Australian Mining May 2012

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VOLUME 104/5 – MAY 2012

SERVING THE MINING INDUSTRY SINCE 1908

www.miningaustralia.com.au

NO.1 FOR MINING TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT

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Environment

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Clearing the air on site

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MANAGING YOUR SITE Making mining greener

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Trucks & Transport

MOVING MINERALS Trucks, cars and buses

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Safety

THE NO.1 ISSUE Zero harm on site

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WHEREVER THERE’S MINING, WE’RE THERE.

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© 2012 Caterpillar, All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” and the “Power Edge“ trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. Cat and Caterpillar are registered trademarks of Caterpillar Inc., 100 N.E. Adams, Peoria IL 61629.

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COMMENT

Mining Bowen Basin Battle Australian

Copyright Reed Business Information Published 12 issues a year by Reed Business Information (ABN 80 132 719 861) Tower 2, 475 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW 2067 Australia Tel: (02) 9422 2999 Fax: (02) 9422 2966

Publisher – Michelle Graves Email: michelle.graves@reedbusiness.com.au

The long running strikes have claimed their first victim, and with BMA coal stockpiles running out, what will happen next?

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ne of the most surprising events last month was the closJournalist – Andrew Duffy Tel: (02) 9422 2884 ing of BMA’s Norwich Park Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au coal mine in Queensland.

Key Account Manager – Sarah Bateman Tel: (02) 9422 8994 Mob: 0408 991 585 The suddenness of it all Email: sarah.bateman@reedbusiness.com.au caught many unawares.

Key Account Manager – Tim Richards Tel: (02) 9422 2818 Mob: 0407 948 774 And while the mine had Email: tim.richards@reedbusiness.com.au been producing low qualQLD and SA Sales Manager – Sharon Amos Tel: (07) 3261 8857 Fax: (07) 3261 8347 ity coal for some time (to the Mob: 0417 072 625 Email: sharon.amos@reedbusiness.com.au point where it was mixed WA Representative – Jamie Wade with coal from other BMA Mob: 0435 945 868 Email: jamie@wadebusiness.com.au mines), are the joint venture RBI Manufacturing & Electronics Group: owner BHP Billiton’s causes Production Co-ordinator – Tracy Engle Tel: (02) 9422 2707 Fax: (02) 9422 2966 of a drop in coal prices, low Graphic Designer – Dave Ashley profitability, and low quality South Africa – Bob Stephen Stephen Marketing the reason why it was closed?

PO Box 75, Tarlton, Gauteng 1749, South Africa According to BMA chief Tel: 27(011) 952 1721 Fax: 27(011) 952 1607 USA – Jonathan Sismey Stephen Dumble, the mine RBI had essentially run its course 24th Floor, 125 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Tel: (1) 212 370 7445 Fax: (1) 212 370 7441 and keeping it open was Email: jsismey@ix.netcom.com costing more than Norwich Larry Arthur RBI Park was making.

Suite 203, 3700 Campus Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660 The mine was bleeding Tel: (1) 949 756 1057 Fax: (1) 949 756 2514 money.

Email: lharthur@ix.netcom.com Printed by GEON Added to this the recent 20 Baker Street, Banksmeadow, NSW 2019 calling of force majeure for Tel: (02) 8333 6555 all of its operations and it was really just another nail in the coffin of this mine.

Another heavy wet All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be season, after the 2010/11 reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. floods, did not help either.

SSN 0004-976X Norwich Park’s closure Reader Services – 1300 360 126 was “inevitable”, BHP BilSubscription Rates – Australia (surface mail) $140.00 (incl GST) liton said.

New Zealand A$148.00 Overseas A$156.00 And after looking at some of the reasons behind its closure it is a fair assessment.

However some believe that these reasons are not even close to the truth.

A D Average _ A MNet K Distribution I N O C T _ 1 1 . p One d f person P a gfamiliar e 1 with 2 1 / Period ending September 2011 the situation believed it was 7,945 Editor – Cole Latimer Tel: (02) 9422 2352 Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au

Comment Cole Latimer ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au an empty threat by BMA, to show the unions that it too was willing to play hard ball, as the CFMEU called for a halt to the ballot for the latest workplace agreements from the miner.

The person told Australian Mining that the “indefinite” shut down is likely to be repealed if the unions give way.

But with more than a year of union action and rolling strikes crippling BMA’s operations across the Bowen Basin, it doesn’t seem likely to have its desired effect.

Another person told Australian Mining that the rea-

sons given by BMA, the low quality coal and low profitability, while true, were not the reason behind the closure.

They stated it was more likely to be mismanagement of the mine, as the low quality coal had never stopped operations beforehand.

In the closing of Norwich Park there are just more questions raised then answered.

Why now?

Was it simply that the miner had reached its limit with Norwich Park’s haemorrhaging of money?

Was it mismanagement?

Or is it simply a threat to the unions that the miner

is willing to play hardball and end the ongoing industrial action that has crippled some of Australia’s more profitable coal mines?

No doubt the furore over the job ad did not help settle an already angry mining union and concerned community.

Whatever the answer, it no doubt lies somewhere in between.

And the real losers in all of this will the workers and the nearby communities, many of whom did not get a say in either the industrial action, or the mine’s closure.

The only bright point in all of this is that some workers can shift to BMA’s Saraji coal mine, and that Anglo American has two new coal mines set to come online relatively soon, which may ease the workers’ pain and allow them to remain in the region.

