PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD

PAL ABO R A CO P P E R ( P T Y ) LT D

Promoting internal efficiencies to become an employer of choice www.palabora.com

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Success Palabora Copper has built a reputable presence in South Africa for nearly 60 years, leveraging a natural resource which manifested billions of years previously Writer: Matthew Staff • Project Manager: Arron Rampling alabora Copper (Pty) Limited has capitalised on the world-leading potential of the Palabora Igneous Complex for more than half a century, combining its long-standing optimisation of operational procedures with an ever-developing adherence to internal facets and the progression of its employees.

Known previously as Palabora Mining Company prior to 2013, the company has built its esteemed reputation in South Africa as the country’s only producer of refined copper, providing the nation with 85 percent of its overall copper requirements.

Beginning life in 1956, the business has developed to now produce more than 60,000 tonnes of the mineral each year, supplying South Africa with the aforementioned majority, and exporting the remains to ensure the full fruits of its efforts reap rewards.

Arguably though, the potential of the Palabora Igneous Complex site far precedes the company’s comprehensive growth throughout

the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

“Some two billion years ago, a series of violent volcanic eruptions, which took place over a period of millions of years, gave rise to a rich body of minerals, which became known as the Palabora Igneous Complex,” the company’s website explains. “The unique ore body outcropping at a small saddleback hill, later to be called Loolekop, contains a unique variety of minerals; copper, phosphates, magnetite, uranium, zirconium, nickel, gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

Two other volcanic pipes nearby contain vermiculite and phosphate. “ Now, as the most extensive site of copper mining opportunity in the world, Palabora Copper has diversified, invested and expanded its range of products, services and operations to incorporate a large block cave copper mine and smeleter complex comprising a more than 2,200-strong workforce.

The company adds: “The refinery produces continuous cast rod for the domestic market and cathodes for export. Useful by-product metals and minerals include zirconium chemicals,

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BASF BASF creates chemistry through innovative solutions to grow Africa.

As a global leader in the chemical industry, BASF offers scientific and innovative solutions to customers in nearly every industry, enabling these businesses to meet the current and future needs of society. Master Builders Solutions®

by BASF provides a diverse range of mineral processing chemicals and technologies to the industry worldwide, along with expert advice and technical support.

Since the launch of project ‘Pump’ in August 2000, Palabora Mining Company (PMC) has used these innovative solutions to create chemistry of its own. Together with BASF, Byrnecut and LA Crushers, PMC has developed a 1.2km twin decline from Lift I to Lift II in under five years. MasterGlenium Sky 923 and MasterRoc SA 160, used jointly offer a wet mix sprayed concrete for rock support and rapid hydration reaction, resulting in early strength development. The quick setting property allows rapid work progress and the ability to construct thick sprayed concrete linings via layered application, during one construction sequence.

Use of the mixture and equipment, operated by BASF personnel on site, played a large part to the project’s completion in February 2015.

While MasterGlenium Sky 923 and MasterRoc SA 160 has proven highly effective in the construction of the decline, these are only two of the many products used for the development. Stabilisers, resins, fibres and curing compounds are only some of the other chemical solutions which ensured the high quality concrete production for phase one of project Pump. Master Builders Solutions by BASF has introduced new products of improved quality and competitive pricing in its latest tender to PMC for the development of Lift II footprint or production level. The new project phase is scheduled to span five years and aims

to not only add value to Palabora but also extend the operating life of the mine to 2030.

The BASF Group has been active in Africa for 90 years. The company has been exporting colorants and intermediates to Kenya from its headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany, since the end of the 1920s. Today, the BASF Group has more than 1,000 employees in Africa (excluding the oil and gas business). In North Africa, the company is represented in Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. The key industries are construction, textiles, agriculture, automotive and the health care and plastics sectors. The BASF Group company Wintershall has been producing oil onshore in Libya since 1958, and it is also involved in an offshore oilfield. In South Africa, BASF has production facilities for emission catalysts, construction chemicals, coil coatings, dispersions and polyurethane plastics.

