Mdm may june 2018

May June 2018 Issue

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Epic kick-off party to launch Epiroc South Africa to employees!

On 1st December 2017 Epiroc South Africa (Pty) Ltd. was introduced to employees with a kick-off party that rocked!

Kitted out in their grey and yellow Epiroc branded golf shirts, employees were welcomed by Kathryn Coetzer, Communications and Academy Manager for Epiroc SA. Video presentations delivered special messages from Mats Rahmström, CEO and President of Atlas Copco AB, and Helena Hedblom, Senior Executive VP – Mining and Infrastructure, Epiroc AB, who welcomed everyone to the Epiroc SA family. Frans van Niekerk, VP: Sub-Sahara region and Managing Director of Atlas Copco Industrial South Africa (Pty) Ltd. wished

Heino Hammann (left) with Floris Timmers

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the local team best of luck in their new venture. Referring to the launch as a historical occasion, Victor Scott, Business Controller at Epiroc SA, said that Epiroc was formed to be a strong partner for customers by building on Atlas Copco expertise and performance. “Performance unites us, innovation inspires us and commitment drives us to keep moving forward.

Customers can count on Epiroc to deliver the solutions they need to succeed today and the technology to be successful tomorrow.” In closing, Scott expressed his eagerness to start this exiting journey with the team.

Formal proceedings over, the party got underway with food, music and entertainment.

Onalerona (Ona) Matsopa, Workshop Planner at Epiroc SA, moved everyone when she sang a Gospel song which she personalised to commemorate the auspicious occasion. “I wanted my words to inspire us all by delivering the message that even after a rough year we will keep on standing united, no matter what. With Epiroc we will go forward; there is no looking back.”

The Epiroc Team united inspired committed

Employees felt energised by the presentations and Heino Hammann, who heads up Advanced Drilling Solutions, said that he felt “inspired and stoked for the future. We bring a different energy to mining, excavation and to our customers.” Floris Timmers, Business Line Manager, Mining and Rock Excavation Service from Kazakhstan, who kicked off his journey with Epiroc SA on 1 December commented, “There is so much drive for change and improvements and I am thrilled to be a part of Epiroc SA. We have mountains to move, holes to drill. Stay inspired!”

Globally Atlas Copco has grown into two separate international groups of companies. Atlas Copco's Mining & Rock Excavation Technique Business Area together with its Construction Tools division now forms part of Epiroc which focusses on the mining and civil engineering sectors.

The industrial businesses remain with Atlas Copco.

Epiroc SA, headed by newly appointed Regional General Manager, Sanjay Ahuja, was launched in South Africa on 1st November 2017.

Ona Matsopa giving a moving performance

Victor Scott Business Controller Epiroc SA (left) with Frans v Niekerk VP Sub Sahara region Atlas Copco Industrial SA

PUBLISHER E.S.C Magazine T/A Mining Developments Magazine SOUTH AFRICA OFFICE Tel: +27 11 027 9009 Fax: +27 86 601 9195 62, 2nd Avenue, Houghton.P.O. Box 92744, Norwood, 2117 South Africa UGANDA OFFICE Plot no.768, Entebbe road, Kawuku, Kampala Tel : +256 75 510 1313, Uganda.

Email: info@miningdevelopmentsmagazine.com Website: www.miningdevelopmentsmagazine.com Contributions The editors welcome news items, press releases, articles and photographs relating to the Mining Industry. These will be considered and, if accepted, published. No responsibility will be accepted should contributions be lost, damaged or incorrectly printed. © All rights reserved

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Atlas Copco Compressor Technique ups the service anti “Atlas Copco must be first in the customer's mind and first in the customer's choice when it comes to choosing air compression technology,” states Business Line Manager for Atlas Copco Compressor Technique Services (CTS), Ian Ainsworth.

“So we always strive to put our customers first by making it easy for them to do business with us – from the initial purchase of the compressor right through to after-market services. To this end we are introducing a number of strategic initiatives to our service portfolio in order to streamline our offering and meet our customers' service requirements.”

Ainsworth points out that in the past, OEM service had very little competition as customers for the most part only dealt with OEMs for their aftermarket service requirements. The uncertain and volatile economy and retrenchments is forcing qualified engineers and technicians to start their own businesses giving rise to the emergence of one-man businesses. Armed with a service vehicle and tools and often familiar with the customers and their applications and products, these technicians or engineers are good to go to any site to do repairs. The fact that they can be on site within a matter of hours is seen as valuable by customers.

“An OEM like Atlas Copco understandably has certain procedures that have to be followed before a technician can be dispatched to site. The increasing trend of customers turning to the smaller concern if the big company cannot assist fast enough is presenting a big challenge to most industries.” Ainsworth warns that repairs not done by the OEM can and in most cases do lead to critical failure due to the use of incorrect tooling and inferior non-OEM replacement parts.

“Customers only realise this

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when it's too late and often the OEM is blamed for equipment failure when in fact it is as a result of a poor repair.”

“As one of the most efficient compressor systems available, driven by advanced VSDs and permanent magnet motor technology, the purchase of our air systems is an investment for the customer. Understanding how critical plant up time is for the customer, we don't simply sell compressors; the eestablishment of long-term customer relationships through our after-market service is part and parcel of the initial sale.

We go beyond installation, commissioning, regular (preventative) maintenance, repair and parts supply looking to find ways to support the customer. We take care of the machine throughout its life to ensure enhanced performance, maximum efficiency and extended life cycle.”

These three factors are vital for customer sustainability and productivity but can only be optimised if the compressor is serviced routinely by skilled specialists who attend regular training courses and use correct tooling, in other words professional OEM service. When it comes to service Atlas Copco has always set the bar high and the objective to never stop looking for ways to improve.

“Hence the streamlining of our after-market service offering,” says Ainsworth, adding that this is not without challenges. “It is imperative that we do our homework properly. First we look closely at our customers and their situation. For the most part they have also had to cut back and that includes staff.

So simply introducing online portals for example is not a quick fix or a one-size- fitsall solution because if there have been retrenchments there is no one to monitor or attend to our online offering on the customer's side. Of course technology and IT play a vital role but in order for it to be effective we must use it wisely. There has to be a balance between portals and people.”