FRONT COVER

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ON the front cover we’ve featured dust suppression in action, as a water carrier starts its spraying operations on a dusty coal mine. In the sidebar we’ve also snuck in a picture of the world’s largest mining truck by volume – the Liebherr T282C Ultra Class – that can carry more than 405 tonnes. Australian company Austin Engineering’s subsidiary Westech actually designed and manufactured the truck’s body. We’ve also looked at new Indonesian mining laws, and the state of play in the Northern Territory and South Australia.

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Contents Australia’s new golden region?

The new kid on the block

The Territory’s potential is on show....p18-20

The next generation site workhorse....p58-59

Features SOUTH AUSTRALIA & NORTHERN TERRITORY SPOTLIGHT An exciting future A Q&A with the Territory’s mining minister .................................................... p12-13 Rising tide Fortescue is making inroads into South Australia .................................................... p14 The changing face of mining More women in mining ......................... p16-17 Bright future An overview of South Australia’s industry .. p22 MINE VENTILATION, DUST CONTROL & FIRE SUPPRESSION Ventilation now centre of attention A centre of excellence for underground mining ....................................................... p24 The dust suppression choice What is the right product for your site?...... p26 Forecasting the new benchmarks AD_ AM K R C J Adust N _ monitoring 1 0 . pdf Pa ge Artificially intelligent systems ................................................. p28-30

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Coal quality control Suppressing dust and maintaining quality .. p33 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Election boilover How mining environmental concerns affected the QLD election .......................... p34 Missing in action Miners missing from environmental events ......................................................... p36 Brown out How Bob Brown’s resignation affects mining ........................................................ p38 Mobile mine remediation Quick solutions for remote mines .............. p40 TRUCKS & TRANSPORT Making tyres mobile Truck tyre maintenance ............................. p42 A breath of fresh air Low emission underground trucks ............. p44 Biodiesel benefits The hunt for viable alternative fuels ...... p46-48 1Redesigning 1 2 / 1 1the / 0wheel 9 , 9 : 5 4 AM The shape of things to come? ..................... p50

Breaking the cycle Faster, safer truck maintenance .................. p52 Driving change Newcomers to the mine site ....................... p54 Site saviour Emergency response on site ........................ p56 COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY Safer communications The latest offerings in mine site communications ......................................... p60

Regulars INDUSTRY COMMENT ................................ p6 NEWS .......................................................... p8 MINING FAMILY MATTERS....................... p10 PRODUCT FOCUS: Safety ..................... p62-72 Q&A: Nigel Long ....................................... p78 PRODUCT SHOWCASE ........................ p80-87 PROSPECT AWARDS ................................ p88 JOBS ..................................................... p90-92 EVENTS ..................................................... p94

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

Are you splashing your money

AGAINST THE WALL? Priority Wealth’s Chris Bailie discusses what’s next with your money.

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o you’re working 12 hour plus to do the right thing but at the end shifts, sacrificing weeks away of the day, could probably be doing from home, home for a week things far better. or two if you’re lucky and then you So here is lesson number one! do it all again.

You’re always likely to get a bit So why are you doing what more credibility and far less likely to you’re doing? It may have some- be taken for a ride if you have some thing to do with the money! knowledge behind you when it comes First you get the money – then to getting advice – whether it be finanyou get the power- when you get the cial advice, advice on buying a house, power, you get to make choices... getting a mortgage, buying a car, a It’s all about choices! boat... the list goes on.

So how many of you have a When it comes to getting advice plan? on how to best invest your money, I How many of you are channel- reckon it’s no different to getting adling the money away so it is working vice when buying something like a for you? laptop computer. If you walk into a How many of you are working computer store and you see the sales hard but have no idea if your financ- representative who likely resembles es are doing the same?

Rusty Gates, his eyes will light up From my experience, chances – / KA-CHING A D _ A M L A N M A Y _ 1 2 . p d with f P ‘KA-CHING a ge 1 1 8 0 4 / 1 2 , are there’s a fair few that are trying – KA-CHING’ when you ask, “Er,

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If you don’t ask questions, you may as well be burning your money away.

what’s the best laptop to buy?”’

Now if you’ve got absolutely no idea about computers, then all the sales guy is relying on is that he knows a little bit more than you do... and if you know nothing, then it doesn’t take much for Rusty to sound like he’s Bill Gates.

So what’s the lesson here?

Do some homework and get a bit of an understanding of what it is you are wanting so you feel confident enough to ask questions.

If you ask a question that is relevant and Rusty looks back blankly, politely turn the other way and find someone who knows what they are talking about.

So how does this tie in with improving your overall financial wellbeing? Get smart and learn a lit6

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tle before putting all your faith in someone. If you’re going to engage a professional for advice, understand where their limitations are. Be wary of the people who claim to be experts on everything, since most who claim they are, aren’t.

When it comes to your financial future, don’t get spun up in jargon.

If you don’t understand something, ask for clarification.

They’ll genuinely have your best interests at heart if they welcome your question, since it shows you’re engaged and willing to learn.

Remember there is no such thing as a stupid question.

In addition to money, education also brings with it choices, so be sure to check out the following website www.moneysmart.gov.au. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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HEADLINES

Sometimes One Just Isn’t Enough...

Increased Production demands have resulted in faster, wider conveyors and increased carryback. A single cleaner is not enough to meet industry Standards

Australian Mining presents the latest news affecting you from the boardroom to the mine and everywhere in between. Visit www.miningaustralia.com.au to keep up to date with what’s happening.