Master Builders Solution’s experts combine their global and local expertise to meet market needs, and they offer reliable and approved professional applicators. This ensures successful completion of jobs. To meet high performance requirements, BASF products are designed and certified for the specific intended use.

BASF’s Construction Chemicals division offers advanced chemicals solutions for new construction, maintenance, repair and renovation of structures. Master Builders Solution’s portfolio encompasses concrete admixtures, cement additives, chemical solutions for underground construction, waterproofing solutions, sealants, repair & protection solutions, performance grouts, and performance flooring solutions.

T +27 11 203 2405 E info@master-builders-solutions.basf.co.za www.master-builders-solutions.basf.co.za

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roup T (Pty) Ltd is a specialist trackless mechanised mining contractor operating across South Africa and Africa. Its wealth of experience has been built over the last 20 years of operations in some of South Africa’s leading mining houses where it provides key services to its clientele.

Group T, through its subsidiary TBM 11, has been working on the Phalaborwa copper mine since 2000 and has since built a reputation of excellence along with a strong trust relationship with the old and new mine owners.

Group T still provides a key service to Phalabora Copper and look forward to only building on this relationship and assisting PC to further expand its mining operations.

T +27 (0) 15 780 3248

www.groupt.co.za Optimising its operations to ensure success

magnetite and nickel sulphate as well as small quantities of gold, silver and platinum. Palabora has developed a US$410 million underground mine with a production capacity of 30,000 tonnes of ore a day.

“Palabora also owns a nearby vermiculite deposit which is mined and processed for sale worldwide.”

Health and safety

Over the years, the company has made the most of the resources at its disposal, and the reliance that South Africa has subsequently had on the sales of minerals emanating from Palabora Copper.

To become a more well-rounded company however, recent years have witnessed a more concerted focus on the internal capabilities within Palabora’s operations; primarily including health and safety concerns and the establishment of a specific programme to address the trend.

“The safety and health of employees

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We understand that we need to work relentlessly to foster a climate in which principles of responsibility and accountability can be practiced every day

at Palabora Copper is of the utmost importance and it’s a key principle in an efficient and profitable operation.

Therefore, the company firmly believes that all injuries, occupational illnesses and incidents are preventable,” the business states. “All employees and contractors undergo entrance and exit medical examinations when joining and leaving the company. During their course of employment they are subject to routine medical examinations.

Routine examinations are risk based and provide a comprehensive health profile of each employee.

“In October 2011 - following three months of increased safety incidents, which led to the worst safety record in Palabora’s recent history - we embarked on an ambitious enterprise-wide LeKgotla process. Working with the Amsterdambased Kgotla Company, we put this highly potent dialoguing process into practice within Palabora’s organisational setting, engaging 3,800 Palabora employees and contractor employees.”

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Underground mechanised development and stoping projects Underground large excavations and silos construction Robotic shotcreting and total mine support applications Manufacture & supply of standard & customised mining plant and equipment Project management Engineering solutions and conveyor systems installations Drop raise, raise boring and blind hole drilling

www.groupt.co.za T 27 (0) 15 780 3248

MINING SERVICES EXCELLENCE

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Having since institutionalised the process, Palabora LeKgotla exists as an ongoing dialoguing process which encourages all employees to share and voice areas of concern to create a company-wide solution forum and which is benchmarked by numerous divisional reviews over the course of each year.

“Since the October 2011 LeKgotla, we have held several subsequent LeKgotla sessions. These have spanned the operational areas of processing, mining, technical excellence, training and the rod plant,” the Company notes. “We understand that we need to work relentlessly to foster a climate in which principles of responsibility and accountability can be practiced every day. That means building an organisation where it is safe for people to create visions, where inquiry and commitment to the truth are the norm, and where challenging the status quo is expected and accepted.”

LeKgotla has consequently instilled a much stronger organisational climate within Palabora Copper, paving the way for the company’s general people and skills strategies to flourish.

Employer of choice

Built around goals of tolerance and acceptance, open dialogue, personal accountability, diversity and ambassadorship, Palabora’s people & skills strategy embraces facets of HR management, sustainability and BroadBased Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) adherence.