With flexible solutions forming the focus of its strategic plan, Atlas Copco CTS is introducing a number of new initiatives and we believe will make a difference to the customer's service experience. CTS spares and service planning division team is extremely efficient when it comes to administration, planning and using the CRM (customer relationship management) systems. But Ainsworth explains that these administration specialists are not technically trained with few ever having seen a compressor on site. When a customer phones, it is important that the person talking to them can 'picture' their environment and fully

Industrial Air is a division within Atlas Copco's Compressor Technique business area. It develops, manufactures and markets oil-injected and oil-free air compressors, on-site nitrogen and oxygen generators, air treatment solutions and compressor controls and monitoring under several brands. In addition to serving a wide variety of industries, dedicated solutions are also available for marine, railway and oil and gas customers. The division's focus and main drive is to further improve its customers' productivity. The divisional headquarters and main production center are located in Antwerp, Belgium.

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understand the issues involved in order to ask all the relevant questions. By briefing the technician about simple things like the ceiling height of the compressor room and the availability of lifting equipment before he gets on site can save a lot of time, enabling him to be fully prepared to efficiently meet the customer's service requirement. “It therefore goes beyond good planning systems to avoid delays and customer downtime,” notes Ainworth. Going forward, CTS has added technically experienced people to the planning division who, by having a better understanding of the service requirement, can offer better customer support.

“We are also beefing up our internal planning systems,” continues Ainsworth. MAM2 is being rolled out globally to replace our existing centrally located online system. With the core goal of better supporting all our South African customers on Atlas Copco Service Plans, the latest system will enable us to populate our calendars months in advance. In addition to being able to better prioritise our loyal Service Plan customers, by being able to tell at a glance the location of each technician, where there are overlaps are and what excess capacity we have we will be able to up our response time to unexpected breakdowns.”

Also included in the new

service initiatives is the improved utilisation of data available from Atlas Copco machines out in the field.

Several experienced technical specialists are being trained to drill down, interpret and summarise the machine data received from connected machines so that Atlas Copco can proactively pre-empt onsite problems.

“Our aim is two weeks, three weeks absolute maximum, on turnaround time to a service enquiry,” says Ainsworth.

Air compression should simply be available on demand without customers having to worry about the source of their compressed air supply.

This is the objective of Atlas Copco's service plans which take control of the scheduled service side of compressor operations. Benefits include avoidance of unscheduled breakdowns and freeing up of customers to take better care of their core production processes without distractions and uncertainties. Operators need only look after the basics such as replacing clogged filters or checking oil levels while Atlas Copco keeps track of the routine maintenance requirements.

That way, the best life and performance can be extracted from the investment for lowest overall cost of compressor ownership. Through its service plans Atlas Copco establishes long-term relationships with the users of its compressor technology.

The advanced monitoring and communication systems such as SmartLink and SmartLink Energy built in to Atlas Copco 7

Atlas Copco is a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions

compressors go hand in hand with after-market service. SmartLink for example enables the monitoring and selfdiagnoses of Atlas Copco machines and the automatic upload of data via GPS to Atlas Copco servers in the cloud, offering further protection of customers' assets through advanced predictive maintenance. With the SmartLink Uptime service, sensor and alarm data from the compressor is uploaded every 40 seconds.

“Should any fall outside of normal operation, users and Atlas Copco technicians will be immediately alerted,” explains Ainsworth adding that “if coupled with our Total Responsibility premium offering service plan, an Atlas Copco technician will be dispatched to attend to a fault before the operator is even aware of an issue!”

compliance with ISO 50001, the Atlas Copco SmartLink Energy monitoring tool makes it possible to identify energy saving opportunities across the plant to minimise operational costs with massive savings as a consequence.

“Remaining on the topic of energy saving, we also provide air optimizers on a purchase or lease basis. As the name suggests, the intelligent system optimises air delivery across all machines it is linked to. With the ability to regulate up to 60 compressors (ES360), the air optimizers deliver tremendous energy savings.

“We do an air audit to determine savings up front and the lease fee is then charged as a percentage of the customer's plant savings,” notes Ainsworth.”

Wrapping up, Ainsworth says that the implementation of all these strategic changes Customers are constantly within the Atlas Copco service looking for ways to reduce offering will take time if it is energy bills and with compressors responsible for to be done properly to ensure up to 70% of a plant's energy a fully comprehensive, streamlined and sustainable consumption Atlas Copco solution. “These service assists customers with initiatives are testament that optimising their energy use. we continue to put our Through customised reports on the energy efficiency of the customers first.” compressor room, in

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Win one of 25 CPPG generators at MTE, compliments Chicago Pneumatic Visitors to this year's Mining & Technical Exhibitions (MTE) stand the chance of winning one of 25 Chicago Pneumatic CPPG5 (5.5Kva) petroldriven portable generators.

”In a bid to grow the Chicago Pneumatic brand within the mining industry which is a key market for us, we took the decision to focus on this segment during 2018,” explains Business Development Manager for Chicago Pneumatic Construction Equipment in South Africa, Eben van der Vyver. ”Our barter agreement with MTE sees us giving away a total of 25 portable

generators, one at each of the exhibitions during 2018.” ”With the exhibitions taking place in six of our country's Provinces as well as in neighbouring countries, Botswana and Zambia, MTE presents us with the ideal platform to expand our CPPG generator footprint in the mining sector.” Van der Vyver adds that this initiative also provides good exposure for Chicago Pneumatic's distributors.

The first MTE was held on 25 January 2018 at Cullinan Diamond Mine in Gauteng.

Johnathan Cassell from Grinding Power – Authorised Chicago Pneumatic distributor, joined Van der Vyver in congratulating the first winner of a CPPG generator - Abdurazak (Zak) Ramedies from Cullinan Mine!

Chicago Pneumatic CPPG5 portable generator_indispensable on any job site where power is required

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Designed to deliver stable electrical output and safe, user-friendly operation over a long service life, the Chicago Pneumatic's CPPG portable generator line is all about enhancing productivity.

“These generators reliably

deliver the power that is needed, where and when it is needed so that customers can get straight to work and get the job done,” says Van der Vyver.

Built for durability to handle the toughest of sites and the most stringent of conditions, the CPPG generator range features a strong main frame with extra reinforcement around sensitive components and a protected electrical panel. Sockets are covered and recessed for added protection.

equipped with a user-friendly control panel and an hour counter which helps to keep track of when scheduled maintenance is due.

“With all these features, the CPPG5 is without any doubt a must-have on any job site where power is required,” concludes Van Der Vyver.

The new CE-compliant CP engine is based on extensive research and field testing and was designed specifically for the CPPG gasoline-powered generator line.