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Latest mining news

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Mining in space has taken a leap forward as Google founder Larry Page and director James Cameron start up an asteroid mining company.

The two are among a consortium of investors dedicated to mining asteroids via a new company Planetary Resources, which will launch tomorrow, the Herald Sun reports.

It is believed the company is “looking for ways to extract raw materials from non-Earth sources,” describing itself as “commercial space pioneers”.

BMA to permanently close Norwich Park coal mine BMA has announced it will cease production at the Norwich Park coal mine.

According to the joint venture operation owner BHP Billiton, Norwich Park has been losing money for a number of months, but a combination of lower production and coal prices as well as an increase in costs have forced its

hand. This decision follows a seven week review of the mine’s viability.

QME 2012 UPDATE

Registrations now open for QME 2012 Paul Baker, Director of QME 2012 organiser Reed Mining Events, provides an update on what’s happening with Australia’s biggest mining show of the year.

Welcome to our first preview report on QME 2012, bringing you the latest news and developments on the Queensland Mining & Engineering (QME) exhibition, to be held in Mackay from July 24-26.

If you are planning to visit QME 2012, visitor registration is now open – and we strongly encourage all visitors to register for the show.

By registering, you can start planning your visit – remember, we will have over 650 exhibitors in a show that is around 20% larger than in 2010, so there will be a lot to see – and ensuring you see all the suppliers, products and services that are of interest to you.

Registering for QME 2012 ensures we can also keep you fully informed on developments as they happen including information on the many events and information sessions being held onsite.

At Reed Mining Events, we are encouraging anyone involved in the Central Queensland mining industry to come along and see the latest the industry has to offer. That applies equally to people at management, supervisory, operational or administrative levels – no matter what your job.

In addition to being able to talk to suppliers of the latest products and services, we are also going to be running a host of “mining community” related events, covering areas such as miners’ health, recruitment and careers, women in mining and mining family issues.

To register for QME 2012, simply go to the event website at queenslandminingexpo.com.au, and click on the “REGISTER TO VISIT” link on the front page.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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MINING FAMILY MATTERS

FIFO couples: Making excuses?

Mining Family Matters psychologist Angie Willcocks discusses a thorny issue.

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iffering libidos are an issue in many long-term relationships.

FIFO couples are no different, except there’s the added pressure of often being apart ... and minimal time to get ‘in the mood’ on your days together. When sex becomes a major issue, you both unwittingly start to pay a lot of attention to your partner’s sexual mood. You look for signs to indicate if he/she is ‘in the mood’, with the lower libido partner feeling the need to send frequent signals that “I am definitely not in the mood”.

For instance, if the woman is the low-desire partner she might become less physically affectionate (a quick peck on the cheek replaces a more intimate hug). She might go to bed earlier than her partner to avoid sex.

She might make an effort to look as unattractive as possible in bed (old PJs and bed socks sound familiar?) or constantly mention how tired and busy she is. Over time, both partners feel less desirable And A D _ and A M satisfied.

P R O MA Y _it’s 1 a2 tough . pd cycle to break, because one partner

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The FIFO lifestyle requires a rethink on relationships.

feels so deprived of sex that any change in the other’s behaviour (i.e. affection) is likely to be (mis)interpreted as a sign that sex is a possibility. Changing these sex cycles and improving intimacy will require commitment from both of you, especially in a FIFO relationship.

On the positive side, time away can be great for reflection and allows for a ‘fresh’ start the next time you’re together. It might even be that the cycle is easier to detect and to break, especially if talked about beforehand (over the phone works better for some couples). f PHere a g eare 1a few 4 / ideas 0 4 /to1get 2 , you4 started:

Have a think about separations over the course of your life. Those of us with more painful, frequent separations will probably be more emotionally sensitive to goodbyes and more prone to ‘having a guard up’. If you think this might be an issue for you, the answer could be to dig deep to find the courage to connect fully when your partner is with you and to find ways to keep feeling connected when your partner is not with you; how you feel about yourself, your partner and your relationship will impact on both desire : and 3 6 sexual P M satisfaction. Stress, worry and resentment can feed into low de-

sire. If you feel resentful, try to identify exactly what it’s about and find a resolution. Then you won’t have to withhold intimacy to make your partner realise that you are upset or angry; break your ‘sex cycle’. If you and your partner are in the habit of the common cycle outlined above, talk about it and change it. If you usually wait for your partner to initiate sex, you try it next time. The higher libido partner has to agree to wait for the other to initiate sex and accept that physical contact might be hugs and closeness without sex for some time, and the lower libido partner has to agree to initiate sex at some point (not too long or the cycle will start again). Think about whether intimacy is important for you in your relationship and have an open and honest conversation about your satisfaction with your sex life. Conversations like these, even if they are not 100 per cent positive, can build intimacy in a relationship.

This advice is taken from the Survival Guide for Mining Families. For more visit www.miningfm.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA & NORTHERN TERRITORY SPOTLIGHT

An exciting

FUTURE Australian Mining talks with one of the Northern Territory’s most influential mining figures about the industry’s challenges and future, Andrew Duffy reports.

Exploration expenditure in the NT has quadrupled in less than a decade.

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arlier this year the Northern Territory raised eyebrows by shooting ahead of Western Australia and ranking as the country’s top region for mining potential in the Fraser Institute’s survey. It was just one example of a rising local and international interest in the region, which has traditionally been overshadowed by WA and Queensland. As part of this month’s NT Spotlight Australian Mining caught up with one of the state’s most influential mining industry figures, the minister for resources Konstantine Vanskalis.

