlight programme topics of interest that your readers will align with

MBA: What is the appetite from exhibitors? Any new companies that will be first-timers?

MBA: Any other information you wish to impart?

Eve Harper: The exhibition floor – larger than it has been in the past – is a combination of loyal repeat clients and new clients. This demonstrates the value our stakeholders see in positioning themselves at our event, year after year while simultaneously being supported by new clients who are eager to experience what Mining Indaba has to offer. MBA: How is the Mining Indaba platform being used to promote Africa’s Mining Vision on the global stage? Kathryn Barnard: The Africa Mining Vision aims to promote the development of mining in Africa in a transparent and equitable approach. It is public knowledge that Africa’s critical mineral resources are extensive but largely untapped and this holds the substantial opportunity to fast-track the development of Africa and by association its economies and community upliftment. Understanding the role Africa will play – currently and what is necessary – will be explored and the goal will ascertain how it can contribute to global demand but also derive value at a local level to promote country and continent development.

Kathryn Barnard: As Mining Indaba enters the next era of its journey, we are excited to take this event in a new direction – many of which from a content perspective can already clearly be seen. We are exploring new audience sectors to bring to the event that will add value to the full value chain of mining and continuously add to our event offering that further supports our need to be the platform that enables the African mining industry to develop and advance. We believe the greatest change that happens within the industry is thanks to the content and conversations that take place under our roof. The 2024 event aims to showcase the thriving African mining industry and its readiness for investment, making it a unique and significant event to attend. We are excited to bring together stakeholders from across the mining industry to drive positive and long-term change in the sector. Mining Indaba 2023 attracted a record number of attendees, and we expect to welcome an even larger number of global mining executives at our 30th Anniversary event, over 8000 delegates from 100+ countries. Our audience will include more than 900 investors, 1200 mining company executives and 100+ government representatives, including Heads of State and Ministerial delegations.

MBA: What role does sustainability play in the discussions and showcases at Mining Indaba 2024? Kathryn Barnard: Sustainability has become a top 5 board agenda and priority for the

Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024 5

Turnkey Body Scanning Solutions for Precious Metal Mines & Refineries

Precious Metal Theft Deterrence with X-ray Full-Body Scanning Unaccounted for, the potential loss of precious metals through employee theft should worry producers as, cumulatively, it could represents a considerable loss of revenue. Xscann Technologies says the surefire way for producers to mitigate this risk is employing its X-ray full-body scanning solution, which has excelled in different mine sites.

Scann Technologies views the 2024 Investing in African Mining Indaba as the perfect platform for raising awareness among mining companies about the importance of safeguarding their invaluable assets. The company is particularly concerned about the situation in the precious stones and metals sectors, where producers may be oblivious to the increased risk of theft they face. Rudzani Ramovha, the Managing Director of Xscann Technologies, offers a candid view on the situation: “Save for fleeting fluctuations, truth be told, prices of precious metals have been generally favourable in the past years. Of course, producers are doing their utmost to make the most of glorious opportunities to increase revenue. But the main concern is that, in a quest to increase output, they may overlook the need to protect their precious stones and metals from theft. Stolen metals or precious stones represent an irretrievable loss of revenue, these would deter mines from truly benefitting from favourable prices.“

safeguard their assets. Based on experience from recent projects, the company has noticed that traditional techniques of security, which involve body searching of employees, fall short in deterring theft. The shortcomings of traditional technique (body searching) Usually, the traditional techniques of body searching have many security disadvantages and loopholes. Some examples include: collusion between security personnel and the workforce, limitations in places to reach for search, privacy intrusions, time-consuming,

Need to beef up security Lamenting security lapses at precious metal mines & refineries, Xscan Technologies urges producers to beef up security systems to

6 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

uncomfortable working environment for security personnel, etc. Clearly, this necessitates precious metal producers to adopt alternative techniques to safeguard their precious stones and metals. Rudzani emphasises that the company is not being alarmist by urging mines to enhance their security systems.“The traditional approach cannot cope with the increasing sophistication of theft. Syndicates at mines are always a step ahead of systems.” Xscann Body scanning technology Rudzani guarantees that, as an alternative, Xscann’s X-ray full-body scanning technology has proved effective in challenging conditions in both precious metal mines and refineries. He attributes this to main features that ease deployment and management, such as a body scanner inside a mobile container for easy movement to different locations, office space for operators, integrated access control, holding rooms, air conditioning, and backup power options.

Without a doubt, the most effective is Xscann body scanner‘s ability to deter theft in the following ways: • High-resolution head-to-toe whole-body image of a person under review in a single pass; • Operators image enhancement tools to accurately and quickly evaluate the image, using specifically adapted software that provides security checks of unequalled quality; and • Uses state-of-the-art safety systems to monitor the dose, every transaction is recorded and timestamped for future auditing; and • Remote operation of the body scanner unit.

A trusted partner Rudzani warrants metal and precious stone producers that Xscann Technologies, South African-based and Africa-focused, is the reliable partner when it comes to protecting their invaluable assets.“We have successfully distributed, installed and maintained Body scanner solutions for mining companies for over 10 years. Our track record speaks for itself.”

Advantages of Xscann Technologies’ body scanner There is no question about the Xscann body scanner’s efficiency. The technology offers many advantages, including: the detection of even internally concealed items, adequate safeguarding of companies’ precious assets, a safe working environment for the security personnel, a quicker search process, archiving of every transaction for future auditing, access control integration, technological solution that can be upgraded for future detection requirements, full maintenance support after installations.

Rudzani Ramovha – Director Xscann Technologies Cell: +27 (0)76 569 9926 Tel: +27 (0)11 608 1504 Fax: +27 (0)11 608 1570 Web: www.xscann.com Address: 6 Guernsey Drive, Longmeadow East, Edenvale, Johannesburg, 1610, RSA

For further enquiries about the Xscann X-Ray full body scanning solutions, please contact:

Customised Turnkey Solutions There is more value clients can derive from engaging Xscann Technologies for their requirements. Instead of merely supplying clients with a product, going an extra mile, the company delivers Turnkey Body scanning solutions.“Our scanners are also delivered in a mobile version built in a shipping container and are fully customisable to the customers’ requirements.“ Customisation of solutions has proved effective in solving specific challenges that clients face in theft mitigation. In particular, the typical approach entails customer consultations prior to and during the design phases to build a customer-fit solution. Consultations also continue during implementation until the commission to adapt to any changes along the way. On why Xscan has taken this route, Rudzani expounds: “We strive to implement products as per customer specifications, we understand that customers are different and we strive to manage the customer diversity with our product offerings.” Moreover, what is worth mentioning is that Backup power systems are part of Xscann‘s new turnkey offerings. This could either be in the form of a generator (petrol/diesel) or solar system, depending on the customer preferences or environmentally conducive solution. Xscann Technologies’ full body scanner

Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024 7

Steel for African Downstream Industries

Imported Steel and Supply Certainty Players in the downstream industry, contracted to fabricate structures for mining projects, will need certainty of steel supply. Unfortunately, local production in the countries where it exists won’t meet the requirements in terms of competitive price, type and volumes. Thus, imports will continue filling the void as in the past years.

Steel is in fabrication of tanks used in remote mining projects (Pic credit above and below: Structa Technology)

urrently, Greenfield and brownfield projects in Mining, Oil, Gas (MOG) and power generation are at various stages of development on the African continent. If recent press statements of some corporations are anything to go by, more are in the pipeline. This bodes well for producers and suppliers of steel, as structures like pressure vessels and others are critical in projects. This means potential orders from the downstream industry translate into revenue. The automatic choice Steel is an automatic choice because of its qualities. Mainly, due to its durability and versatility, steel is the preferred material in the development of structures and infrastructure. The market The steel market is diverse, defined by shape, size and type. Based on market developments in the past few years, in the main, the sector can be dissected into the following categories:

8 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

1. Long steel and flat steel Long steel is segmented into wire rods, rebars, merchant bars, and heavy sections, among others. Flat steel is subdivided based on product type into hot-rolled wide strips, and quarto plates, among others. 2. Type From a type perspective, the market is segmented into carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, and tool steel. Typically, the composition of steel produced depends upon end-users’ desired applications. Demand and supply These steel categories have to be available as and when needed. Typically, companies in downstream industries source locally, where it is available, and import it from other countries. The dominant local steel-producing countries on the continent are Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, and Namibia. Africa Iron & Steel Market Outlook Report

2021-2029, a research review of the state of Africa’s steel market was published recently. Its findings reveal interesting trends. In local production, there is an increase in specialised steel alloys. Steel alloys are designed to meet the demand for steel with enhanced characteristics. Another intriguing observation is the extent governments are going to protect local producers from imported steel through legislation. The Department of Trade and Industry in South Africa is a case in point (see sidebar). The DTI has made it a condition for the use of locally-produced materials in projects. This is to facilitate development and employment creation. However, it is palpable that local production cannot meet the volumes of demand or some of the specifications in projects. From a price perspective, the majority of downstream industry players consider locally-produced steel uncompetitive, as industry body Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa’s (Steasa) Chief Executive Officer, Keitumetse Moumakoe, lamented in a press statement last year. Certainly, imports will continue filling the void in the foreseeable future. In contrast, in other steel-producing countries, there are no significant restrictions on imports. Presumably, market forces dictate. The downstream industry players in those countries do not have big concerns. What’s in store for the downstream industry when all is said and done? Prospects On the project front, based on the recent developments, prospects for steel producers appear bright. Most countries in sub-Saharan

