MINTEK

MINTEK

A one-stop shop for mineral and metallurgical innovation

ame M I N T E K

NEXT Horizon The

Mintek is playing a huge role in the mining industry, providing world-class testing facilities and multidisciplinary expertise within the extractive metallurgy landscape Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Arron Rampling

he past year has seen several historical Company highlights for Mintek, with the successful completion of a new pilot plant smelting campaign for the recovery of gold from waste material leading the way.

Another notable output has been the development of a handheld version of Mintek’s Laboratory ‘Lab’ Cynoprobe, again epitomising the Company’s continuous efforts to stay at the forefront of innovation in the sector.

“Our Lab Cynoprobe was developed several years ago to broaden the impact of Mintek’s cyanide measurement technology,” explains Abiel Mngomezulu, Chief Executive Officer at Mintek. “The drawback of using the existing Lab Cynoprobe unit is the high cost associated with manufacturing the instrument. “A cost comparative study between

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the handheld version and its bulky counterpart indicates an expected manufacturing cost reduction of greater than 70 percent, between the old Lab Cynoprobe and new Cynoprobe.”

The core competencies that have made the Company such a success, are supported by world-class and unique laboratory, pilot and demonstration scale facilities catering for aspects of mineral value addition, mineral processing, smelting, heap leaching testwork, geo-mechanical and hydrodynamic testing, rare earth pilot plant and clean-room facilities.

Globally, and particularly in Africa there is a growing challenge of staving off the deterioration and decommission of testing facilities for the metallurgy landscape. With Mintek’s world-class facilities combined with its multidisciplinary expertise, the Company is responsible for making major contributions as a prime technology and service

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What makes us one of the most trusted medical schemes in South Africa?

Medshield has consistently maintained an AA – Global Credit Rating with a solvency ratio of 52% far exceeding the statutory requirement of 25%.

Visit www.medshield.co.za or phone 086 000 2120 to join our family.

“The values of Medshield are innovation, accountability, dependability, transparency, integrity and mutual respect.

These values have empowered us to always offer quality service and competitive healthcare cover which has resulted in strong bonds with our stakeholders including Mintek.

This approach has been highly successful over the years and today Medshield covers about 160 000 lives including Mintek who entrust their health and wellbeing to the Scheme.”

Dr Stanley Moloabi Medshield Medical Scheme Principal Officer

2017 Medshield Medical Sheme Benefit Options Medshield Option Option Description Premium Plus

Comprehensive but cost effective with unlimited in-hospital benefits at any hospital of the member’s choice and a Personal Savings Account for Out-of-Hospital services.

Unlimited In-Hospital benefits at a hospital of the member’s choice. Includes a MediBonus range of Out-of-Hospital benefits such as Optical and Dental benefits and many other specialists.

MediPlus MediSaver MediCore MediValue

Unlimited In-Hospital cover through the Medshield Hospital Network and a comprehensive range of Out-of-Hospital benefits.

Unlimited In-Hospital cover through the Medshield Hospital Network and control of personal savings account for Out-of-Hospital services.

Unlimited In-Hospital cover within the Medshield Hospital Network, with no Day-to-Day benefits.

Unlimited In-Hospital cover and limited Out-of-Hospital benefits for fundamental healthcare needs.

MediPhila Unlimited PMB cover within the MediPhila Hospital Network and unlimited GP visits.

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Innovative products to clients worldwide

Working closely with R&D institutions to provide leading mineral technologies

Since inception in 1934, the Company has worked closely with other R&D institutions, providing them with service test-work, process development and optimisation, consulting and innovative products to clients worldwide

provider for the development of new mineral processing and value addition technologies for mineral resources across the rest of the African continent.

More than half of Mintek’s commercial revenue is sourced from outside the African continent, with North America leading the way at 21

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percent. Other areas that the Company has branched into include Europe, Australia, Asia and South America.

Mintek mainly showcases its wares and capabilities in relevant mining conferences and also state bilateral meetings as a springboard for new business opportunities.

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The Company serves as South Africa’s state-owned mineral research organisation and one of the world’s leading technology organisations across mineral processing, extractive metallurgy and value addition to minerals. Mintek’s mandate is to serve the national interest through carefully selected aspects, including research, development and technology transfer.

“In turn, all of these properties work together to promote mineral technology and to foster the establishment and expansion of industries in our field of minerals and products which are derived therefrom,” continues Mngomezulu.

“Since inception in 1934, the Company has worked closely with other R&D institutions, providing them with service test-work, process development and optimisation, consulting and innovative products to clients worldwide.”

The technical programmes that Mintek undertake are aimed at generating high economic returns for the mining industry participants worldwide, placing a particular focus on national and regional economies whilst its social programmes focus on skills development and educational initiatives.

An important target for the Company is in regards to the nurturing of self-sustaining local economies in areas of South Africa where smaller mineral extraction and beneficiation enterprises have the capability to generate broad-based employment and wealth within communities.