Q: What have you been focused on, and what will you be working on in 2012?

A: Only 30 per cent of the Northern Territory has been 12

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actively explored so there are a lot of things underground we don’t know about. We’re expanding on a big exploration program with Geoscience Australia and hopefully in the next few years we’ll explore 50 per cent of the NT. From the 30 per cent we know about we know we’ve got significant resources of gold, uranium, zinc, magnesium, iron ore, and rare earths, as well as other minerals.

We want people to realise is the NT is a place to start doing business. In 2005-06 we started a strategy to lift the state’s profile and I’m pleased to say our strategy has paid dividends. In 05-06 exploration expenditure was about $60 million but last year the figure was around $228 million. In five years

we’ve nearly quadrupled the money spent on exploration in the NT and a lot of that money is coming from China. We’re now well known overseas in China, Japan, and Korea.

We’ve formed strategic alliances with the China Mine Association, which runs the biggest association for mining companies, and through them we’ve had access to other companies in China and other state owned enterprises. We’ve met some really big state owned enterprises and with some of them, like the East China Exploration Company, we’ve signed a memorandum of cooperation so we have their people coming here learning how to do business in Australia and we have our peo-

ple going there to learn how to do business in China.

We’ve also signed a memorandum of co-operation with the China Development bank, one of the biggest banks in the world, and they’re very keen to invest in the NT. Q: The mining industry is struggling with the skills shortage. What strategies is the NT looking at to address the problem?

A: If you’re talking about a lack of workers, while that may be true in some areas overall the people are there, and if you invest and train local people you get returns.

We’ve got an untapped resource in the NT in that 30 per cent of the population is Indigenous. A lot of Indigenous people live in ar-

eas where there are no jobs and the mining industry is one that offers them jobs.

Indigenous employment is absolutely something we’re encouraging and not only encouraging, we’ve changed the legislation so Indigenous training is part of the mine approval process. On some sites in the NT 80 per cent of the workforce is Indigenous.

Q: What other challenges will the NT industry face in the future?

A: The challenge for us is infrastructure. When the port was built at the beginning of 2000 we thought it would last 30 years but here we are ten years down the track and we’re talking about finding a new port. The railway line from Adelaide to Darwin is www.miningaustralia.com.au

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA & NORTHERN TERRITORY SPOTLIGHT

a single line, and north of Tenant Creek the line is not coping.

It needs more work or even duplication. We also need to keep an eye on pro­ viding more accommoda­ tion for new workers.

Q: Recently we’ve seen some state governments, particularly WA, go head-to-head with Canberra over mining policy. What do you think of these conflicts and what’s your opinion of the Federal Government’s approach to mining?

A: If you want to develop a mine you need good relation­ ships with both federal min­ isters and private companies.

I’ve got an excellent relation­ ship with Martin Ferguson and Tony Burke and that helps. You have to work Work has progressed so rapidly that the Northern Territory has been forced to look at additional ports. together with your federal counterparts, you can’t work moment Colin Barnett and everyone’s paying 20 per a Liberal government. We against each other. In the some other ministers are go­ cent royalties. That com­ brought it up to 20 per cent NT we haven’t seen any big ing on about the mining tax. pares with three to five per and we didn’t have one pro­ projects get knocked back Let me tell you, in the Terri­ cent royalties companies pay test from the mining com­ from federal ministers. tory we’ve got a 20 per cent in WA or somewhere else. panies because it’s based on I can’t bag WA, but mining royalty tax that ap­ We’ve had a mining tax profits. When things go well I want to point out that plies on profits and nobody’s here for the past 20 years and the price of resources sometimes politics A D _ A Mplaying K E MMA Y _ 1 2 complaining. . pdf P a g eEveryone’s 1 3 / 0 4and / 1it2 was , 1initially 1 : 3 5 putA in M goes through the roof we overlooks the reality. At the quite happy about it and place as a 18 per cent tax by can have a 20 per cent tax

and that will pay real divi­ dends to the state.

Around 25 per cent of our economy comes from mining, and that’s around four times the national aver­ age and much higher than WA, so we must be doing something right.

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA & NORTHERN TERRITORY SPOTLIGHT

Rising tide Fortescue Metals Group and other companies are expanding their interests in South Australia.

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ith exploration booming South Australia’s miner­ als have piqued the interest of a growing number of in­ vestors and businesses.

Earlier this year news surfaced that Pilbara iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group had even taken no­ tice.

Last year FMG applied for 10 exploration licences in South Australia based loosely around the state’s interior.

The lodgings were fol­ lowed by three new applica­ tions this year much closer to Adelaide.

According to Govern­ ment records FMG’s new licences are in the Myponga, Yankalilla, and Delamere areas of South Australia.

The applications are close to residential devel­ opments, ranging from be­ tween 40km to 80km south of Adelaide.

The applications mark a significant departure from the companies current iron ore interests.

South of Adelaide records show FMG is look­ ing for gold and copper.

The exploration regions stretch down the coast and lie close to several towns.

One licence lies around one kilometre from tourist destination Sellicks Beach.

In this part of the State FMG is primarily on its own but its southernmost tenement is bordered by an application from Helix Resources, to search for uranium, silver, gold, zinc, copper, and lead.

To the north it’s a differ­ ent story, with FMG sharing a much more prospective area with a host of other companies.