Protecting the local turf

Africa plan to build more plants to meet the increasing electricity demand. Besides, electrification projects are either ongoing or in the pipeline. To complement this, countries are diversifying their energy mix to accommodate renewable and are constructing solar power plants. These developments have the potential to sustain steel demand for a while. Fabricators will be involved in producing steel towers for the transmission grid and distribution infrastructure, steel frames used in solar installations and wind turbines and boilers for power plants. All in all, granted, the future trajectory of the comings and goings in the market for steel cannot be predicted with certainty. Nonetheless, there is one constant: as long as construction projects are ongoing, you can bet your bottom dollar that steel will always be in demand. Imports will ensure supply certainty.

outh Africa is never short of intriguing developments in many spheres. These have not spared the steel sector. In a move considered extreme by players in the downstream industry, the country introduced protective tariffs on primary steel hot rolled coil (HRC) and coated steel. Supposedly, this was aimed at curbing the influx of imported steel into the country to protect AMSA, South Africa’s sole domestic steel producer. However, this hasn’t deterred the inflow of imports. The downstream industry prefers imported HRC steel due to competitive pricing and access to variety. Ludovico Sanges, the managing director of Duferco, one of the players, says his company has been able to compete successfully in the international market using imported HRC steel. Imported steel accounts for about one-third of the country’s steel consumption, according to a new Steel Report published by the South African Iron and Steel Institute (SAISI). If truth be told, this could be a conservative estimate. Despite being cushioned by tariffs, AMSA has not been able to sustain its operations. The decision to close its plant in Boksburg indicates this. Annual domestic steel production capacity in South Africa is estimated at 6.5 million tonnes. With the reduction of AMSA’s capacity, this is set to plummet. The downstream industry will use more imported steel in its projects.

Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024 9

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for Work at Heights (IWH). We have the right equipment, trained and experienced personnel to carry out any slope support or rock scaling projects. With us, it doesn’t matter how deep the pit is or how rocky the slope is, we will always find the safest way to support or clean any open pit high wall. We are in the business of safety, more specifically, safety against rockfall hazards in the mining space. Our job is to ensure mining houses can run their operations without being worried about the risk of rockfall hazards to their miners, equipment or contractors. Rockfall hazards are a big risk in the mining space and if measures are not put in place, lives could be lost or expensive equipment damaged. As a company, we take the

10 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

safety of our technicians and that of our client very serious. We use only the best rope access kit for the safety of our technicians and we have the best and most robust slope support solutions to guarantee safety for open cast operations. The tecco system we use for slope protection and stabilization is well tested to protect open cast from any disintegrated stones and blocks or any loose rocks from breaking out. We are well familiar and experienced in the installation of the system and most mines are using the tecco system because it has proven to be the most robust and easy to install on highwalls. Depending on the requirements and specifications of the project, we can either use a passive system such as a draped system

which its purpose is to control the movement of the loose rocks or we can use an active system such as a pinned mesh which is designed to retain masses and prevent landslide or erosion. Draped nets are also used for controlled rockfall protection as a temporary solution. M84 Geotech is a trusted partner when it comes to rockfall protection & slope stabilization. We guarantee you a safe and reliable installation methods which are safe & effective. As a skilled and experienced working at height contractor, all our work is done while suspended on ropes, which means less interruption to production and accessibility is never an issue for us because we reach areas which are unreachable by other working at heights equipment. Whether you need temporary, passive or active solutions for your pit, we have the options to meet you rockfall hazards

needs. As a company which prioritises safety, we pride ourselves of having a 100% safety record on all the projects we have undertaken. We invest in the right equipment to ensure that our team is always safe when their working and comply with safety standards of each site we work on. We do job risk assessment with each member of our team present to eliminate or minimize any risk on each project we undertake. Only trained and experienced technicians are employed and well supervised. We follow mining safety standards and working at heights standards. Some of our successful projects include over 40000 square meters of drape mesh installed at the biggest platinum mine in the world, securing a water pipe on a 200 meters high wall, removing

vegetation on a high wall, fixing and draping a mesh, over 1000 monitoring prisms installed, draping a nylon netting on a 100-meter-high wall and over 10 rock scaling projects. All these projects were done in the mining space and all projects were completed with 100% safety record on site. If you are looking for a reliable, experienced, resourceful, compliant and competent rockfall mitigation specialist, then M84 Geotech is the company you can trust. We prioritize safety because safety is our business.

Our Services: Drape Mesh & Net Installation | Rock Scaling | Prism Installation | Catch Fence Installation | Drilling | High Tensile Mesh Supply | Anchor Points Supply & Pull Testing Contact Details: Tel: 015 023 1400 Cell: 072 203 8405 Email: info@m84geotech.co.za, admin@m84geotech.co.za Address: 11 Sussex Street, Mokopane 0601 26 Rhodesdrift Street, Building 4, Suite 3 Rhodesdrift Office Park, Bendor Polokwane 0699 Socials: Instagram: m84_geotech Linkedin: M84 Geotech Website: www.m84geotech.co.za

Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024 11

Fabric Structures & Shelters for African Mining Projects

Premium, Cost Effective, and Convenient Shelter Solutions Several mining projects are scheduled to be launched this year in Africa, most in remote areas. Just as they have done in DRC and Egypt, DomeShelter Australia is eager to supply genuine, durable DomeShelter™ Fabric Structures & Shelters to new clientele. DomeShelter™ Solutions are the cost-effective and hassle-free Shelter choice for clients across the globe.

Large GM Workshop - Pilbara, Western Australia

omeShelter Australia is the original manufacturer of genuine DomeShelter™ Products, boasting 30 years of industry experience in designing and manufacturing fully-engineered Shelter Solutions. DomeShelter™ Products are gaining popularity in the engineered shelter niche market due to the convenience they offer and their premium quality. Moreover, with in-house know-how, DomeShelter Australia can provide solutions customised to the client’s exact specifications. Convenience DomeShelter™ Structures provide convenience in the following ways: 1. Easy transportation The unique modular design and efficient kit packaging of DomeShelter™ Structures make them well-suited to assist the African mining industry. Eliminating the hassle of transporting components over long distances, DomeShelter™ Kits for overseas project delivery are typically packaged inside ISO sea containers. This approach

offers a range of benefits, including: • Standardised ISO sizing means straightforward delivery to any location internationally • Easily liftable for unloading • Easy to unpack on-site • Packaged safely for delivery and movement • Space saving; multiple Shelter Kits can be packed inside one container depending on size • Less ‘bits-i-ness’ means reduced risk of pieces going missing etc. 2.

Reduced installation times and costs DomeShelter™ Kits contain fewer overall pieces, improving structural strength and significantly reducing installation times and costs once the Shelter reaches the site. For instance, two 15m wide by 12.2m long DomeShelter™ Structures on a remote mine site would take an estimated three days to install, compared to more than a week with a complicated and ‘bitsy’ kit. 3. Customisable With small or large profiles available and a range of configurations and

12 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

add-ons available, DomeShelter™ Structures can be customised to suit a range of applications. They are commonly used as LV & HV Maintenance Bays, Bulk Storage Shelters, Tyre Change Bays, and more, at mines throughout Africa. DomeShelter Australia works closely with many clients to deliver Fit-ForPurpose Shelter Solutions to suit their individual project needs. Compliance with international quality standards There are a range of fabric shelter options on the market. While this offers the end-users a wide range of options, unfortunately, not all products are suitably engineered and compliant. However, undoubtedly, every DomeShelter™ Kit is of premium quality. Clients can rest assured using a product with the following unique attributes: • DomeShelter™ Structures are 100% Australian-made using only the highest quality material. • DomeShelter Australia adheres to the strictest Australian engineering standards, with every Shelter

Multi Bay HV Workshops - Pilbara, Western Australia

•

manufactured in accordance with AS1170.2, Australia’s wind rating system. DomeShelter Australia‘s manufacturing and management systems are internationally audited and certified to ISO9001 and ISO45001 standards.

Over and above premier quality, all DomeShelter™ Products come with a 10-year Structural warranty. DomeShelter™ Tarps have a 20-year UV warranty. Inhouse expertise from design to completion With a large and capable in-house team, DomeShelter Australia handles all elements of every project in-house, from design consultation to site-specific engineering and manufacturing of the Fabric Structure. Ultimately, the DomeShelter™ Structure is delivered in one complete kit, including any materials that need to be outsourced. In this way, DomeShelter Australia guarantees quick turnaround Standard Solutions but also end-to-end service of the highest quality standard. Client endorsement In the face of products from competitors serving similar functions, DomeShelter™ Structures have carved a niche in different sectors globally, underlining clients‘ endorsement of the convenience and premier quality they offer. Among scores of projects where the Structures have been delivered to the client’s satisfaction are those in Australia and Africa.