The Company says: “From the time the mine started operations in the mid-1960s, Palabora has been at the forefront of employment practices in the local mining industry. Palabora employs approximately 2,200 people, with competitive employment conditions in the industry.

“The Human Resources division is an active partner in facilitating the company’s objective of ‘resourcing for success’ and the creation of a self-

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motivated and progressive Palabora workforce, that is focused on business objectives, while achieving personal and career growth, as well as selffulfilment.”

Striving to be an employer of choice within the mining industry, the attraction and retention of talent is pivotal, leading to the business adopting a series of initiatives including significant remunerations and bonuses; extensive employee engagement; internal promotion opportunities; ongoing training and development; and perhaps most importantly, the promotion of organisational development.

This final facet encourages each employee to make their own

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entrepreneurial mark on Palabora, as it continuously opens its ears to new techniques, systems or procedures.

Uplifting communities

Enriching lives both inside and outside of the Company, Palabora has gone to great lengths to fulfil its South African Mining Charter obligations as well as its BBBEE activities.

“Palabora has developed a comprehensive transformation strategy supported by a set of policies and procedures that seek to address the seven elements on the BEE scorecard,” the Company says.

This incorporates not only fostering an inclusive work environment to maintain its role as an “equal

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opportunity workplace” but also BEE procurement which has seen Palabora’s BBBEE spend dramatically increasing since the turn of the decade.

Spreading its influence even further, Palabora also places a concerted emphasis on its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts to share its wealth and knowledge outside of the mining domain; leveraging its transporting operations and subsequent ability to bridge the infrastructure and technological gaps that often appear in more rural areas of South Africa.

Supporting local communities adjacent to the Igneous Complex, one recent example in 2015 saw Palabora Copper contribute towards Greenvalley Primary School’s computer and Tumelong drop-in centre; a new computer learning facility in the region.

“Palabora hosted a charity golf day in the latter part of 2014 in an effort to raise funds. The project was aimed at initiating a dialogue amongst transporters to raise funds together to support the communities,” a report on the event stated. “On 5 March, 2015, Greenvalley Primary School, based in Acornhoek and a home to 1,300 learners, received their long awaited computer centre.”

Sanda Zungu, Manager of Supply Chain & Logistics at Palabora added: “These road transporters are already doing a lot to support and develop the communities in which they operate, however when those efforts are not concerted, the impact becomes minimal, benefiting only a limited number of people in the community.

“Therefore, Palabora Copper will continue to encourage its contractors to get involved and contribute towards projects aimed at uplifting and developing the communities in which we all operate.”

Strategic objectives

Embracing peripheral areas of people development, health and safety,

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BBEEE and CSR not only enhances Palabora’s reputation even further within South Africa but helps build a bedrock of sustainability from which its core mining activities can flourish.

Across its primary copper product, as well as its magnetite, nickel sulphate, anode slimes, sulphuric acid and vermiculite compliments, its core and industrial mineral divisions are in a stronger position than ever before to optimise the natural potential that the Palabora Igneous Complex provides.

Through this, the Company continuously invests in and updates

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its underground mining techniques, as well as its concentrating, smelting and refining operations, while the industrial component is similarly progressive regarding its vermiculite functions.

Offering services across sample development, analytics, fire assaying and quality control assurance, Palabora Copper is in a prime position to fulfil a mission and vision that have been consistent in the Company’s continuous improvement strategy since day one.

“Palabora’s strategic objectives which are key drivers towards the achievement of its vision are: to create a strong enterprise; to optimise operations; resource for success; sustainable long-life values; integrity; courage; care; and teamwork,” its website emphasises.

Moving forward, it is these philosophies which will affirm Palabora Copper’s position as a recognised market leader in the mining industry.

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PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD PO Box 65, 1 Copper Road 1389 Phalaborwa, Limpopo Tel: +27 15 780 2911 Fax: +27 15 780 2093 hulisani.nemaxwi@palabora.co.za

www.palabora.com