The compact unit is easy to manoeuvre around the job site and its open structure allows quick access to components, speeding up service and improving uptime. The units are

FLTR Eben vd Vyver Chicago Pneumatic Construction Equipment with the winner of the CPPG generator Zak Ramedies from Cullinan Mine & Johnathan Cassell Grinding Power

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Transformation developments in the Construction sector However, there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the newly elected ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa. This became evident at this year's Mining Indaba. The manner in which Ramaphosa has been tackling the Eskom issues and his messages to the market, has investors hopeful that he would be able to mend the fence between the industry and the ministry.

Ramaphosa's history with the National Union of Mineworkers may also serve to reassure investors and the mining industry that he understands the problems faced by the mining industry and how to solve them.

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Over recent years, the South African mining industry has been plagued by political, legislative and regulatory uncertainty, stifling growth by increasing investment risk in South Africa.

The most recent blow to the industry was led by the Minister of Mineral Resources when he unilaterally announced a new Mining Charter, ushering in "radical economic transformation" by significantly shifting the requirements for black ownership and employment equity at mining companies.

businesses specialising in structural and electrical engineering works, building excavations, shaft sinking, lateral earth support and structural steelwork and scaffolding to name but a few) are all affected.

Companies which are currently compliant under the previous Construction Sector Code published on 5 June 2009, should note the following important differences between the Code and the previous Code: Ÿ The target for exercisable

The slow-down in mining has also had its effect on associated sectors which support the mining industry and it is hoped that any uptick in mining will similarly have a knock-on effect on these sectors, as mining companies will gear up to invest in new projects and infrastructure.

voting rights for black people in the large enterprises scorecard in the Codes is 32.5% (increasing to 35% in the fourth year after the implementation of the Code), while the previous Code requires 30% exercisable voting rights in the hands of black people.

The Code also seeks to increase the target for exercisable voting rights of black board members and black employees in management positions.

In this regard, it is important to note that the construction sector has also recently revised its transformation targets, as in December 2017, the Minister of Trade and Industry published the Amended Construction Sector Ÿ The skills development element in the large Code. While the Code does enterprises scorecard of not directly apply to the the Code increases mining companies, incrementally from 1.5% to businesses associated with 2% for skills development the mining industry (such as

expenditure on black people, as a percentage of the leviable amount. Ÿ The targets in the large enterprise scorecard for the preferential procurement element for both built environment professionals and contractors for B-BBEE procurement spend has been increased to 80% and the points allocated thereto have been reduced to 6 compared to 12 in the previous Code. The Code also no longer contains an enterprise development element.

The annual value of all qualifying socio-economic contributions by the measured entity as a percentage of the target should be 1.25% of net proďŹ t after tax. The Code provides that 30% of this contribution should be spent on disadvantaged communities.

Similar to the generic BEE Codes, the Code also contains the discounting provisions relating to priority elements being ownership, skills development and preferential procurement, which means that if the minimum targets (being 40%) for these elements are not met, a company will automatically drop one level in its BEE scorecard.

Particular attention must thus be given to these priority elements.

Another important element in the Code is the requirement that, for public sector work, major subcontractors must have the same or a better rating than the main contractor. The Code provides that if the value of the work that a contractor wishes to subcontract to any subcontractor exceeds 25% of any single contract awarded to a contractor, then such subcontractors will either need to be an EME (an entity which has R10 million or less in annual revenue) or if not an EME, then will need to be contracted to a company which as at least the same, or a better BEE level, than the contractor.

This is to avoid any "fronting" practises.

The Code is effective from the date of publishing with no provision being made for a grace period. The Code applies to both contractors and "built environment professionals" which includes consulting engineers, architects, quantity surveyors and town planners.

With South Africa on the verge of turning over a new leaf, investors may be convinced that South Africa is once again an attractive investment proposition, given the country's vast mineral resources However, notwithstanding the eventual form of the Mining Charter, most industries which support mining infrastructure and wish to take advantage of the "green shoots" on the horizon would be well advised to reconsider their business structures now, so as to ascertain whether they are required to comply with the Code and maximise their BEE scorecard accordingly.

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Automation industry calls for collaboration to make SA globally competitive The Africa Automation Fair, which marks its 21st anniversary in 2019, and the Connected Industries conference, will expand its scope and reach in 2019, delivering Africa's largest showcase of industrial automation and control technologies.

The event, incorporating the Connected Industries conference (Industrie 4.0/IIoT), is a focused networking platform for the Automation and Control Industry and works closely with industry associations including the IIG and SAIMC.

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Key stakeholders in South Africa's automation industryhave called for greater collaboration to drive industrial progress.

Speaking at the ofďŹ cial launch of the Africa Automation Fair 2019 in Johannesburg this week, stakeholders noted that South Africa was emerging from turbulent times, but said that through collaboration to drive progress, the automation sector could help fast-track economic growth and development.

right ways, we can ultimately change the landscape of the South African economy and improve the lives of all people, we need to continue to collaborate to drive further progress, and make South Africa great again," he said.

The automation sector, now moving toward a digital 'Industrie 4.0/IIoT' era, is poised to drive greater efďŹ ciencies and make South African enterprises internationally competitive, which will ultimately beneďŹ t all South Africans, they said.

Marc Van Pelt, Chairman of the Industrial Instrumentation Group (IIG) and MD of Pepperl+Fuchs and, noted: "As we seek to bring the country to new levels economically, we need to look to automation and smart manufacturing to make our industries competitive on a global basis. At the Connected Industries conference earlier this year, the sector started the 'Industrie 4.0/IIoT' discussion, and the next question is: who is using it? Is the sector ready? As a country, we still have a long way to go."

Oratile Sematle, President of the South African Institute of Measurement and Control (SAIMC), noted that the industry had already progressed to a point where its voice as a collective is now heard in government, institutions and various sectors. "But knowing that if we use automation in the

Sematle and Van Pelt encouraged industry stakeholders to step up collaborative efforts through forums such as the Africa Automation Fair and Connected Industries conference, where the sector is able to assess the automation industry's challenges and seek

solutions to support progress.

Following the success of AAF 2017 and the Connected Industries COnference, when over 4,000 people from 25 countries attended and 117 companies participated in the three-day event, event organisers Reed Exhibitions plan to grow the fair and conference yet further.