Sukari Gold Mine - Egypt

• Australia DomeShelter Australia was entrusted with designing and manufacturing Shelters for extremely complex projects, such as the Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory in Australia. For this project, the DomeShelter™ Team worked with NASA scientists to deliver a fully-insulated Shelter for space vehicle assembly. This ensured that the finished product adhered to the necessary environmental requirements for laboratory works, as well as keeping staff and assets safe from the challenging Northern Territory climate. • Africa DomeShelter Australia has been servicing the mining industry throughout Africa for decades. Currently, it is a trusted supplier to leading mining projects such as the Kibali Gold Mine in DRC and Sukari Mine in Egypt. A noteworthy milestone is the delivery of a DomeShelter™ Solution to the sprawling Kilbali Gold Mine in DRC. At the mine, Shelter was required to ensure activities related to vehicle maintenance could be completed efficiently and staff and assets could be protected from harsh elements. Timeously, DomeShelter Australia was approached to assist in devising a suitable solution and they relished the challenge. Located in remote Africa, Kilbali Gold Mine in DRC needed a solution that could be easily transported and installed without compromising on size and durability. They also needed it to be delivered within a short time frame while remaining on budget.

Accordingly, Six DomeShelter™ Structures of varying sizes were provided for use on-site. These Shelters serve a range of purposes, from Maintenance Workshops and Lubrication Bays to Boilermaker Workshops and Tyre Bays. Mounted on double and triple-stacked sea containers, the Shelters offer ample height clearance for large mining machinery such as CAT dump trucks to be worked on undercover. The Shelters were installed by local teams on-site following comprehensive instructions provided, saving time and cost for the client. New locations, New Clients In 2024, the team at DomeShelter Australia are looking forward to delivering solutions to similar projects to new locations on the African continent. They guarantee prospective clients unrivalled experience of premium quality, convenience and cost-effectiveness with their genDomeShelter™ fabric Structures and Shelters. this could translate into an irretrievable revenue loss, and for employees, loss of livelihood and destitution. This is the last experience any sane mine operator would be keen to encounter: missing out on bumper yields. The ultimate benefit The long and short is that compliance audits are not a grudge undertaking but for the business’s benefit. Instead, doing the right thing enables a mine to increase revenue while achieving zero harm.

Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024 13

Youth Employment Service

Tap into South Africa’s real goldmine by integrating youth job creation with your SLP and ESG/SDG strategies

he Youth Employment Service (YES), a business-led youth employment programme, is affecting broad-based change across sectors, provinces, and the country. YES addresses the country’s youth unemployment crisis by empowering businesses to create jobs for our unemployed youth. YES is youth-focused and business-led. In just four years, YES has collaborated with over 1,550 businesses and created 126,159 job opportunities with no government funding, pouring an estimated R6.5 billion worth of youth salaries into communities and the economy. YES works with business to create work experiences for youth at scale and in this process, a business can gain one or two levels up on its B-BBEE scorecard. YES is more than a level up, it is an integrated solution that contributes to solving youth unemployment while uplifting communities, and integrates seamlessly into the B-BBEE scorecard, as well as environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies, the Mining Charter and specifically SLPs.

Businesses can choose to place youth within their own structures or within a YES host partner through the turnkey solution. By placing YES Youth inside your business, you’ll reap the rewards of having a younger, more digitally savvy workforce, de-risk future recruitment by trying out youth cohorts and selecting the best fit for your business. Recruiting youth yourself, using your HR best practices, gives you the opportunity to develop these gems into long-term employees with the best match to your organisation’s culture and values. The YES trusted turnkey model has been established to enable the creation of work experiences at scale, while uplifting communities built on thriving and dynamic economies. YES works with host partners to give businesses that can’t place youth in their organisations, an affordable and reliable way to make an impact. These host partners are predominantly NPOs or SMEs, working to build communities from the ground up. These organisations have an intimate knowledge of the needs and problems these communities face. Most importantly, they are already doing the work to create long-lasting, impactful solutions. YES is also able to offer a solution where your company supports minefunded SMEs as part of your local economic development (LED).

How can my business integrate YES with ESG/SDG strategies? With several vetted host partners across the country, YES offers an effective way for companies to uplift communities in highimpact sectors like healthcare, education, and early childhood development, or future-facing sectors like digital, ICT, and green economies. YES plays a vital role by providing work experiences in community-based NPOs and small businesses, enabling youth to reinvest their earnings into local economies. This feeds into poverty eradication and upliftment of communities beyond the mines these towns surround. Mines have the opportunity to grow their social impact through bolstering their SME development plans. The YES model can also see young people deployed in community-based SMEs, effectively boosting the capacity of local businesses to deliver goods and services to their neighbouring mines and beyond. YES also see a number of youth who are exiting the programme go on to start their own businesses. YES Alumni are twice as likely as the average youth to venture into entrepreneurship, becoming the job-creators of tomorrow. YES has established its own SMMEsupporting Hubs, and work with existing highquality Hubs to inject in-demand skills directly into the communities that need them most. Many of these youth jobs and SMMEs are also providing environmental, social, or governance (ESG) outcomes, such as fighting climate change or providing community health benefits. These ESG outcomes will also assist the relevant mine improve its attractiveness to investors. Anglo-American Platinum is leading the way in this sphere, having recently been recognised as a Top Jobs Contributor at the YES ESG Awards. Over two years with YES, Anglo-American Platinum has created thousands of new youth jobs within the mining, engineering, services and digital industries. Their youth employment footprint spans across Gauteng, North West and Limpopo where youth

are employed as web designers, e-learning designers, cyber security analysts, electricians, chefs, engineers, bio technicians, HR officers and electrical engineers. The social impact of creating jobs and building businesses and capacity is often almost immediate. 53% of YES Youth placed in 12-month work experiences come from grant recipient households, and 63% of the youth have

financial dependants, meaning that one youth income has a huge positive impact that ripples from families and across communities. ESG strategies and reporting are crucial to your business’ success, and YES provides an opportunity to develop youth jobs that correspond with these goals, making a difference in the lives of South African youth and communities. The YES model integrates seamlessly with the Local Economic Development (LED) and Human Resource Development elements of the SLP. Businesses, in collaboration with YES, can create economic success, foster a fairer society, and empower the next generation of gamechangers, all while reaching their ESG goals. Uplift communities. Empower underresourced sectors. Discover hidden gems.

Join the movement yes4youth.co.za corporatesupport@yes4youth.co.za

Fleet Management for Mining Projects

Ctrack’s Edge Technology Transforms Mining Operations For mines employing Ctrack’s advanced edge processing solutions, increased productivity equates to more efficient extraction processes, better resource management, and reduced operational costs.

n the dynamic and challenging world of mining, Ctrack is pioneering change with its advanced edge technology and data insights. Specialising in asset management, Ctrack is redefining mining operations, turning them into paragons of efficiency and productivity. Central to this revolution is the strategic use of data, now considered the new gold in the mining sector. Integration of advanced edge computing and data technologies Mining environments, known for their harshness and unpredictability, demand robust and adaptable solutions. Ctrack’s integration of advanced edge computing and data technologies is pivotal in this

context. Edge technology, in particular, involves processing data directly on mining vehicles and equipment. This on-site data processing capability enables real-time analysis, offering immediate operational insights. For mining companies, this translates into more efficient monitoring of vehicle and equipment performance, improved predictive maintenance, heightened safety measures, and enhanced overall operational efficiency. The role of edge technology is transformative, empowering faster decision-making and reducing dependence on remote data centres, a significant advantage in remote or challenging mining environments.