Strategic direction

The state-owned science council established by an act of Parliament – the Mineral Technology Act No.30 of 1989 – therefore deems the Company pivotal to the Minister of Mineral Resources. Subsequently, in line with global best practice, Mintek constantly

RECORD REFLECTS ENDURING, AFFORDABLE QUALITY FOR MEDSHIELD MEDICAL SCHEME Medshield Medical Scheme has a 48-year healthcare funding heritage which is testament to the expertise, experience and the ability of the Scheme to withstand industry and economic challenges thus providing its members with consistent access to quality health cover.

The values of Medshield are innovation, accountability, dependability, transparency, integrity and mutual respect. These values have empowered us to always offer quality service and competitive healthcare cover which has resulted in strong bonds with our stakeholders including Mintek. This approach has been highly successful over the years and today Medshield covers about 160,000 lives including Mintek who entrust their health and wellbeing to the Scheme.

Medshield continuously strives to be affordable to members and this is evidenced by the low contribution adjustment for 2017. Our contribution adjustment is one of the lowest in the industry and this includes significant benefit enhancements across the board. Medshield has simplified benefits to promote access to healthcare benefits by all members. There is a clear distinction between each of the seven Medshield options that are tailored to meet the specific needs of the diverse membership, ensuring access to quality healthcare and affordability.

According to Dr Stanley Moloabi, the Principal Officer of Medshield, the philosophy underpinning the design of the Medshield options focuses on providing members with value for money and the peace of mind that comes with healthcare cover.

While the medical schemes industry experienced financial pressures due to the higher than expected claiming patterns, Medshield remained financially sound with a strong solvency ratio - the solvency ratio recorded at 52 percent and far exceeds the statutory requirement. In addition Medshield boasts a Global Credit Rating (GCR) of AA-, one of the highest credit ratings in the healthcare industry. “Our strong financial standing, coupled with a large member base, enables Medshield to build strong healthcare provider networks.

Strengthening these networks enable the reduction of co-payments to members which provide quality healthcare services at more affordable rates,� says Dr Moloabi.

Medshield management has outlined its medium-term plans to utilise the high reserves of the Scheme to alleviate affordability pressures faced by members. The Scheme has already kept its annual contribution increases low when compared to industry over the past two-three years. The financial performance of the Scheme has been stable and over the past five years, the Scheme posted net surpluses totalling R416 million.

Being the fifth largest open medical scheme in South Africa is important for sustainability and competitiveness, as claiming risk is spread, thus protecting beneficiaries. Medshield has an efficient clinical risk management approach to our healthcare provision, because it makes good clinical and business sense in the riskintensive health care sector.

www.medshield.co.za

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1.4 MINTEK’S GLOBAL PRESENCE

Mintek operates in an open global environment, servicing a multi-national industry. Customers include state enterprises, conglomerates, junior resource companies, engineering contractors and small-scale enterprises – operating both locally and internationally. In such an environment, the imperatives of remaining competitive and credible in terms of reputation and facilities is widely acknowledged and appreciated. As such, Mintek remains committed to ensuring the long-term financial health performance and credibility of the organisation through the effective management of revenue and on-going compliance to governance structures.

GOLD

PGMS

• Evaluation and design of recovery circuits for refractory and non-refractory mineralisation.

• Design and optimisation of integrated comminution, flotation and smelting circuits.

• Diagnostic leaching and comparative test work on various communication, concentration and recovery options.

• Cyanide specification monitoring, online cyanide measurement and control, cyanide destruction, Assistance with ICMI gap or full certification audits.

• Minfurn technology for granular activated carbon regeneration.

• Design and optimisation of base metal recovery and PGM refining circuits.

• ConRoast smelting technology for high-chromium low-sulphur PGM materials.

• Catalyst development for automotive, fuel cell, and industrial applications.

FERROUS METALS • Iron ore beneficiation.

• DC are smelting processes for chromite, ilmenite, nickel laterites, magnetite, magnesium metal production, and metal recovery from slags and dusts.

BASE METALS • Bioleaching of copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc and polymetallic concentrates.

• Heap bioleaching of low-grade chalcopoyrite-bearing materials.

• Materials characterisations (physical, mechanical and corrosion properties), and failure investigations.

• Integrated circuit design for metal recovery and purification by leaching/heap leaching, precipitation, ion exchange, and SX/EW.

PROCESS CONTROL STRATEGIES

EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY

INDUSTRIAL MINERALS & DIAMONDS • Physical beneficiation – comminution, flotation, gravity, dense media, electrostatic and magnetic separation, and optical sorting.

• Kimberlite indicator mineral investigations. Alluvial diamond provenance studies.

• Novel PGM-containing alloys, and powder metallurgical processes.

• Minataur all-hydrometallurgical gold refining process.