Jayne Harley, GM: Technology & Business events at Reed Exhibitions, announced that in line with a rapidly-evolving environment, Africa Automation Fair 2019 will expand its focus across the ecosystem, with new pavilions to be introduced focusing on information security and system integration. The event will also expand its reach to buyers from across Africa, supported by extensive multimedia marketing and public relations campaigns and VIP buyer events.

"We are growing the visitor numbers and reach, and further developing the content, to take the automation industry's key forum to the next level," said Carol Weaving, Managing Director at Reed Exhibitions.

Africa Automation Fair is a focused networking platform for the Automation and Control Industry and works closely with industry associations including the IIG, SAIMC and Technews Publishing. The fair targets senior buyers from South Africa, the rest of Africa and invites participation from international buyers.

Presented by Reed Exhibitions, Africa Automation Fair and the Connected Industries Conference and will be staged from 4 - 6 June 2019 at the Ticketpro Dome, Northgate, Johannesburg.

In 2019 Africa Automation Fair will host the second edition of the Connected Industries conference in line with growing international focus on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the advanced, connected industries of the future.

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GOOD DRIVERS ARE AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO ANY FLEET Innovative Staffing Solutions Managing Director, Arnoux Maré, says South Africa's truck drivers play a critical role in the economy, transporting more than 88% of cargo around the country.

“They are as much an asset to their organisations as the often formidable vehicles they drive and need the ongoing support of their fleet managers.

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With trucks an ever-present reality on South African roads, it is important that their drivers adhere to strict health and safety standards.

This is not always easy when they have to deal with heavy work schedules, poor roads, bad fellow drivers and numerous other challenges.

drifting, straddling lanes, losing control of the vehicle, accidents and, at worst, death.

Tips to avoid fatigue: Ÿ Get enough sleep – for drivers undertaking a longhaul drive, eight hours of sleep the night before is recommended.

“With more than 5,500 drivers Ÿ Keep hydrated – drinking in our employ, we have water regularly helps keep learned a lot from the various the mind sharp and body predicaments they find alert. themselves in. We feel we are well positioned to offer our Ÿ Stop and stretch – it is top seven safety guidelines important to pull over and aimed at keeping truck get out of the truck to drivers and other road users stretch as often as safe,” adds Maré. possible. Drivers should try and stop every two hours.

1. A lack of sleep can have Even a five-minute stop similar effects on the body and stretch can revitalise and mind as alcohol. It the body and mind. follows, then, that driver fatigue is one of the most Ÿ Eat healthily – convenience dangerous aspects of longnibbles aren't always the distance driving. Many drivers healthiest. are not aware of how exhaustion can impair their cognitive and motor abilities, Drivers should try to avoid making them a liability on the food that is high in sugar and salt. Rather, they should stick country's roads. to high protein, low GI foods Symptoms of fatigue such as with natural sugars. This will help in sustaining and yawning, sore or heavy eyes, balancing physical and slower reaction times, mental energy. daydreaming, impatience, stiffness and cramps can lead to erratic behaviour, including If fatigue or drowsiness

persists, drivers need to pull over into a service station and get some rest.

productivity, allowing them to dedicate their attention and energy to the job at hand.

2. Drivers need to familiarise themselves with the vehicles they operate.

6. Because road rage is a reality on South African roads, stress management is a vital skill for truck drivers to acquire.

The long hours and looming possibility of missing the delivery deadline can increase stress levels, making an already demanding job more difficult.

Simply choosing not to engage with an irate or reckless driver will not only save precious time, but sometimes even a life. Music and deep breathing can be great stress relievers.

While they don't need not be mechanics, a basic working knowledge of the vehicle's systems can assist in speedily diagnosing potential problems.

3. The more technology advances, the more likely it is for complications to arise. A GPS is a convenient piece of technology, but if it doesn't work, or fails, drivers should have road maps as back-up, and be able to read them. An added benefit is having a general sense of the lay of the land.

4. Staying up-to-date with the weather, traffic and news reports can help drivers better plan and navigate on their trips. The weather plays an important role in driving – bad weather means drivers need to be more alert and cautious, which can affect their arrival times. News and traffic reports can alert drivers to potential obstacles or closures of main routes, allowing them to make the necessary adjustments.

5. A truck becomes a mobile office (and home) for long distance drivers. Employing a system for tracking collections, deliveries and expenses increases drivers' levels of efficiency and

7. Regular vehicle safety checks before, during and after embarking on each trip are fundamental to arriving alive at one's destination.

Issues, should there be any, can be picked up immediately and mitigated before they turn into disasters.

Innovative Staffing Solutions offers a holistic training course for drivers to ensure they are more than roadworthy. “It is essential for transport and logistics companies to make sure their drivers are not only well trained, but that their fleets are managed with precision.

We offer a 360-degree service to transportation companies, from fleet service management to driver training,” concludes Maré.

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GROUNDSWELL ~ supporting enviropreneurs Are you an entrepreneur committed to solving environmental challenges? Can your proven product or potential service unlock possibilities in water sustainability?

Fetola is launching GROUNDSWELL, a new initiative to accelerate the success of products and services in the water, sustainability and resource efďŹ ciency sectors. This practical programme, supported by seed funding from J.P. Morgan, builds entrepreneurial skills and helps big corporates and small business owners do better business together.

Thirty South African entrepreneurs will beneďŹ t from an intensive 18-month growth programme of practical business skills training, mentorship, supply chain inclusion, investment readiness preparation, and access to markets.

Enviropreneurs, waterpreneurs and greentrepreneurs are invited to apply. Established enterprises with growth potential and start-ups that have already invested in their initial concept are welcome.

GROUNDSWELL encourages collaboration between entrepreneurs and citizens, technical advisors and Government stakeholders, and corporates needing recognised suppliers of sustainable solutions. Our mission is to support SMEs providing services with an environmental imperative.

If you're a small business owner who is keen to scale a water-related business, please email groundswell@fetola.co.za or call 086 111 1690 toll free.

Applications will be accepted from 14 February until 9 March.

Groundswell image credit Fotolia

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Growsmart launches in the Eastern Cape to boost quality education for primary school children Growsmart, the leading education initiative by Growthpoint Properties in collaboration with the Eastern Cape Department of Education, today launched for the first time in 60 Eastern Cape schools.

Growsmart is a fun, competitive and exciting resource that is curriculumbased and helps educators and learners to master their required syllabus work.

The programme will be offered in 30 schools in East London and the same number of schools in Port Elizabeth for the first time in 2018.

These schools are chosen by the Department of Education because they show poor literacy performance.