In this region FMG says it’s looking for uranium, gold, and copper reserves, with the bulk of its tene­ ments between Oz Miner­ als’ Prominent Hill and BHP Billiton’s massive Olympic 14

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A growing number of companies are looking to SA to explore.

Dam development. Flinders Mines and Tasman Re­ sources share borders with FMG’s licences, but the sur­ rounding area is full of ex­ ploration by small and large companies.

BHP is also exploring land adjacent to Olympic Dam, the world’s largest uranium deposit and fourth largest copper deposit.

Several of these explora­ tion tenements were bought

by BHP from Archer Explo­ ration last year for around $3 million.

These expansions form part of the resources giant’s plans to develop more sites around the Olympic Dam project.

Earlier this year news emerged BHP may have

found a good deposit at Wirrda Well, 20km south of Olympic Dam. The find spurred specu­ lation on the company’s plans for SA and the Stuart Shelf/Olympic Dam region.

Several companies have identified the Stuart Shelf as “highly prospective,” in­ cluding UXA Resources and Straits Resources.

Some industry observers speculated BHP’s expand­ ing interest in the region, including the earlier acquisi­ tion of Archer’s tenements, indicates a desire to control the area.

But the potential of this lower part of central South Australia expands beyond Olympic Dam. WPG Re­ sources has also had success

in developing its Peculiar Knob project and Oz Min­ erals’ Prominent Hill opera­ tion is well known through­ out the industry.

With players like FMG and BHP, as well as other competent juniors spending in the region, more mines may soon come online.

FMG’s interest in SA is not the first time the com­ pany has looked beyond iron ore deposits in WA. The company has pre­ viously expressed an inter­ est in forming partnerships with the development of several overseas projects, particularly in Mongolia, and it previously estab­ lished a coal exploration team in QLD and New Zea­ land. FMG last year pegged

metallurgical coal tenements in the Bowen Basin at the same time it was looking in South Australia.

Both moves to diversify would protect the company from any decrease in the iron ore price and take it closer to its diversified rivals BHP and Rio Tinto.

FMG’s move toward coal would also make sense because some of its largest investors run steel mills in China.

FMG has so far not gone into details about how it plans to operate in SA or other parts of the country.

Drilling schedules and other concrete information have been unavailable, and at present the licences only represent an intention to hold a stake in SA’s growing industry.

Quizzed earlier in the year about its plans FMG said its focus remained on the Pilbara and there were no firm plans for more speculative regions.

“Fortescue has built a global mining house based on securing early land posi­ tions in prospective regions, so where opportunities exist to assess and secure highly prospective, early stage ex­ ploration tenements we will do so,” it said.

But FMG’s interest in SA should not be overstated.

At present its plans are undeveloped, but they point to the wider issue in the state’s exploration boom.

While the State Govern­ ment and industry repre­ sentatives like the SA Cham­ ber of Mining and Energy can spruik SA’s potential its real viability is best seen in the words of a resources company.

FMG, a top tier iron ore company, rating SA “highly prospective” says it all.

While SA remains under­ reported in Australia com­ pared to WA and QLD for those in the know it remains an exciting possibility. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA & NORTHERN TERRITORY SPOTLIGHT

The changing face of mining With the gap between men and women working in the mining industry is closing, one woman in South Australia is working towards making it smaller, Vicky Validakis reports.

W

hen most people think about what an underground offsider looks like, a petite and beautiful brunette of nineteen probably wouldn’t be the first face which comes to mind. Ashlee Thompson who works across three mine sites for underground contactor Ausmining, is the only woman working underground in her company and believes more women should get in to the industry.

“I think more women should do it. It’s good money, the people are awesome and it’s just different to anywhere else. It’s pretty amazing,” she told Australian Mining.

Ausmining have contracts at three hard rock mines located in Strathalbyn, South Australia, and in New South Wales.

Mining for lead, silver, zinc and gold, the company moves the rigs to different mines, depending on the task. This means a relatively quick turnaround and when

Thompson has been training as a drill offsider for Ausmining, and is currently working in South Australia.

the rigs move to a different site so does Thompson, staying in one place for no more than two weeks at a time.

Thompson following her underground mine training.

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With the time sensitive nature of the work, delivering on time and on budget is crucial. For Thompson, this often means working twelve hours straight, sometimes for two weeks in row or until the job is complete.

Ashlee says that work is physically intensive but rewarding.

“I just love at the end of the day coming up and knowing I’ve done something productive.”

Born in Mt Isa, Queensland, and spending her childhood on a mine site, Thompson is no stranger to the mining industry. Her father is a foreman and owns Ausmining, and until she was ten, her mother worked as a shift boss in an underground mine site; so growing up, it was normal for Ashlee to see a woman in a position of power within the mining industry despite its rarity across the sector.

“Mum’s pretty proud of me because she used to do it; she knows what it’s like. It would have been harder for

her back then as a woman working underground.”

Thompson says that while most people are supportive of her work, some are still surprised to learn that she works underground. At an induction to underground mining recently some men were shocked to hear that she was planning to work underground, “They asked me: Are you going underground? Oh, we thought you were a secretary or something”.

With women representing less than 15 per cent of the mining industry’s workforce, mining companies are showing more initiative than ever before when it comes to attracting and retaining women into mining roles.

This is apparent when looking at the influx of advertising targeted at women over the last few months. From Rio Tinto to Xstrata, mining companies are actively trying to attract and retain women in the industry.