16 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

Real-time monitoring capabilities The essence of mining success lies in the meticulous monitoring of a broad spectrum of assets. Ctrack’s technology provides real-time monitoring capabilities extending from regular vehicles used for transportation and administrative purposes to large, heavyduty machinery like excavators, drills, and bulldozers. This comprehensive monitoring includes essential safety equipment and critical infrastructure elements such as conveyors and pipelines. Such diverse and detailed asset tracking is fundamental for proactive maintenance and ensuring safety across the varied terrains of mining operations. Immediate access

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Fleet Management for Mining Projects

to data and performance metrics across all these assets enables quick responses to emerging issues, thereby enhancing strategic planning and bolstering safety protocols throughout the mining site. New era of productivity Moreover, the integration of edge technology in mining heralds a new era of productivity, with implications far beyond mere economic gains. For mines employing advanced edge processing solutions, increased productivity equates to more efficient extraction processes, better resource management, and reduced operational costs. This aspect is particularly vital in a sector where profitability fluctuates with market and regulatory changes. Higher productivity not only speeds up project timelines but also fosters a safer work environment and contributes to broader economic development through job creation and community involvement. Optimising key operational parameters Ctrack’s solutions also extend to

optimising key operational parameters, including fuel consumption, machine utilisation, and overall productivity. By meticulously recording and analysing data such as machine speed, and driver performance, Ctrack aids in resource management and cost reduction, maintaining competitiveness in the mining sector. Bespoke nature In addition to its wide-ranging assettracking capabilities, a key strength of Ctrack’s technology is its bespoke nature, allowing it to be tailored to the specific needs of different clients. Recognising that each mining operation has its unique challenges and requirements, Ctrack offers customisable solutions designed to meet these diverse needs. Whether it’s adapting to different types of vehicles and machinery, varying operational scales, or specific environmental conditions, the technology can be finetuned to ensure optimal performance. This flexibility ensures that every client can benefit from a solution that not

18 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

only addresses their current demands but is also scalable and adaptable to future changes and challenges in their operations. Operational excellence, safety, and sustainability Ctrack’s role in mining transcends traditional tracking; it embodies a strategic approach to utilising data for operational excellence, safety, and sustainability. As mining operations delve deeper and confront increasing challenges, the importance of data and technology in driving innovation and efficiency has become more pronounced. Ctrack’s solutions stand as a testament to the transformative power of data and edge technology in revolutionising the mining industry, marking a significant step not just toward operational efficiency but also towards economic resilience and societal progress.

ANNIVERSARY 1 9 9 4 - 2 0 2 4

5-8 February 2024

CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

Since 1994, Investing in African Mining Indaba has been among the best places for deal sourcing and corporate matchmaking for the African mining industry. It serves as the most comprehensive meeting for investment, finance, innovation, and transformation to support end-to-end value creation. Today, Mining Indaba continues to drive the economic and sustainable development of Africa and the mining sector forward. Join us from 5-8 February 2024 to celebrate how far the industry has come and discover what the future holds for Africa’s mining industry.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MINING INDABA 2023

8100+ Attendees

900+ Investors & Dealmakers

500+

Mining Companies Executives

60+

Heads of State & Ministers

@miningindaba | #MI24 | miningindaba.com

25+

Ambassadors & High Commissioners

Condition Monitoring for Mining Machinery

WearCheck at Mining Indaba 2024 At WearCheck, test results are assessed by a team of specialised diagnosticians, who advise on a course of remedial action, if it is required.

RCA Roger Herrwood of WearCheck doing rope testing RCA

pecialist condition monitoring company, WearCheck, is showcasing its range of mining-related predictive maintenance techniques, products and services at the 2024 Investing in Africa Mining Indaba in Cape Town’s ICC from 5-8 February 2024. Technical manager, Steven Lumley, and a team of technical experts from WearCheck will be on hand to demonstrate the company’s worldclass technology-based solutions. Says Lumley, ‘We relish the opportunity to introduce our unique condition monitoring services to potential new customers, and also to present our newest techniques to existing clients. We always enjoy catching up with our

WearCheck’s core service is the scientific analysis of used oil, fuel and other fluids. This entails analysing fluid samples for trace particles, which indicate which component is suffering unusual wear patterns.”

20 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

‘family’ of the many familiar players in the African mining arena with whom we have been interacting as a company for the past 47 years.’ WearCheck’s core service is the scientific analysis of used oil, fuel and other fluids. This entails analysing fluid samples for trace particles, which indicate which component is suffering unusual wear patterns. The test results are assessed by a team of specialised diagnosticians, who advise on a course of remedial action, if it is required. Additional predictive maintenance techniques offered - which are selected based on the machinery and components being monitored - include asset reliability care (ARC) services, transformer chemistry services and advanced

Steven Lumley, Technical Manager of

field services (AFS) such as non-destructive testing (NDT), technical compliance (TC) and rope condition assessment. The company also offers lubrication enabled reliability (LER), providing clients with bespoke solutions to ensure that their lubrication systems are well managed, efficient and cost effective. WearCheck’s expansive service offering also includes water analysis through Set Point Laboratories, which analyses the quality of wastewater, groundwater and surface water in areas surrounding mining and exploration sites. The water division caters to a variety of needs. For example, ensuring that effluent/ wastewater is compliant and safe for disposal is essential. Compliance with municipal by-laws and environmental safety standards allows for the safe disposal of wastewater into streams and rivers. Additionally, ground and surface water quality analysis allow for determination of water safety for use on equipment, drinking, washing and other purposes. WearCheck can be found at stand J19 at the mining indaba. For further information, please visit www.wearcheck.co.za, call head office on +27 31 700-5460 or email marketing@wearcheck.co.za.

WearCheckWCK Mining Business Africa 180x130 copy.pdf 1 2023/05/17 10:40:14

Condi�on monitoring is KEY to mining produc�on

Moses Lelaka, Technical Water Laboratory Manager for WearCheck

WearCheck, Africa's leading condi�on monitoring company, is commi�ed to serving the mining industry with its range of sophis�cated analy�cal techniques. Our specialist oil, coolant and fuel tes�ng programmes allow customers to reduce maintenance costs, avoid unexpected mechanical failures and ul�mately reduce unscheduled down�me.

Unlock Machine Reliability!

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Tes�ng and Analysis | Lubricant-Enabled Reliability | Asset Reliability Care

Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024 21

Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) for Geological Mapping and exploration

Poised for Growth The niche of Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) in airborne geophysical surveys for geological Mapping and exploration is set to grow in 2024. With previous experience working in the region, coupled with potent airborne systems, Spectrem Air has the strategic advantage of previous experience working on projects in Africa.

Spectrem Air has one of the most powerful airborne systems currently available

pectrem Air is looking forward to a momentous 2024 in the African mineral exploration sector. As the company positions itself to embark on scheduled projects, General Manager, Louis Polome, shares the company’s views on the trajectory of activities with Mining Business Africa. Prominently, the company foresees the demand for critical minerals and metals for the global energy transition creating the need for more extensive geological mapping and exploration. In turn, this will occasion interest in effective techniques that can enable exploration teams to achieve this. Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Surveys In this environment, certainly, airborne geophysical coverage, especially Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) surveys, will play a big role, Polome explains. “AEM has proved to be an excellent tool for mapping the subsurface

and locating critical minerals and metals under cover.” Research & Development in AEM The exploration for these mineral deposits will drive Research and Development (R&D) in AEM aimed at seeing deeper areas under cover with better resolution. In this area, Polome and his team say Spectrem Air has noticed interesting developments on three fronts, especially: 1. AEM System Design From an AEM system design perspective, there is a lot of focus on improving system bandwidth, lowering base frequencies, and having a better signal-to-noise ratio on both fixed-wing and helicopter-borne AEM systems. 2.

Geophysical Surveys with Drones There is also tremendous growth and interest in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) sector,

22 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

with a big focus on getting more cost-effective geophysical surveys done with drones, and the development of drone-based AEM systems. 3.

Data Processing and Interpretation On the data processing and interpretation front, much of the effort is going into getting more out of the acquired data in terms of a realistic geological model. This ranges from optimising and automating processing procedures with better hardware and software improvements to improving inversion and other interpretation techniques. There is significant attention in the following areas: making use of as much of the available data as possible; utilising joint inversion of different geophysical and geological data sets; as well as applying AI and machine learning techniques. Besides probing deeper, there is a growing need to understand and image the near surface better for accurate location

and better management of groundwater, as well as engineering and other environmental applications. Continuous R&D in the AEM space is also focused in this area. Strategic Advantage in Africa Being a South African-based company using South African-developed technology, Spectrem Air is committed to meeting the need for reliable AEM surveys for geological mapping and exploration in Africa. “Our experience of operating in this region gives us a strategic advantage. This, coupled with tried and tested AEM technology, puts Spectrem Air in pole position,” Polome states. From a technology perspective, Spectrem Air is well-resourced. It has one of the most powerful airborne systems currently available, which delivers increased depth of penetration (800 m below the surface in many Central African areas) and enhanced geological resolution. This is achieved while still maintaining a high level of detail in the near-surface geology. Enthusiastic Poised for growth, Spectrem Air is enthusiastic about participating in geological mapping and exploration projects on the continent in 2024. Polome explains that the company hopes to increase its portfolio of successes and, more importantly, play a big role in finding viable mineral deposits.

Making geological mapping easy

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Structural & lineament maps 3D conductivity maps Regolith thickness map High resolution DTM Anomaly selections including dip and depth to conductors Electromagnetic, Magnetic and Radiometrics www.spectrem.co.za info@spectrem.co.za +27 11 659 1518

Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024 23

Operational Mine Management Software

Safer mines with Mineware Consulting What exactly do we mean by mine health and safety?

In this way the Risk model closes the loop on risk management, ensuring ongoing mine safety and productivity. This software package can be customised to suit any client’s requirements and greatly enhances safety control over all levels of an operation. Improve your mine’s day-to-day safety record and manage your long-term risk more effectively with Mineware’s purpose-written safety suite software.