Growsmart targets learning grades four, five and six, which is where the department has identified its potential to have the biggest possible impacts.

The Eastern Cape is the second South African province in which Growsmart is working to have meaningful, positive impacts on primary school performance.

Growsmart - Nontuthuzelo Primary School

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The initiative started nineyears ago in the Western Cape, where it has established a strong, successful track record. Here,

it has helped thousands of children and teachers, grown into 160 schools, and expanded to include literacy, story writing, mathematics, science and debating. As a measure of its success, its story writing initiative has already produced 80 published authors under the age of 13 whose books are now being used in the school system.

Growsmart continually strives to find more ways to extend its reach within schools that will benefit most from its support, and it aims to foster access quality education in an increasingly holistic way.

It has now set its sights on replicating its solid platform of success in Eastern Cape schools. Growthpoint is invested in several landmark properties in the province, including Greenacres and Walmer Park Shopping Centre in Port Elizabeth and Beacon Bay Retail Park in East London.

For its inaugural project in Eastern Cape schools, Growthpoint will focus on boosting the literacy

performance of primary school children with a specially developed spelling competition. Growsmart provides all materials and resources needed to excel in the competition, which is based on the schools' curriculum.

Jewel Harris heads the Growsmart initiative for Growthpoint and explains: “This collaborative approach to boost education with the Eastern Cape Department of Education creates a meaningful and effective way to make a real, positive contribution to education in South Africa. We are extremely excited to bring this high-energy, high-impact programme to the Eastern Cape.”

Now in 210 schools across two provinces, Growsmart is a leading example of the impacts and importance of ongoing effective publicprivate partnerships. It is designed to be transformative for educators and children, but also for their families, communities and South Africa as a whole.

Shawn Theunissen, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Growthpoint, says: “For Growthpoint, Growsmart helps us to give primary school learners access to quality education.

Growthpoint isn't only invested in our property assets in the Western Cape; we are also invested in

communities. Growsmart is an effective way of creating social capital for our business and stakeholders alike.”

With its track record of success, it is unsurprising that Growsmart has attracted the support of like-minded sponsors. Its partners are all passionate about seeing South Africa's children enjoy a better future.

Growthpoint provides space to thrive with innovative and sustainable property solutions. It is an international property company and the largest South African primary REIT listed on the JSE. It owns and manages a diversified portfolio of 547 property assets, locally and internationally. Growthpoint is a component of the FTSE4Good Emerging Index and has been included in the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index for eight years running. It owns and co-owns the largest portfolio of certified green buildings of any company in South Africa and is recognised as a leading developer of green buildings.

“As part of its development, Growsmart has enjoyed good support from the business and education community, and we look forward to it being welcomed in the Eastern Cape with the same spirit of collaboration. We embrace corporate and organisational partnerships because together we can do so much more. Through collaboration, Growsmart has earned an impressive track record of successfully changing the lives of primary school children and forging a brighter future for them, and we want to do even more,” says Harris.

Growsmart: www.growsmart.org.za www.facebook.com/Growsmart www.instagram.com/Growsmart www.youtube.com/GrowsmartCSI Growthpoint Properties: www.growthpoint.co.za www.facebook.com/Growthpoint www.twitter.com/Growthpoint www.linkedin.com/company/growthpointproperties-ltd www.youtube.com/GrowthpointBroadcast

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Reiterating the significance of skilled personnel in an organisation Monitech Contact: Nick Murray Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Tel: 011 395 4312 Cell: +27 (0)82 659 3325 Email: nick@monitech.co.za Web: www.monitechminin g.com

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[Johannesburg, 12 February 2018]: Skills and knowledge are the motivating force of the growth of any business. They have become even more so given the increasing pace of technological advancement in the workplace. On the back of that understanding, Monitech, a South African industry leader in mining safety and monitoring solutions, views skill building as a device to improve the efficacy and contribution of its personnel to overall production of its customers.

in their exams,” clarifies Jarrod. “Our training /skills development programmes are ongoing. Monitech sees these initiatives as key to further increasing its already unparalleled customer service levels.”

Jarrod reiterates that having the correct skills for the correct positions allows Monitech to continually produce high quality, reliable products and relevant service to its customers. In the installation, service and support areas, which are very crucial arms of the business, To have skilled personnel is every company's key objective it makes Monitech extremely to ensure that any skills gaps efficient, thereby reducing installation times and time that its customers may taken to execute critical experience at any time are addressed timeously to avoid repairs and replacements.

“This drastically reduces time unnecessary production for scheduled maintenance as losses, explains Jarrod well as any potential Hassett, CEO of, Monitech.

Consequently, Monitech – as downtime for our clients,” he reasons. a leading mining safety and monitoring solutions provider As a leading original – has always placed a major equipment manufacturer of priority on developing its electronic monitoring skills base. equipment, Monitech puts “All our staff are encouraged high priority on technical to expand their skills set and electronic / electrical and effective management as key Monitech supports this by areas of focus in terms of its paying for any associated skills development initiatives. tuition and allocating study leave accordingly to allow for “The skills taught are both theoretical and practical. We maximum room for success

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also concentrate on personal development in terms of empowering people to take ownership of their own responsibilities,” says Jarrod.

To date, the company has achieved some key milestones in terms of its skills development initiatives.

In 2016 alone, Monitech upskilled more than 80% of its staff members. They have attended an array of courses, spanning from project management to industry specific courses.

“We also have an ongoing internal mentoring programme aimed at imparting the necessary experience. For us, training and development are ongoing.

Monitech is a secondgeneration company and is well aware of the potential loss of vital information due to company growth and business expansion. We address this by first and second-generation management, personally giving product and industryrelated training and mentoring,” Jarrod explains.

Monitech CEO Jarrod Hassett

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Monitech is of the view that every business should play a leading role in the development of its people.

However, while the company is responsible for the development of its people, the people are also equally responsible for their own growth. “At Monitech, we strive to motivate people to better themselves and provide them with the means to

achieve that. Those who take these opportunities and use them to their benefit are rewarded as the company acknowledges these achievements,” highlights Jarrod.

Development of skills is one thing, but retaining them is quite another. This is one area where Monitech has done well over the years. This can be authenticated by the fact that over a 20-year period, Monitech has only had a staff turnover of four staff members, two of which were due to retirement.

“We believe that a pleasant and motivating work environment is paramount.

Everyone has a voice and we encourage people to bring their views and ideas to the table. In addition to that, no one is above the job at hand.