Alison Morley, the chairwoman of WIMnet

which is an online initiative that aims to support women in the mining industry, and the CEO of Brumby Resources said there are great networking groups around the country which aim to support, train, and push for policy changes in favour of women in mining.

“These passionate women are providing networking opportunities and training for women – it’s all positive,” Morley said.

While WINnet is the online hub for women looking for support in the mining industry, sub groups in mining communities take over to organise events, mentoring programs, and awards which bring women together.

From regional centres like Dampier, WA to right across South Australia, getting women in the sector to meet, discuss any issues and push for changes is high in the agenda for these groups of volunteers.

The success of these events, like the Rio Tinto www.miningaustralia.com.au

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA & NORTHERN TERRITORY SPOTLIGHT

sponsored Steelcaps and Stilletos site visit and networking dinner organised by the WIMWA Pilbara Networking Committee, shows the strength in numbers approach these women have when it comes to pushing for change.

Morley said it’s about getting women together to make changes which benefit both the companies and the women working for them.

“We are in a position to actively target CEOs of major companies and ask for flexible work opportunities.”

With changes in major companies taking place all over the country, like new school hours rosters and job sharing opportunities for women, these groups of women are making companies sit up and take notice.

Underground mining has typically been a male orientated career.

“These committees exist so women have a great careers, Make Me A Leader, and gives them the resources network and are able to has been developed to give they need to do so, creating sell themselves into higher young women in the indus- decision and policy makers roles.” try the skills and support which diversifies the changOne such program they need to take on man- es made. which A D _aims A M to M Ahelp C J women U N _ 1 1 agement . p d f roles.

P a g eIt aims 1 1 to 6 / 0 5 Morley / 1 1 , says 9 : 4that 9 Ait’s M take the next step in their help young women ‘skill-up’ programs like this and

www.miningaustralia.com.au

many others which will help change the culture of the industry and how it thinks about and treats women.

She goes on to add that it’s up to people in the industry, men and women, to work

towards changing the perception women working in any capacity in the industry.

“It’s about giving women the opportunity to sell themselves more, to put themselves up for promotion. To skill up and go for it.”

Thompson agrees that the best way to deal with negative attitudes is to laugh it off and prove to the sceptics you can do your job, and do it well.

“You just have to show them you can do it.

“You have to be thickskinned, have a lot of common sense and you just have to put up with guys being guys.”

Although Thompson has a distinct advantage with her father being the owner of the company, she’s looking to expand her skill set by learning how to drive trucks underground, with her ultimate goal to become a mine manager.

“There’s endless opportunities when you work underground, there’s just so much to learn.”

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA & NORTHERN TERRITORY SPOTLIGHT

Australia’s new golden region?

Shooting up the recent Fraser Survey’s charts has highlighted the Territory’s potential, Cole Latimer reports.

W

estern Australia has always been seen as Australia’s mining state.

It’s the place to work and the place to invest; its red soil synonymous with massive mining projects right around the world.

Western Australia has always laid claim to being Australia’s number one mining state – but it can’t anymore.

In one of the largest and most surprising surveys this year, Canada’s Fraser Institute has named the Northern Territory as the country’s best region in which to mine and invest in resources.

The survey profiles 93 major mining regions around the world, surveying people in the industry and

ranking the regions according to a number of criteria (see March 2012).

Both the Northern Territory and Western Australia were just outside of the yearly survey’s top ten, sitting at eleventh and twelfth respectively.

Making moves

So what has made the Northern Territory suddenly so attractive for miners, precipitating its swift move up the survey charts?

And it has been a sudden move, as last year the Territory only scored 62.2 out 100 yet this year shot up to 81.5; rating ahead of Western Australia which sat on the same score.

The key in the Territory’s massive score hike is the

Why has the Northern Territory become so attractive?

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Energy Resources Australia has been operating in the Territory for more than 30 years, Atkinson said.

Government’s approach to mining and resources rather than actual mineral prospectiveness.

The Northern Territory’s minister for resources, Kon Vatskalis, said these results haven’t come as a surprise for the region.

“The ranking is the result of years of hard work and investment by the Department of Resources and the Northern Territory Government to promote exploration and mining activity in the NT,” he said.

He stated that these results have highlighted the region’s “proactive approach to mineral and energy development, positive regulatory regime, and the efforts that have been made to raise the Territory’s profile as a resource exploration destination and to attract international development to the Northern Territory”.

The Territory’s $25.8 million Bringing Forward Discovery initiative was touted by Vatskalis as a prime example.

“This program of new geoscience and collaborative funding for exploration is now reaping its own

rewards, and coupled with our International Investment Attraction Strategy is showing real dividends, and letting the world know that the Northern Territory is open for business.

“In fact over $228 million was spent on exploration during 2011 which is a record for the NT and a reflection of how successful our initiatives such as Bringing Forward Discovery have been,” he said.

Resources also play a much greater role in the Northern Territory’s economy than other mining powerhouses.

“Mining (also) contributes to a quarter of the Territory’s economy,” Vatskalis said, “which is almost four times the national average.”

Vatskalis exclaimed: “the survey suggests that the mining and exploration industry’s perceptions of the Territory’s attractiveness as an exploration investment destination have increased over the past year, both in a global context and also relative to other Australian jurisdictions.

“The survey results also show that the NT has

developed one of the best regulatory environments to operate in. Our regulatory framework has been further under-pinned by recent amendments to the Mining Management Act, which places greater scrutiny on environmental performance and reporting,” he added.