By Esther van der Vyver

he Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate was established in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29 of 1996). The aim is to carry out the constitutional mandate of the Department of Mineral Resources in order to protect and safeguard the health and safety of mine employees and communities affected by mining operations. Under the MHSA, the primary responsibility for ensuring a healthy and safe working environment in mines rests on the employer or mine owner. The Mineware Risk module The Mineware Risk module aims at the eradication of uncontrolled events that have a high potential of causing incidents and stopping production in any operation. To achieve this, a holistic risk-based approach is required in order to identify all hazards and risks prior to the commencement of work. In order to facilitate this, the risk model applies the following processes:

• • • • •

Dynamic Baseline Risk Assessment using an interactive process map. Issue-based Risk Assessment. BowTie analysis capability that draws all hazards (within certain parameters) for analysis. Automated generation of all legal documents pertaining to a task and task risk rating. Interface to planned work to be assessed.

This approach ensures that comprehensive task training and assessment is conducted and that deficiencies are identified and corrected, where reasonably practical, prior to and during the commencement of work. When coupled with Mineware’s OCR form capture technology, the Risk model drives information gathering by directly linking survey questions to preventative measures, feeding directly back into the risk model for assessment, and automatically triggering corrective action notifications.

Employers must do what is reasonably practicable to ensure the health and safety of persons employed in mines, as well as others who may be affected by mining activities. In order to comply, the employer must establish and maintain an ongoing system of risk management (MHSA

Contact: info@mineware.co.za https://www.mineware.co.za/ +27 11 888 2116

Real-time Digitized Data Informed Mine Management Decisions

Operational Mine Management Software

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With real-time data displayed in one easy-to-read dashboard, our Operational Mine Management software allows for better planning a safer mine.

24 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

+27 11 888 2116 info@mineware.co.za

8th edition

Hosted By

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Sub Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference AFRICA'S LARGEST ENERGY, OIL AND GAS CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

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Discover more about the 2024 programme, sponsorship and participation options or book your place on the 8th SAIPEC exhibition floor Additional special participation rates are available to members of PETAN PAUL GILBERT Event Director Programme and General Enquiries E: pagilbert@gep-events.com T: +44 7850 025295

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Tailings Dam Design and Closure

A difficult balance between engineering, environmental, social and economic aspects

t the end of a mine’s life, the scars of mining remain. For an open-pit mine typically the landmarks include the pit, the overburden or waste rock dumps, and tailings storage facility(s) (TSF). For an underground mine the remnants may only be the TSFs, on the assumption that the waste rock dumps are used to rehabilitate the TSFs and the shaft headgear is removed and the shaft sealed. The common element is the TSF. For now, there is no alternative to the extraction of metals and minerals but to produce tailings, whether it is in the form of rejects, discards or a range of fine and coarse fractions. Backfilling of underground mines with tailings at best would reduce surface storage by 40-45% due to the volumetric increase from rock to “soil”. Backfilling of open pits is generally not possible unless strip mining is used, and even then there may be a remnant TSF from the initial years of operation. Design for Closure: Therefore, TSFs must be designed for closure. This is easier said than done. It requires a balance between engineering from the starter works, through the operational phase and into final rehabilitation

that is aimed at an acceptable and sustainable post-closure land-use. This requires long term planning and early engagement with communities and stakeholders. It also involves assessment of the risks of what might change during the mine life, such as an extension of the original mine life, change in ownership, changes in downstream land-uses and encroachment of people to the mining area. In the design phase of a TSF, the base case is often hydraulic deposition of a slurry to create a self-impounding dam as this is the cheapest method. However, alternatives must be considered, and should include; • Filtration of the tailings to produce a cake that can be stacked by means of trucking or conveying, with or without compaction, • Engineered impoundments of a centreline or downstream type, that create stable walls inside of which a slurry can be deposited. Physical Stability: Sustainable closure of TSFs is inherently linked to stable outer slopes (physical stability). If this cannot be achieved by flattening the slope angle, vegetation cover, armouring and/ or a combination of them to protect against water and wind erosion, then the TSF cannot be considered to have been adequately rehabilitated (flawed). The engineered impoundment option may achieve this easier than the other options where the

tailings is exposed to erosion, however the final slopes cannot be rehabilitated until the end of life. Progressive closure is always a preferred as this allows trials and the success of rehabilitation measures to be proven, i.e. subjected to heavy rain, fire, and drought and possibly over-grazing. The types of cover material, vegetation species, fertilizer or nutrient addition and slope angles can be evaluated and modified to improve the final rehabilitation solution. Chemical Stability: Sustainable closure is also strongly linked to chemical stability. Not all tailings lead to poor quality seepage or leachate and may be inert. For those that are reactive, and especially those that result in acidic and metal leaching, the design must account for this. Many new TSFs have to be lined (barrier system) to protect the environment from seepage to ground and surface water. This lining has to extend to all perimeter leachate collection systems, silt traps and pollution control dams. The design of the liner itself has to last well beyond the TSF life, and the use of natural materials (clay) should not deteriorate with time (i.e. become dispersive and then leak). In addition, the over-liner drainage system needs to perform beyond the TSF life, and should not clog with precipitation of metals or salts. If the barrier system effectively deals with the groundwater aspects, surface water may require additional measures to minimise contact with reactive tailings. This is not just limited to the side slopes, but also the basin.

Infiltration on the basin may lead to saturation and mobilization of leachate well beyond closure, and may require a thick cover medium, or a synthetic barrier system. If this is not all considered in the design phase and the costs evaluated, the wrong design may be selected. Environmental Stability: Most often, mines don’t strip and stockpile adequate topsoil to enable rehabilitation of the TSF at closure. The shape of the landform always requires more topsoil to cover than was originally preserved. Topsoil stripping is often seen as an unnecessary upfront cost. The lack of topsoil is one of the most significant closure risks faced by mines, regardless of location or type of mineral. Without topsoil, revegetation becomes difficult and costly, as ameliorants and organic matter must be applied before vegetation can establish. In most instances, a robust grass layer is the best defence against erosion of the rehabilitated landform. Mines must therefore realise the value of preserving as much topsoil as possible during the early development phases. The objective is a non-eroding landform where pioneer vegetation is established and ecological succession leads to a self-sustaining vegetation layer over time. Economic Assessment and Strategy: As was highlighted earlier, the default design case is hydraulic deposition of tailings in a self-impounded TSF because this has the lowest capital and operating cost. However, it may have very high rehabilitation costs, that

either must be accurately accounted for, or considered in the tradeoff studies with the alterative impoundment methods. Finding the balance between a cost-effective design and a sustainable closure solution is becoming a much more complex and multidisciplinary task than was previously undertaken in feasibility studies, or even during the operational life of a TSF. To encounter a hefty and unbudgeted closure cost within the last 5 years of a mine’s life, can either make the mine uneconomic or lead to unsustainable closure. It is the role of mining companies, TSF consultants and regulators to make sure that; • long term planning for closure is done in the design phase, and for mine life extensions, • designs are sustainable and not just based on low capital costs, • communities and stakeholders are engaged early such that a post closure land-use is agreed and all parties cooperate in achieving it, • projects are not approved without a clear and implementable closure intent, • mines are not sold to a more junior company prior to closure without a full commitment to closure and possibly some liability for closure remaining with the original owner, and • budgeting for closure is adequate (based on detailed designs and

studies), funding is secure and not drawn down until successful rehabilitation can be proven. A walk-away solution is desirable for every closed TSF, but in reality this is difficult to achieve and should not be under-estimated. A much more concerted effort is required if the mining industry is to change its legacy related to closure, and while some mining companies are endeavouring to turn the titanic, it is not a quick process. Knight Piésold is able to undertake all aspects of TSF design and integrated closure studies, and where necessary bring in specialists to support them. Many mining codes require a design for closure approach, and in particular the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management requires that feasibility level closure designs/studies are in place premining, and updated during operations, before being converted into detailed designs shortly before closure.