Even senior management get into the trenches when needed. So far, we have been very successful in this regard.

At Monitech we believe that people will embrace responsibility when it is offered. The resultant effect is satisfied customers, happy employees with an opportunity to increase their qualifications and increase their income potential,” he concludes.

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Plasti-Tech sets new labelling standards for stub ends In line with international standards, thermoplastic piping specialist, Plasti-Tech has introduced highdensity polyethylene stub ends labelled with a Lynx laser printer using invisible laser-radiation.

Plasti-Tech becomes the first supplier to offer HDPE butt ends with this sort of labelling in South Africa, moving away from the conventional white marker approach.

Highlighting the significance of traceability and accountability in the manufacture of stub ends, Plasti-Tech managing member Brad Chamont states that the local thermoplastic piping company has become the first supplier in South Africa to offer high-density polyethylene (HDPE PE100) stub ends labelled by means of a Lynx laser printer which utilises laserradiation.

Chamont highlights that the importance of labelling stub ends using the Lynx laser machine is that the manufacturer's mark, size and pressure rating He highlights the worrying markings are permanently visible, and these cannot be lack of traceability in the market for HDPE stub ends tampered with without damaging the butt ends. in South Africa, owing to This helps holding the fact that there is no identification and marking manufacturers accountable for the quality they tools for these products. produce.

This creates room for “The labelling method currently being used across the local market is a white marker. The obvious shortcoming of this approach is that this can be rubbed off during regular handling of the butt ends,” says Chamont.

Plasti-Tech has been in the business of supplying stub ends for the past four years.

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manufacturers to turn a blind eye on the quality of their products, bearing in mind that there is no traceability and, subsequently lack of accountability for failures that may occur as a result of installing poor quality HDPE fittings.

Internationally, the European Standards Association compels that manufacturer names and fittings information be

clearly marked on all HDPE fittings. Barcodes also form part of the standards to facilitate easy of traceability. In line with these international standards, the Installation and Fabrication Plastics Pipes Association (IFPA) is, in the next few months, scheduled to pass a regulation that compels labelling of stub ends using permanent markings such as the Lynx laser printer locally.

Chamont is confident that Plasti-Tech's labelling model will conform to the IFPA standards.

Plasti-Tech has been in the business of supplying stub ends for the past four years.

In line with its best-practice approach, the company engaged the services of a local manufacturer that has agreed to manufacture and label the stub ends using the Lynx laser printer. These are available in sizes of between 50 mm and 355 mm in diameter with diverse pressure classes. “The IFPA has requested suppliers to have manufacturers' names and all the necessary identifiable markings regarding the size pressure and STR,” explains Chamont.

He further explains that these standards are very crucial, bearing in mind the criticality of stub ends in applications they are used.

Stub ends form parts of a mechanical joints that comprise two components:

namely, the stub end, which essentially is a short length of pipe which has one end that is flared outwards and the other prepared to be welded to a pipe of the same thermoplastic material and of a similar wall thickness, as well as the lap joint flange, which is a ring backing flange.

The combination of stub ends and backing flanges is an alternative to the use of a conventional pipe to pipe butt-weld. Typical applications include slurry pipelines where sections of the pipeline can be easily removed and replaced in sections due to the stub and flange mechanical connection.

Plasti-Tech Piping Systems contact: Brad Chamont Tel: +27 (0) 11 609 5511 Cell: +27 (0) 82 471 5757 Email: brad@plasti.co.za Web: www.plastitech.co.z a

“Once pipes are welded, you can't remove sections or repair them. With a stub and flange system, the stub ends are bolted together to join pipe lengths. So, basically a stub end is a mechanical connection of an HDPE pipe,” concludes Chamont.

Plasti-Tech becomes the first supplier to offer HDPE stub ends in South Africa

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Atlas Copco´s Hydraulic Attachment Tools division becomes part of Epiroc With effect from January 1, 2018, the Hydraulic Attachment Tools division within Atlas Copco becomes part of Epiroc, the company that Atlas Copco plans to dividend out in mid-2018.

The division manufactures excavator attachment tools such as hydraulic breakers, cutters, pulverizers, bucket crushers, shears, grapples and magnets. Also effective from that date, all the division's current products will be delivered with Epiroc product branding.

Goran Popovski, President of the Hydraulic Attachment Tools division

Epiroc BP 2050 Bulk Pulverizer

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The Hydraulic Attachment Tools division has been a technology leader for more than 50 years. The hydraulic breaker was originally developed in 1963 by the German company Krupp Berco Bautechnik, which became part of Atlas Copco in 2002. Currently, with some 100 different hydraulic attachment tools, the product range is designed to ensure that customers can always find the right tool for their specific application and excavator. The division manufactures, among others, the HB 10000, the largest serial hydraulic breaker in the world – every

punch equals the weight of 130 elephants.

It is business as usual for the Hydraulic Attachment Tools division; products will continue to be manufactured in the same facilities, will be developed by the same R&D teams and marketed by the same faces to the customer.

“We are building on a very solid foundation in the industry”, says Goran Popovski, President of the Hydraulic Attachment Tools division. “Within Epiroc we can even better focus on what is core for us: Providing solutions and best support to our customers around the globe. Epiroc is a new player with a solid history in the market and our ambition is to continue to have market leading positions in each market and each segment.”

Epiroc – your new partner Provided shareholders´ approval, Atlas Copco will become two separate global groups of companies in 2018: Atlas Copco - focused on industrial customers and Epiroc - focused on mining, infrastructure and natural resources equipment.

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DG-TT7-S with MOS Sensor Receives SIL 2 Approval present or in locations with continuous H2S background. The sensor specifies a wider continuous operating temperature range Aubagne, France - Tyco Gas & than the standard Flame Detection is pleased to electrochemical sensors up announce that the DG-TT7-S to +65 °C. H2S gas detector with Metal The device supports HART 7 Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) protocol option for full sensor underwent stringent configuration and diagnostics functional safety over non-proprietary assessments by an external interface. certification body and is now SIL 2 approved.

The MultiTox DG-TT7-S features on board relays, plug The DG-TT7-S is solid-state and play sensors and a high metal oxide semiconductor visible display that changes (MOS) gas detectors used colour depending on the mainly for the detection of status mode. hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in arid locations having air

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Safe blind lockout for the widest range of pipes Brady Corporation offers a new pipe blind lockout solution that can be applied to the widest range of pipes.