“Despite these changes the Territory still ranked highly in this field, vindicating the Government decisions in this area.”

The real view from the ground up

While a region’s politicians are always ready to spruik how spectacular a region is, to get a clearer picture of what mining is really like, you have to speak to the operators on the ground.

Speaking to Rob Atkinson the CEO of Energy Resources Australia (which operates in the Northern Territory), he told Australian Mining what it is like to mine the region.

“I may be a little biased as we’ve been here in the Territory 30 years, but we’ve got a strong working Continued on page 20 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Continued from page 18

relationship with those in the region, we’ve found the government approachable and they do support mining projects,” Atkinson said.

“We feel very com­ fortable running a mining business in the Northern Territory.”

ERA operates the Rang­ er uranium mine.

While the region is known for uranium, it also has strong gold reserves.

“The Territory is also currently experiencing rec­ ord levels of exploration for gold, which is very exciting and is likely to lead to more gold mines in the Territory over the coming decade,” Vatskalis said.

He added that there is also copper, gold, rare earths, phosphate and ferro­ alloys in the region.

Speaking to one of these gold and copper focused ex­ ploration companies, West­ gold, they explained that the Territory and Western Australia are fairly similar regions in which to work.

Unlike ERA, which has been operating solely in the Territory, Westgold has a broader view of the subject as it has projects in both Western Australia – near Murchinson, and in the Northern Territory close to Tennant Creek.

Infrastructure remains a serious issue in the Territory. Inset: Operations at Rum Jungle.

Westgold managing di­ rector Scott Huffadine told Australian Mining “in terms of policy point of view, the two regions are on par.

“While it’s easy in West­ ern Australia as long as you follow protocols, we have found that it is easier to negotiate in regards to en­ vironmental frameworks in the Territory,” Huffadine explained.

“There is really no prob­ lem with operating in either, and the fact that both rated so high on the Fraser survey, with the same score, shows just how on par they are.”

The region features wide, unexplored areas, Huffadine said.

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Westgold is currently working on the Rover cop­ per gold project in the Northern Territory, in the historical mining region of Tennant Creek, which ac­ cording to Huffadine is very prospective as new mining and exploration techniques are opening up areas that were previously inaccessible or hidden.

“There is major po­ tential for exploration and discovery in the Tennant Creek area; in fact all of the Northern Territory has a lot of potential.”

Empty potential?

And it is this potential, par­ ticularly across the Territo­ ry’s wide, unexplored tracts that is drawing so much in­ terest ahead of traditional mining states.

The Northern Territory may even overtake Western Australia if premier Colin Barnett’s comments regard­ ing the damage the GST sharing arrangements may have on the state come true.

Barnett said WA may as well leave its minerals in the ground if its GST rev­ enues continue to be stolen

by Canberra and the other eastern states.

“You’ve basically got Canberra and the east coast states stealing money from Western Australia and spreading it amongst them­ selves,” he told Fairfax ra­

Australian rankings 1st. Northern Territory 2nd. Western Australia 3rd. South Australia 4th. Queensland 5th. Tasmania 6th. New South Wales 7th. Victoria

dio last month, adding that “for Western Australia, the logical thing would be to leave the minerals in the ground”.

He went on to say “the rate of mineral growth after this cycle of projects may not be so great”.

Barnett warned that the state may slow if there is no money to fund regional and rural development.

“We’re not going to al­ low resource development to run away at such a pace, when all the money goes to Canberra and we haven’t got the capacity to match that economic development with social development,” he stated.

“I’m not going to stop approval of projects but the pace of development will not be a runaway train in this state.”

Leading the way

Through a combination of actively pursuing overseas interests, developing and supporting exploration, and working with mining com­

panies whilst at the same time still holding them ac­ countable, the Northern Territory demonstrated how a formerly junior region can become one of the country’s mineral leaders in the midst of a massive mining boom.

The Northern Territory could act as a lesson for some of the eastern states in how to grow your mining industry, Victoria in par­ ticular.

It should be noted that although the Territory was ahead on the listing, in rank­ ing terms it drew level with Western Australia, with the state’s mining minister Nor­ man Moore stating that WA was among the top 20 mining jurisdictions in the world, with the State ranked equal 11th out of 93 juris­ dictions, up six places from last year.

Moore went on say that the jump comes despite the mining and carbon taxes set to hit the industry.

“WA’s reputation as the nation’s leading state when it comes to attracting explo­ ration and mining has been solidified again, thanks to the hard work of the State Government and the De­ partment of Mines and Pe­ troleum,” Moore said.

“The State Govern­ ment’s reforms to the ap­ provals process have offered greater transparency and certainty for industry and this was reflected in the lat­ est survey’s results.”

The minister explained that programs such as the $80 million Exploration In­ centive Scheme, which was funded by Royalties for Re­ gions, played an important part in demonstrating the potential for exploration as well as driving the push for discovery in the state.

Despite ranking slightly ahead in investment at­ tractiveness the survey does go on to state that in pure minerals terms Western Australia lords it over the Territory, coming in at 11th globally with a score of .83 compared to the Northern Territory’s placing at 49th with a score of .66, behind both Queensland and South Australia. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA & NORTHERN TERRITORY SPOTLIGHT

Bright future Australian Mining gets an overview on South Australia’s mining industry, Andrew Duffy reports.

I

n an interview with the South Australia Chamber of Minerals and Energy this month Australian Mining got an inside look at the issues most important for the SA industry.