Knight Piésold (Pty) Ltd Tel: +27 11 806 7111 1 Discovery Place, The Ridge, Sandhurst, Sandton | Gauteng | South Africa | 2196

Waterjet Cutting for Mining Projects

Cutting Edge Waterjet Cutting PACE Valves South Africa pulls out all the stops in providing suitable solutions for clients in mining for their high-pressure backfill requirements. The company has made successful installations in Africa to the client’s satisfaction.

quajet is firmly devoted to continuous innovation in the delivery of suitable waterjet cutting solutions to clients across all industries. The recent introduction of a Jetstream precision water jet cutting machine to its project operations bears testament to this. Besides the Jetstream, Aquajet owns four OMAX machines as part of its inventory. On equipment quality, Dwayne Carlse, Aquajet’s Sales, Marketing representative, explains that the company selects tried and tested technology for deployment in harsh applications. Tried and tested technology AquaJet’s machines are adequately supported by technology partners with three decades of experience and expertise. Internationally acclaimed, the water jet-cutting machines are specially designed for maximum efficiency and

accuracy. In addition, durable parts minimise the need for maintenance, which translates to less downtime and machine availability. Onboarding software that enhances automation capabilities and pumps with maximum horsepower complement the machines. Well-equipped to deliver The increased capacity of its cutting-edge, tried and tested equipment inventory, coupled with extensive project know-how, augurs well with AquaJet’s plans in 2024. The company is well-equipped to deliver premier waterjet cutting solutions to clients in the African mining sector, where it has spotted potential demand. “We can fulfill larger orders with a shorter lead time, thanks to our five machines. For instance, in the mining sector, there is limited time available for equipment maintenance, which

28 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

enables us to complete orders as quickly and efficiently as possible. Even when two or three machines are occupied with orders that cut for more than a whole shift, we are still able to accept more orders.” Carlse demonstrates the company’s know-how: “We have actively improved our capabilities and knowledge of the vast number of industries we serve on an annual basis. Our experienced staff are always willing to assist, in any way we can. Whether it is only to answer questions about our machines or processes or to troubleshoot problematic areas of designs.” Opportunities for Waterjet Cutting in Africa Based on contemporary trends, Aquajet views African mining as a lucrative growth frontier for waterjet cutting. Carlse spells out the company’s

The home of innovation

plans: “We would like to branch out into the rest of Africa and offer our services to a wider range of companies.” Current needs in projects necessitate mining companies to seek alternatives to traditional cutting techniques. Just like in other mining operations from pit to port, in cutting, there is a need to use techniques that allow for reducing greenhouse emissions, improving safety, and enhancing efficiency. Increasingly, it is becoming evident that sole dependence on traditional cutting techniques cannot suffice. Handily, waterjet cutting is emerging as an alternative worth exploring. Wide scope of benefits While the convenience of waterjet cutting is beyond question, Carlse assures African mining companies that Aquajet offers a wide scope of benefits. Specifically, he cites the following: • Aquajet offers no heat distortion on material as its reliable machines do not generate any heat. • The waterjet cutting process does not produce any hazardous waste and little to no additional finishing is needed on almost all parts that move through the process. • The waterjet cutting process does not change or alter the composition of the material and keeps the integrity of the piece intact throughout. • Waterjet cutting also provides better accuracy and lower tolerances. • The waterjet machines are more resilient than other cutting methods, and there is no need to change or maintain parts nearly as much, which allows the Aquajet technical team to focus solely on the orders. • Waterjet cutting provides superior edge quality, which is one of the most important reasons why designers specify waterjet cutting when designing components. “Because of the accuracy of the cuts, on up to 300mm thick material, it sets us

•

apart from processes that either cut at a significant kerf of 20-50mm or that distorts the material to a point where the parts are rejected,” Carlse elaborates. Granted, waterjet cutting does take longer than other cutting methods. However, where the time-saving factor is apparent in the post-cutting processes where companies invest a lot of their resources to get the parts up to their standards. “Our goal is to reduce the strain on our customer’s production lines, by producing goods that closely resemble the final design,” Carlse says.

Premier provider of waterjet cutting Doubtless, engaging Aquajet for waterjet cutting would be a prudent decision. Aquajet has been at the forefront of waterjet cutting in Africa since opening its doors to the public in 2001. Based on excellent delivery in terms of projects, Aquajet has cemented its reputation as a premier provider of waterjet cutting solutions. Actually, the African mining sector is not a new terrain to Aquajet. The Company has been working with the mining industry since opening in 2001. However, it hasn’t been direct to consumers up until recently. In this quest to build direct relationships with mine operators, it sees value and flexibility as strong points. Aquajet also has two unique Tilta-jet heads on two of their machines, resulting in a no taper cut or a maximum 10 degree slope, if required. Conversely, the Tilta-jet heads can cut “noblinding“ holes in screen decks. AcquaJet aims to directly offer value to potential clients in African mining, mainly through saving costs, time and communication, Carlse spells out. “We understand the time constraints, especially concerning the mining industry, and take pride in our abilities to effectively manage the stringent guide-lines re timeous deliveries and “first time right“ as laid down by the mining industry”

AquaJet has cutting-edge, tried and tested equipment inventory

Behind AquaJet’s success is a dedicated team

Furthermore, cognisant of the fact that client preferences vary, Aquajet offers flexibility in pricing and lead times, depending on the project-specific requirements which allows clients to fully customise their order. ‘We can cut a wide range of materials, at thicknesses ranging from 0.05mm – 300mm. We also have trusted material suppliers, and all the necessary documentation can be provided for each order. Here at Aquajet we have strong family values and treat our clients with the respect they deserve,” Carlse affirms, adding that the Company is now more perfectly positioned than ever to grow its Project Portfolio in 2024 and beyond.

Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024 29

011 908 5550 15B Barium Street Alrode info@aquajet.co.za

Automation Platform for Mass Mining Applications

Supporting Ramp-up from Manual to Autonomous Mining “A unique feature that differentiates AutoMine® Core is its advanced traffic management system that enables operators to easily control the traffic flow of multi-machine operations.”

AutoMine® Core supports customers ramping up from manual operation to fully autonomous production.

ith its focus on innovation in mining, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has introduced AutoMine® Core, a comprehensive automation platform for mass mining applications. According to David Hallett, Vice President: Automation at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, the platform supports customers ramping up from manual operation to fully autonomous production. Three trends drive innovation in the mining sector, says Hallett: electrification, digitalisation and automation. “When it comes to automation in particular, the focus is on improving productivity and safety,” he says. “Safety considerations include how people can be removed from hazardous environments, as well as gaining more productivity by operating during a shift change, for example.”

As automated machines operate in a more controlled manner than those in manual operations, there is also a significant reduction in total cost of ownership with regards to equipment, he notes. The launch of AutoMine® Core builds on the success of AutoMine®’s Fleet and Manual Production Monitoring (MPM) offerings, which are used in over 100 mines globally. Some mines have been able to reduce their fleets by up to 50% through efficiency gains with automation. There have also been reports of 55% increases in production. “AutoMine Core is a combination of 20 years of experience built on our AutoMine Fleet and MPM products,” he says. “We have now consolidated our systems under one platform, ensuring that our systems are interoperable, which greatly benefits our customers.” A unique feature that differentiates

Flexible safety zones create shared areas for both manual and automated equipment to operate independently.

The AutoMine® Core platform uses Sandvik’s proven AutoMine® Fleet traffic management.

David Hallet – Vice President Automation at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.

AutoMine® Core is its advanced traffic management system that enables operators to easily control the traffic flow of multi-machine operations. It allows them to handle complex operating situations, resulting in greater flexibility and mining output. Hallet adds that the platform allows a fleet interface with secondary or external systems – such as crushers – that are available in the area. Furthermore, the AutoMine® Core platform is designed to accommodate multiple levels of interoperability for third-party OEMs. The platform’s safety system allows miners to segment large extraction areas, allowing the simultaneous operations of both manual and automated equipment. Hallett highlights that a large part of the success of the company’s automation offerings is based on working closely with its customers and understanding their unique requirements. “We engage with key customers in the early stages of our product development and engineering, incorporating their feedback and input into new solutions,” he explains. “This close relationship allows us to develop products that can address the majority of the needs within the market.” Submitted by: Coralynne & Associates

32 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

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34 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

orris Material Handling SA (Pty) LTD, Southern Africa’s largest crane company, plays a crucial role in the supply and manufacturing of equipment for industrial applications. Providing electric overhead travelling cranes, wire rope hoists, jib cranes, chain hoists, and accessories, Morris has established a reputation for its professional expertise in design, fabrication, and assembly of light, medium, and heavyduty lifting products. Additionally, through its dedicated service division, known as Crane Aid, the company ensures the continuous operation and safety of lifting equipment. Crane Aid offers services such as maintenance, load testing, and refurbishment for all makes of cranes and hoists. ArcelorMittal South Africa is the largest steel producer on the African continent. Headquartered in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng. Production capacity is approx. 7 million tonnes of liquid steel per annum.

The company supplies over 60% of the steel used in South Africa and exports the rest to sub-Saharan Africa. The 10 000 employees and contractors produce flat and long steel in hundreds of grades and specifications. Vanderbijlpark Works is one of the world’s largest inland operation steel mills and supplier of flat steel products in sub-Saharan Africa. In a testament to Morris Material Handling SA’s engineering capabilities and commitment to excellence, the company was proudly awarded the tender to design, manufacture, and install a 100-ton engineered crane at the Vanderbijlpark Works. This impressive crane, serial no M10284, was designed and built-in house at Morris’s head office in Benoni, showcasing the company’s commitment to innovation and quality. Morris

employed the latest technologies and the highest quality components to create this engineering beast. Crane M10284 is a 37-meter span double girder, heavy-duty slab handling crane equipped with an open winch-type hoist featuring dual, synchronized rope drums. It weighs in excess of 220 tons and is designed to handle varying sizes of slabs, with an impressive capacity of up to 100 tons. Operating at the Hot Strip Mill within Vanderbijlpark Works, this crane is crucial to the continued production of the mill. To meet the demanding production requirements, the crane is designed to hoist at 9 meters per minute, cross travel at 70 meters per minute, and long travel at 100 meters per minute. The crane is controlled from a bridge-mounted cabin, ensuring precision and safety during operations.