By easily and temporarily locking pipe blinds in place, companies can improve safety by preventing the release of gas, steam and hazardous liquids while pipe maintenance is ongoing.

Increased safety and compliance The Pipe Blind Lockout can provide a very visual, physical barrier that acts as a deterrent for touching pipe blinds while maintenance is ongoing. When used with a properly installed pipe blind, the lockout device and a padlock reduces the risk of accidental release of pipe contents. This enables companies to increase workplace safety and also improve compliance with EU Guidelines 89/655 and the European Norm 1037.

With 3 sizes to choose from, Brady's Pipe Blind Lockout is applicable on the widest range of pipes, including all pipe diameters from 13.2 mm to 1219.2 mm. The device's extendable locking arm enables users to optionally lock not 1, but 2 pipe bolt sets for additional security.

Up to 4 workers can apply a padlock directly on the device.

Get the free Lockout/Tagout guide book via www.bradyeurope.com/pipebl indlockout

Non-sparking material The Pipe Blind Lockout has been UL tested for ISO 80079-36:2016 Explosive Atmospheres and falls within the parameters of the norm.

The device is built out of a heavy duty 304 stainless steel with rugged, cast aluminium locking bars and a powder coated polyester ďŹ nish.

Widest range of pipes 31

Scott Safety Introduces the Protégé SG Reusable Single Gas Monitor A truly universal portable gas detector with maximum versatility

Scott Safety, a global leader in innovative personal protective equipment and safety devices, is pleased to introduce the Protégé SG, a versatile new reusable single gas monitor that is configurable to detect 13 different gases.

The Protégé SG is a truly universal portable gas detector with advanced

features, such as smart plug and play sensors and a replaceable lithium battery that provides unlimited life.

The swappable sensors are equipped with a smart sensor board that automatically recognises sensor type and updates the gas label on the LCD display while automatically downloading the necessary calibration parameters.

With an IP66/67 rating, global regulatory approvals, multiple languages accessible on the LCD, and internal data logging for up to 5,000 events, the Protégé SG provides industrial workers and first responders maximum flexibility to focus on the task at hand and not on their equipment.

The Protégé SG is the first in a new line of cost-effective high performance portable gas monitors being introduced. All Protégé devices will have a similar look, feel and user interface as well as standard features, such as smart plug and play sensors and lithium/alkaline battery options that are interchangeable between monitors.

Protege SG-Alarming

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Completing the new range of monitors is the MasterDock II, an expandable docking station with up to 10 bays.

The MasterDock II has Ethernet and USB connectivity and supports six gas bottles simultaneously with the ability to bump, calibrate, and charge each device. Advanced new software on the intuitive dashboard interface also allows users to print certificates, configure monitors and centralise data storage for improved fleet management capabilities.

The new Protégé gas detection line will provide customers with global mission critical protective solutions, continuing Scott’s Safety commitment to protect what matters most.

For further information on the Protégé SG Reusable Single Gas Monitor, please visit www.scottsafety.com

Protege SG Right Angled Full

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Control maintenance safety risks with best practice Lockout/Tagout Receive the Lockout/Tagout guide 'Enable safer machine interventions' via emea_request@bra dycorp.com for more information.

A great number of workplace accidents still occur during maintenance. These accidents can cause severe human suffering, high insurance premiums and reduced production efficiency.

Lockout/Tagout offers a practical way to control maintenance safety risks.

Isolate energy with a lockout device

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Define maintenance risk control needs Lockout/Tagout enables the temporary isolation of energy flows to machinery effictively rendering them inoperable while maintenance is ongoing. To isolate a machine, all its energy control points, such as handles, levers, valves and buttons, should be blocked in the off-position. Brady can conduct on-site Lockout/Tagout surveys to map all relevant energy control points for every single machine as a first step towards increased maintenance safety.

Choose the right locks & devices Once energy control points are mapped, selecting relevant lockout devices and padlocks becomes easy. The type and number of lockout devices and padlocks needed will be determined by the energy control points present, by maintenance policies and by the on-site environment.

Brady has lockout devices available to effectively lock out any machine, and padlocks in non-conductive, abrasion resistant, chemical resistant and many more versions

to suit the needs of speciďŹ c industries and contexts.

Use best practice lockout procedures When all energy control points are mapped and the right locks and devices are selected, clear step-by-step instructions need to be created so maintenance professionals can safely isolate machines before servicing them. Lockout procedures need to render machines inoperable, and should provide a tryout phase to check if any residual energy is left in the machine.

To create safe lockout instructions, Brady sends experienced engineers to write best practice lockout procedures. With the LINK360 software, these procedures can easily be approved, scaled, visualised and printed by various stakeholders in multiple sites. Once approved, they can be visualised, printed and attached to the relevant machines using the LINK360 software.

offer clear Lockout procedures attached to machinery

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Financing, digital revolution top of mind ahead of POWER-GEN & DistribuTECH Africa Pan-African and international power sector experts who met in Johannesburg last week to assess papers for the upcoming POWERGEN & DistribuTECH Africa 2018 report that key power challenges and priorities have changed across Africa in recent years.

New power sector priorities are emerging across Africa, including financing of major power projects, joining the dots between generation and the 650 million 'power poor', and becoming agile in a digital world, report the experts convening ahead of POWERGEN & DistribuTECH Africa conference and expo.

The POWER-GEN & DistribuTECH Africa advisory board, which meets annually to review papers to be presented at the conference, says there has been a clear change in focus in recent years. Where as recently as five years ago, the continent's primary focus was on generation, there is growing urgency among players to address issues such as developing continent-wide, integrated strategies to deliver power to the estimated 650 million who still have no access to power. Utilities' balance sheets and business models are also in the spotlight; as is the impact of digital technologies on the sector as a whole.

Focus on finance Dr. Willie de Beer, chairperson of the POWER-GEN &

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DistribuTECH Africa advisory board, says: "There is a significant acknowledgement of the disruptive landscape that we are operating in.

Things we would have thought a year or two ago could never happen to this industry are now happening.

While in the past, we focused very heavily on generation and energy mix; now we are confronted from a broader industry perspective with things like leadership challenges, and how well we operate and run our utilities."

"We see increased awareness that we have to take immediate action to bring stability to the sector, before we can look at growth. We have to stabilise the credit ratings and balance sheets, build investor confidence, and find ways to capitalise on the environment to remain relevant into the future," he said.

"Without a focus on finance, we will go nowhere. There has to be a balance between the technologies and the finances."