• New industrial uses for gold – catalysis, biomedicine, and nanotechnology.

URANIUM • Ambient, pressure and heap leaching, solvent extraction, fixed bed and counter current (NIMCIX) ion exchange, resin-inpulp, and ADU precipitation.

• Mintek is registered as a uranium test work facility with South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) and Department of Mineral Resources.

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RARE EARTH ELEMENTS • Physical beneficiation – comminution, floatation, gravity, ad magnetic separation, sensor based sorting.

• Concentrate cracking and refining flow sheet development and optimisation.

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ECONOMIC & REGIONAL STUDIES

• Advanced process control and optimisation strategies for milling, flotation, and leaching circuits, and submerged-arc furnaces.

• Minfurn regeneration furnace for activated carbon in the gold processing, water treatment and food industries.

• Regional commodity-based mineral economic studies.

• Online cyanide measurement and control.

• Minataur gold refining process.

• DC arc furnaces.

• Sustainable mineral development studies.

• Heap leach operator guidance software and in-heap instrumentation.

• Atomijet atcmiser for base and precious metals.

• SAVMIN process for acid mine drainage purification.

• Resource-based technology strategies.

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endeavours to ensure that business processes, systems and controls adhere to governance principles while adhering to the needs of efficiency in business.

Mngomezulu clarifies: “With its title as a science council, Mintek has a critical role within the South African mining landscape in respect to research, innovation, service delivery, development and growth.”

Moving forwards, Mintek’s role as a business is captured in its Mintek 2030 vision document, named The Next Horizon, published in March, 2016.

“We emphasise our role in the mining sector, envisioning ourselves as achieving a status as a one-stop shop for minerals and metallurgical research & development,” Mngomezulu elaborates. “The Company has to ensure that any innovations, products and services are created with the national priorities playing a major factor in determining our annual strategic direction.”

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With regards to research & development and the emphasis it will have on Mintek’s decision making over the next decade, it is expected to be based on those commodities with the greatest economic and strategic importance to South Africa over the long-term: most notably the platinum group metals; gold, iron ore, chrome, uranium, titanium, manganese, base metals and rare earth elements.

Influencing the mineral sector

With such complexity within its projects, not to mention the responsibility that falls with being a state institution, Mintek attributes its achievements to its main asset, its employees. Actively encouraging workers is vitally important, engaging them in further studies to proactively play a meaningful role in influencing the direction the mineral sector is taking. Alongside this, there is also good succession planning for retirement out of the Company.

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VERDER PUMPS

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erder Pumps optimises clients’ processes, capacities, cost efficiencies and standards via an unrivalled passion for pumps.

As a supplier of specialised pumps across South Africa and Africa, its international presence - combined with innovation and enhanced R&D - facilitates a host of long-term relationships; such as that enjoyed with Mintek since 2005. Verder pumps has been successful with Mintek over the years due to the reliable and trusted brand offering, quick repair for minimal downtime, easy maintenance and respectable service.

Verder’s goal is to progress to be the leader in process solutions across all operating industries.

T 011 704 7500 E info@verder.co.za

www.verder.co.za

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A pump solution for every application Thickener underflow pumps Flocculant dosing & transfer pumps Slurry transfer pumps Activated carbon transfer pumps

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Activated carbon sump pumps Chemical dosing & transfer pumps Micro dosing pumps Emergency flood pumps

Tel: 011 704 7500 Email: info@verder.co.za www.verder.co.za

“Talent management within the Company takes a holistic approach.

From a hiring perspective, we recruit both experienced and inexperienced scientists and engineers to work with us at such an exciting time for the Company,” continues Mngomezulu.

“This ensures that experienced employees share their knowledge with recent graduates, both undergraduate and postgraduate, who join the organisation each year once they have completed their studies.”

With the skills required for scientists and engineers being scarce, retaining this talent is a top priority for Mintek. The Company stands by the theory that bright minds require stimulation; therefore it offers excellent projects for its employees to work on, demonstrating its commitment to developing staff.

“Further study is strongly encouraged at Mintek, with a large

With its title as a science council, Mintek has a critical role within the South African mining landscape in respect to research, innovation, service delivery, development and growth

number of our staff making use of the staff bursary scheme we provide,” Mngomezulu affirms. “Training is also very high on our priority list, from both a technical and soft skills perspective.”

Mintek has played an important national role in the development of the industry, supporting a great number of students at local universities of technology, furthermore, the Company hosts various work integrated learner training programmes.

“Representatives of the major mining houses have attested to the effort that we have put into the training and development of our personnel, and some of those are now working for other mining houses,” Mngomezulu concludes.

“This also enables us to build stronger partnerships within the industry, making achievements in strategic areas that will have a high impact on the sector.”

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MINTEK 200 Malibongwe Drive Strijdom Park Randburg South Africa T: +27 11 709 4111 www.mintek.co.za

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