The successful erection and commissioning of this engineered crane marks a significant milestone, as it has already proven its worth in enhancing production efficiency at Vanderbijlpark Works. Morris Material Handling SA’s role in this project underscores its position as a leading force in the industrial equipment and overhead crane manufacturing industry in Southern Africa.

Morris Material Handling SA (Pty) Ltd 17 Rotterdam Rd, Apex, Benoni, 1540 Tel: +27 (0) 11 748 1000 Email: info@morris.co.za

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Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024 35

Tontrac’s Automated Weighbridge Management

Automated Weighbridge Operations, Optimal Efficiency Weighbridge agnostic - easily integrated, Tontrac’s automated cloud-based Site Access Control and Weighbridge Management Platform optimises complex weighbridge operations. In projects where it has been employed, the software simplifies and consolidates complex weighbridge processes. function so that only pre-authorised vehicles are allowed into the site and onto the weighbridge. Unauthorised vehicles are blocked from entering the site by the System. “Thirdly, Tontrac incorporates a seal matching system where Tontrac-specific seals are recorded in the system and affixed to the trucks before dispatch. The seals are scanned on the receiving end and matched to the dispatch seals to confirm the load has not been tampered with. In addition, the system automatically compares tonnes dispatched with tonnes received to ensure what was dispatched has in fact arrived at the receiving site. Discrepancies are highlighted automatically for further investigation.”

resently, there is a boom in the mining sector. One of the ways this is noticeable is through an increase in haulier fleets handled at weighbridges on sites. Ostensibly, the numbers are generally impressive - usually, more tonnage translates into high revenue. But mine management should ask themselves: How accurate is the data, and how efficient is the weighbridge management? In weighbridge management, lapses are not uncommon, but they can be very costly. Clearly, this should be a matter of great concern to mine management as these lapses could translate to significant losses that are unaccounted for.

Africa. This is what Tontrac’s CEO, William Butler, will convey to representatives of mining houses at the 2024 Investing in African Mining Indaba. He attributes the Tontrac Platform’s efficacy to the ease of integration and the vast array of benefits it offers.

Tontrac’s Weighbridge Management Platform What is most heartening is that Tontrac’s cloudbased Site Access & Weighbridge Management Platform has proven the most effective solution to costly lapses in weighbridge management. This view is according to results from projects where the software is installed throughout South

Butler highlights three core aspects of Tontrac’s integration: “Firstly, the weight generated by the load cells is passed through the indicator to the weighbridge PC and read by the Tontrac software. No human capturing is required. “Secondly, Tontrac has a built-in Site Access Control that is integrated with the weighbridge

Ease of integration Typically, integration is a challenge with different software packages for different mining functions. However, Tontrac’s weighbridge software is agnostic, meaning it can integrate with any weighbridge.

36 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

Vast array of benefits The Platform offers a vast array of benefits, specifically: assisted haulier fleet management per order, site access control and traffic management, weighbridge automation, inter-site reconciliation and 24/7 support – both on and off-site. Through these benefits, Tontrac’s weighbridge automation allows mines to optimise weighbridge management by simplifying and consolidating complex tasks, registering gains in enhanced security, regulatory compliance, and improved productivity. 1. • • • •

•

2. •

Assisted Haulier Fleet Management per Order Hauliers, their drivers, and vehicles are pre-registered in the Cloud. Orders to move the product from site A to site B are created in the Cloud. Approved Haulier Fleet details are loaded onto the Order. Order progress is automatically monitored to completion and the information is made available on the Tontrac Mobile App in real time. The system monitors departure and arrival times of “Vehicles en route” between sites, flagging overdue vehicles, for investigation by site security. Site Access Control and Traffic Management Pre-authorisation of vehicles and

WEIGHBRIDGE AUTOMATION

ACCESS CONTROL

24/7 SUPPORT

INTER SITE RECONCILLIATION

Tontrac connects the mine, haulier and customer with real-time load tracking, across the value chain. INDUSTRY CHALLENGES

Productivity

Security

Compliance

Cash-flow

Traffic Management

Tontrac automation increases weighbridge traffic flow by 5 times, removing the weighbridge as a bottle neck.

Tontrac controls haulier site access through cloud based pre-authorization.

Tontrac automation enforces vehicle and driver compliance with DMR and Road Regulations.

Tontrac accelerates cash flow, automating the reconciliation of tickets between sites.

Tontrac automates onsite traffic management, and provides inter-site traffic data in real-time via our mobile app.

Think automation. Think digital. Think Tontrac. WWW.TONTRAC.COM

+27 11 465 9663/011 465 5783

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Tontrac’s Automated Weighbridge Management

• •

drivers is done for each order before they arrive on site. (Security) Only pre-authorised vehicles are allowed on site. (Security) • The system decides to allow a vehicle on site, not a person. (Security) Automated checking of Vehicle and Driver Inductions at the Main Gate. (Regulatory compliance) Limits the maximum weight of vehicles leaving the site to regulatory maximum. (Regulatory compliance) Tracks vehicle movement on site between the main gate, the weighbridge, and the stockpile. (Security) Site turnaround time management Inter-site turnaround time management

Weighbridge Automation

•

Automates the capturing of weights on the weighbridge (Productivity and Security) Automates the printing of weighbridge tickets on the weighbridge (Productivity and Security)

• • • • •

•

Inter-Site Recons

•

Automates comparison of data generated on the dispatch weighbridge with data generated on the receiving weighbridge to ensure what left the dispatch site arrived at the receiving site. (security) Tontrac Seals are issued to the haulier/ truck driver and recorded in the system and printed on the weighbridge ticket. Tontrac seals and trailer registration numbers are compared between the dispatch site and the receiving site to identify tampered-with trucks.

• •

24/7 Support

•

Control Room Operators remotely monitor and support on-site activities in real-time. Field Service Technicians are available on-site to resolve any automated equipment failure within minutes to maximise production uptime.

•

his mobile phone, updated every few minutes. There is a real-time relay of production as well as fleet data and traffic management data to the mine hauliers to manage operations between sites. The system has real-time integration of weighbridge data between different sites via automated ticket reconciliation,” says Butler.

•

Worthwhile investment For mining companies, incorporating Tontrac in their weighbridge management is a worthwhile investment. Mainly, the cutting-edge software pays off immensely, through the following takeaways: • Up to a fivefold productivity increase on the weighbridge, compared to traditional systems, due to weighbridge automation. No matter how big a stockpile, it can only be turned into cash once the product has gone over a certified weighbridge. The faster this can happen, the faster cash is generated. This benefit alone can result in the investment paying for itself.

•

Uniqueness The vast array of benefits of the Tontrac Platform is unique among comparable solutions.“Thus far, no comparable platform exists. Competitor products focus on either weighbridge automation or site access control, not both, and the data is exported to thumb drives. In contrast, with the Tontrac Platform, the data is available in realtime on any PC or mobile device, anywhere in the world. For example, an executive in London can monitor production on a mine in Africa on

38 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

•

• •

•

Enhanced Cloud Based site access controls make it significantly harder for organised crime syndicates to get onto the site Maximum weight settings on the weighbridge software can prevent overweight trucks from illegally leaving the site. Cash Flow acceleration due to ticket reconciliation happening automatically in the system in real-time thus preventing a delay due to manual reconciliations in traditional systems, which delays invoicing. Cost reduction as weighbridge staff can be redeployed elsewhere. Data is captured directly from the weighbridge, with no human intervention, eliminating manual entry errors. Real-time weighbridge data from multiple sites is visible in real-time on mobile apps and in the cloud.

“With the first link, the chain is forged." -Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Carbide Cutting Picks

Cutting-edge Carbide Picks & Accessories for Coal Mining As global energy demand evolves, African coal producers are adjusting their operations to optimise efficiency and output. DaltronX, a leading innovator in carbide cutting pick solutions, is at the forefront of this shift, empowering the industry with superior carbide tools and dedicated support.

altronX is a proudly South African, Level 2 B-BBEE, company that manufactures high-performance carbide cutting picks, drill bits, drill steels, drill tubes and spinning adaptors for the mining, road construction and trenching industries. With over 30 years of experience, DaltronX has produced and supplied over 90 million conical picks worldwide and is distinguished as the only company in South Africa capable of managing the entire production process under one roof. Manufacturing (production) Dale Cox, Group CEO, says that their 25,000 m2 factory houses two of the largest coldforming machines in the Southern Hemisphere and a state-of-the-art induction brazing facility. Each stage of their manufacturing process is meticulously monitored and continuously refined to ensure the production of superior products. Key differentiators that enable DaltronX to meet desired quality levels in the manufacturing process include: • Virgin steel input material for improved

• • • •

impact resistance and toughness. Cold-formed conical cutting pick bodies have been proven to outlast traditional hot-forged body counterparts. Innovative heat treatment processes for improved wear resistance and product longevity. Specially formulated carbide recipe designed to withstand the toughest coal mining cutting conditions. The pick cutter head profile is designed for optimized rotation to ensure even wear distribution, part longevity, improved cutting efficiency and reduced vibration on the equipment.