Nhlanhla Lucky Ngidi, advisory board member and South African Local Government Association official, says key new challenges emerging in Africa's power sector include strategic issues: "We have seen that the kW/h business is no longer working, so there is growing recognition that we need to move towards more innovative ways to do business. We need to address the value chain and the structure of the industry on one hand, while also staying abreast of technological advancements. In addition, regulation has to become proactive, agile and flexible to stay on top of change."

The power balance in Africa is also shifting, says Khanyiso Myataza, advisory board member and Business Development Manager SADC Region, Power and Oil and Gas at Black & Veatch.

"We're seeing increased focus on reducing the reliance on South Africa as the major power producer and giving each region more power independence," he says.

Glenn Ensor, Director of Events for PennWell's International Power Group, says the conference organisers have taken note of the growing focus on financing: "There will be some changes in emphasis at POWER-GEN & DistribuTECH Africa 2018, in line with what's happening in the market. One new

development will be to get financiers much more involved than we have in the past, because there are a lot of potential projects in Africa - it's very exciting, but they're all seeking finance to be realised. We see it as part of our role to put those project developers and financiers together. We will also develop high-level view content specifically aimed at financiers."

Digital disruption Nigel Blackaby, Director of Conferences, PennWell International Power Group, says a top of mind challenge emerging in 2018 is that of digitalization: "We all know that the industry is going to change in terms of much more data being used, and customers becoming much more involved in the industry, but the sector is asking 'how is that going to manifest itself?"

Dr Jens Reich, advisory board member and Head of Sales of the Energy Technology Department of STEAG Energy Services GmbH, says the advisory board discussions highlighted issues such as integrating renewables across the continent, through to being more flexible with regard to operation and fuels; to digitalization, storage and batteries.

Moefi Moroeng, advisory board member and Specialist: Electricity wholesale trading at NERSA, reports that key emerging trends include digitalization, data management, and the software issues the sector needs to address. "In addition, we need to focus on developing rules and processes to manage the grid in the changing environment."

Integration issues Blackaby adds: "At the advisory board meeting this week, we've seen clear 37

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trends towards the further development of renewable energy across Africa.

Although this has been discussed over the past few years, the discussion now is moving on in terms of how can renewables be integrated with the conventional power sector, and how can renewable energy be used for the greater social and economic good?"

Shirley Chauke, CEO at Hamon SA, notes that there are pools of excess generation while much of the continent is still dark. "The two just don't add up. There is a disconnect, and we need to connect the dots."

Sindiswa (Sindi) Mzamo, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Marketing of the Edison Power Group, says: "The advisory board is now saying 'let us look at our electricity strategy across the continent. How do we make sure that we share best practices amongst each other and make sure there is an implementation strategy to serve those 650 million who still have no access to power?' Even when we talk renewables, we are looking at what role they play in an

integrated electricity strategy.”

Gareth Gregory, Africa Head, Strategic Energy and Client Delivery in the commercial division, Energy Security Services Africa (ESSA) sums up the key issues emerging now: "One of the most critical challenges emerging in Africa deals with the speed at which change is happening; and the speed at which the process of implementation is taking effect. It's a question from a regulation standpoint, policy, and a commercial aspect as well, as to how we deal with these specific changes across the continent in a meaningful way."

These priority areas will be addressed by pan African and international speakers at the upcoming POWERGEN & DistribuTECH Africa 2018.

The POWER-GEN & DistribuTECH Africa 2018 conference and exhibition will be staged from 17 - 19 July at the Sandton Convention Centre. Organised by PennWell International, the event is attended by over 3,000 power industry stakeholders, utilities and sub-Saharan government officials from pan-Africa and abroad. For more information, go to http://www.powergenafrica.c om/index.html http://www.powergenafrica.c om/index.html

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THORIUM USED IN CANCER TREATMENT Alpha emitters are small particles used in the treatment of cancer.

They are nuclear particles that typically travel short distances and attack cancer cells only. New research has produced alpha particles with a special coating that enables them to differentiate between healthy cells and cancer cells. The coating identifies the cancer cell and introduces the alpha particle into the cell; when the alpha particle is inside the cell, it gives off radiation and destroys the cancer cell.

After a short period of time, the alpha particle stops emitting, causing no significant collateral damage to the healthy cells.

This requires targeted delivery to the desired site of action.

Scientists are working with the radioactive element thorium, which emits alpha-particles.

"Thorium emits energy-rich radiation, albeit over a short distance, it cannot even penetrate through a sheet of paper," explains Dr. Alan Cuthbertson, head of Thorium Research at Bayer in Oslo, Norway. His team is working on a means of transporting thorium directly to the tumour where the radioisotope first accumulates and then decays, releasing the alpha particles. "The alpha particles then destroys the cancer cells without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue too severely," he explains.

To do this, the thorium-derived radionuclide is attached to an antibody which delivers the radioisotope directly to its site of action in the tumour. "We have selected specific antigens expressed on the surface of the tumour cells to which the thorium-antibodies dock with high affinity," says Dr Cuthbertson. This radioimmunotherapy approach could be a source of new hope for patients with lymph node, prostate or breast cancer.

As this treatment develops, the requirement for Alpha emitters will grow. However, there is a shortage of these emitters, which can only be manufactured in a nuclear reactor cyclotron and worldwide production is insufficient to meet the growing demand. Now a solution has been found to produce these

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alpha particles from the natural decay of thorium, an emitter of alpha particles. In a world first, Thor Medical in Norway is studying the feasibility of producing alpha emitters as a by-product of the natural thorium decay process. The thorium required, could be supplied by the Steenkampskraal rare earths mine in the Western Cape.

Trevor Blench, chairman of Steenkampskraal Holdings, says the company plans to supply thorium to Thor Medical. The mineral resource estimate indicates that the Steenkampskraal mine contains 11 700 tons of thorium. In October 2014, the Colorado School of Mines published a report entitled 'Thorium: Does Crustal Abundance Lead to Economic Availability? The report includes studies of where the thorium would be sourced and states that the Steenkampskraal mine in South Africa will be the lowest cost producer of thorium in the world, with an estimated production cost of USD3,56 per kilo.

"Once the mine is in production we will be able to increase output in a relatively short time to meet this demand. This will be in addition to the rare earths that will be mined that are typically used in electronic components, electric vehicles, magnets, electric motors and defence systems, for which we are seeing increased demand," he said.

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