Specially engineered for coal mining According to Mr Cox, DaltronX carbide cutting picks are purpose-built for both underground and surface mining and are an essential component for continuous miners, road headers, and longwall shearers. Their picks excel in demanding coal mining conditions, for the following reasons: • The precision cold-formed bodies, with

40 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

•

their enhanced grain flow structure, ensure even wear distribution and improved rotation, fostering an extended lifespan. Their specially formulated carbide recipe is tailored to deliver exceptional durability, toughness, and enhanced cutting performance in challenging coal environments. Advanced brazing techniques further reinforce the conical parts, minimising premature failure risks due to repeated impact loads. Engineered for optimal performance, the head boasts superior hardness that safeguards the carbide insert, holder, and sleeve, thereby promoting an extended tool life. Furthermore, the picks are strategically engineered to redirect the cutting medium away from the sleeve, mitigating damage and ensuring a seamless and productive cutting experience.

Customised Solutions Mr Cox says that DaltronX understands that no

Carbide Cutting Picks

two mining operations are alike. That’s why their commitment to customised solutions extends beyond offering a wide range of off-the-shelf cutting picks. Their dedicated technical sales team takes the time to investigate customers’ unique operating requirements, whether it’s through in-depth consultations or on-site evaluations. This collaborative approach allows them to gain an understanding of customers’ specific challenges and needs. With this knowledge, they can confidently recommend the most suitable cutting pick from their inventory or collaborate with the client to develop a custom solution. Their in-house production facilities ensure swift adjustments to shank sizes, reach, and carbide OD for optimal results and quick turnaround times. Why deal with DaltronX: The DaltronX Difference DaltronX is committed to delivering the highest quality products and services to their customers.

This is confirmed by their ISO 9001:2015 certification, which recognizes their adherence to the highest international standards in quality management. Their cutting picks have delivered a 20-30% performance improvement in South African underground coal operations as demonstrated by independent field tests. Therefore, DaltronX picks deliver increased tons per pick, reduced downtime, and higher overall productivity. They carry a wide range and large quantity of stock to ensure quick lead times and to avoid unnecessary production downtime. Their technical sales team has years of experience and is always ready to provide on-site assistance and pick-selection guidance to ensure that customers are experiencing the best possible cutting solution. Mr Cox concludes: “Our comprehensive range of high-performance cutting tools and commitment to your success is just a call away. With headquarters in South Africa and strategically placed offices and distribution

facilities around the world, we’re always ready to tailor solutions and deliver support, right to your doorstep.” DaltronX details: sales@daltronx.com | +27 10 591 0208 | www.daltronx.com Comprehensive Tool Options Cutting Picks: • Product Range: DX-M1 to DX-M12 • Shank Sizes: Ranging from 20mm to 35mm • Reach: Varies from 68mm to 102mm • Carbide OD: Ranges from 7mm to 20mm Cutting Pick Accessories: • Sleeves: Wear-resistant sleeves are designed to complement the cutting picks, ensuring secure fitment and optimal rotation. Drilling Products: • Drill Bits: Semi-spade, full-spade and two-prong bits, with sizes ranging from 23.5mm to 38mm • Drill Steels & Tubes: 19mm and 22mm wet drilling hexagonal drill steels and vacuum drill tubes • Extension Rods: 19/22 hex with various overall lengths • Spinning Adaptors: 27/32 nut size with various overall lengths * DaltronX drill steel’s patented electric upsetting process and unique patented ‘bulb/washer’ design, enables their ferrule to withstand over 100% more force than local competitors.

42 Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024

Ultrasonic Testing for Machinery

Enhancing Maintenance in the Mining Industry: Selecting a Thickness Measurement Device Digital Gauge The Digital gauge has many advantages, notably their ease of use. This simplicity in operation has certain cost advantages for the gauge and for the requirement of trained and certification personnel.

n the mining industry, preventative maintenance is vital to avoid costly breakdowns and ensure the safe and efficient operation of critical equipment. A crucial aspect of maintenance revolves around the ability to measure a materials thickness accurately. Whether, monitoring wall loss thinning in a pipeline transporting a hazardous material, or surface corrosion of structural steel supporting vital machinery. The ability to measure and monitor a materials condition and predict a future maintenance schedule is pivotal. This article will discuss selection of ultrasonic thickness gauges used in material measurement, outlining several considerations.

is converted into a thickness value and displayed on the gauge screen. When it comes to thickness measurement, there are 2 key considerations in selecting a gauge, choosing a “Digital” or “Ascan” display. Both options offer unique benefits and cater for various industry needs.

Ranging from a simple “turn on and go”, to the more complex ability of multiple material calibrations, the Digital gauges offer a variety of additional features to meet specific measurement requirements. Interestingly, the feature often referred to as Data Logging (DL) is one of the most overlooked features by many, despite the considerable time and cost saving achieved from instant and traceable report generation. Digital Concern For general thickness the Digital gauge offers an adequate solution. However, a concern arises with all Digital gauges. The reported thickness is simply the reflection from the highest signal amplitude the gauge records. In the situation of localised corrosion such as, deep pitting

Principle A thickness gauge uses a transducer to covert an electrical pulse into a sound wave, the sound wave travels through a material, reflecting off the back surface and returning to the transducer to be converted back into an electrical pulse. The time taken for the signal to travel back and forth

021-683-2100

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QUALITY CONTROL INSTRUMENTATION QUALITY CONTROL INSTRUMENTATION

Mining Business Africa | January - February 2024 43

Ultrasonic testing for machinery

and cracks for example, depending on their orientation, size and shape, there is a risk these may go undetected. Corrosion has 2 distinct types, uniform and localised. Uniform corrosion with its smoother wall loss favours the Digital gauges. Localised corrosion comes in many forms. The danger for Digital gauges arises with measurement and detection in parts that might suffer certain types of localised corrosion and other internal issues.

Ascan Gauges An Ascan, provides an additional layer of confidence in identifying a concern. Any variation in Ascan signal response highlights there is something that requires further investigation. The addition of an Ascan increases the possibility of defect detection. Gauges with Ascan’s usually have a much wider measurement ability than their Digital counterparts, The increased features enable customisation and optimisation. The increase confidence the Ascan gauge provides does come at a small additional cost. The asset owner must decide whether the enhancements and added reliability offset the additional costs, in considering the specific measurement need. Is it the Ascan or the Device? In recent times, there is a trend towards Ascan type gauges in certain industries, because of the increase in confidence, traceability, and

.....

consequence of error. However, there is a good question to understand. Is the move to more Ascan gauges a result of the increased use of poor-quality Digital gauges? A Digital gauge with slow response speed, can have a significant impact on measurement results. Often mistaken for a “nice stable display”, the significantly slower reaction speed can potentially miss indications when scanning across a part. Fast scanning speeds with increased response times, has a significantly increased potential to identify an indication. There are a number of thickness gauges on the market today, offered at a range of prices, not all gauges are the same and certainly not in regard to performance. DakotaNDT formally, Dakota Ultrasonic have been designing and manufacturing thickness gauges for over 30 years. Currently, they have over 20 types of quality thickness gauges, some general use and some very solution specific. DakotaNDT welcome any questions.

Advertiser’s index Aquajet ...................................................................................30

Mineware Consulting..............................................................24

BAMR Pty Ltd.........................................................................43

Morris Material Handling SA Pty Ltd...................................34

CMS Cepcor Ltd.....................................................................03

Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada

Ctrack.......................................................................................17

(PDAC 2024).........................................................................IBC

Daltronix..................................................................................41

SAIPEC 2024........................................................................25

DomeShelter Australia.........................................................IFC

Spectrem Air...........................................................................23

ELB Equipment.......................................................................33

Tomra Mining......................................................................OBC

Hyve Group Plc- Mining Indaba 2024..................................19

Tontrac.....................................................................................37

Knight Piesold Consulting.....................................................26

Wearcheck Pty Ltd.................................................................21

Loadtrac...................................................................................39

Xscann Technologies.............................................................06

M84 Geotech Pty Ltd.............................................................10

Yes 4 youth...............................................................................14

Mining Business Africa (MBA) is Pan-African bi-monthly publication that focuses on latest developments in mining and allied industries in Africa. The publication covers the scope of critical activities from pit to port – mineral exploration (prospecting), mine planning and development, extraction, mineral processing, storage transportation, as well as beneficiation. Mining Business Africa provides the desired mileage for companies looking to promote their products and services to a specific niche clientele in the African Mining Sector. Subscribers are located or at least involved in projects in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Nigeria. MBA is published by Media Icon, a company manned by personnel with a combined experience of 30 years in the publishing space.

TO ADVERTISE | CALL: + 27 10 055 3356 | Email: info@miningbusinessafrica.co.za

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