A state with big potential and some high quality deposits, some of SA’s most important concerns mir­ ror those of the Northern Territory.

Both states have operating mines and projects about to come online, but they also have booming explora­ tion activity.

SA also has its own unique con­ cerns, some of which revolve around the current State Government’s policies.

Other concerns feed into issues troubling other parts of Australia and give the state a unique opportu­ nity to learn from other regions and avoid some of their mistakes.

In the Q&A feature this month SACOME acting CEO Nigel Long told Australian Mining of industry concerns for budget savings target­ ing the mining industry.

Long discussed concerns the Chamber had for the Government ending deductabilities for explora­ tion spending, but the piece did not examine SACOME’s focus on in­ dustry research and development.

R&D

Long told Australian Mining indi­ cations the SA Government was looking at budget cuts for mining research and development spending A D _ A ME L T A P R _ 1 2 . p d were concerning.

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portion of mining projects in the state that relied on diesel for electricity.

Skills

As exploration gears up the only thing holding back SA is itself.

Long said diesel was a “critical input to business and productiv­ ity” and any changes to the scheme would be a big setback for the min­ ing industry.

For the SA industry in particular changes to the diesel rebate would be significant because of the state’s current electricity supply.

“In SA we have remote mines that are well off the electricity grid or in regions where the grid doesn’t have the capacity to take on the de­ mands of mining projects,” he said.

Long said diesel was a key com­ Budget cuts ponent of electricity and “not just Another potential Government cut­ about fuel for driving trucks around”. back flagged by SACOME was the He said losing the rebate could f Pa ge 1 1 9 / 0 3 / 1 2 , 1 0 : 4 1 AM diesel fuel rebate scheme. have big implications for the small He said the nature of SA’s min­ eral deposits made research and de­ velopment an important part of the mining industry.

“In SA we have significant over­ burden and most of our deposits are quite deep,” he said.

“We need to remove that over­ burden and we need R&D technol­ ogy that allows us to investigate and define resources.”

Long said cuts to R&D would affect the development of deep drill­ ing technology.

In the Q&A Long highlighted a prob­ lem experienced by all mining regions in Australia – the skills shortage.

Skills are one of the biggest fo­ cuses for companies and industry collectives at the moment, and have even drawn considerable resources from Federal and State Govern­ ments. Long told Australian Mining SACOME was looking at making its own contribution to the problem by developing skills already inside the industry. “We are looking into cre­ ating professional development pro­ grams for the industry for people already within the sector,” he said.

Long said the initiative was about “building capacity from with­ in” to enrich the skills base in SA’s mining industry.

He said SACOME was looking across a range of topics and pro­ grams would be “targeted at what the industry is telling us”.

Big picture

Overall Long said while the SA in­ dustry was facing challenges the problems would not be insurmount­ able for the industry. He said explo­ ration was booming and the state was busy gearing up for the future.

Long also spoke encouragingly on State Government regulation and the potential of SA’s deposits.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Mine ventilation, dust control & fire suppression

ventilation

I

A new centre of excellence is aimed at assisting underground mine operators better plan for the future.

Jamie Wade writes.

A D _ A ML U H MA Y _ 1 2 . p d f

Pa ge

now centre of attention

1

ndustry attitudes to mine ventilation and energy management are set to change – and dramatically.

As underground mining in Australia goes deeper, many mine operators can expect to face infrastructure constraints and higher capital and service costs.

In particular, mine ventilation and energy management will be the focus of increasing attention in Australia, according to Steven Bluhm CEO of the South African mine ventilation, refrigeration and cooling consulting engineering group BBE. BBE has joined technical consulting services provider Snowden to provide an integrated mine ventilation and energy management centreof-excellence based in Peth and serving the Australasian 4 / 0 4mining / 1 2 sector. , 2 : 3 9 PM The problems with in-

adequate infrastructure to deal with ventilation, says Bluhm, will become more complex as mines get deeper, equipment fleets become larger and regulations become more onerous.

“Mine operators often run into ventilation problems because they don’t always consider the extent of where they want to go in their long term planning,” Bluhm told Australian Mining.

Senior ventilation consultant with the centre Leon van den Berg agrees, and adds that cooling and energy management in underground mining also requires forethought in planning.

“Ventilation engineers design for 20 years ahead because that’s when a mine’s going to need most of its ventilation air and cooling and when the mine

will experience higher system resistance. It’s critical to ensure that ventilation fans and refrigeration equipment can meet the mine’s ultimate requirements,” van den Berg told Australian Mining.

Health and safety

Increasing attention to health and safety has been one of the most significant changes in underground mining, says Bluhm, and one of the biggest drivers for technological advances in managing hazardous emissions and heat stress.

“The emphasis on safety is the biggest change I’ve observed and not just in how stringent safety standards are becoming. People are starting to realise that there’s more than just the obvious things that could harm a person over a long period,” Bluhm said.

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Mine ventilation, dust control & fire suppression

“A recent study out of the US that measured the exposure of diesel particulate matter on the human body over a long time showed strong links to cancer.

“Contaminants from the equipment used in underground mining also put more strain on the ventilation system and how ventilation networks are managed.” Another health and safety area in underground mining that has seen significant improvements, adds Bluhm, is heat stress management.

“Heat stress or heat index is directly related, sta- Proper ventiliation is crucial, with high DPM levels linked strongly to incidences of cancer. tistically, to accident rates; it’s also directly related to areas outside that tempera- tions and scenarios within a not considering a situation or scenario.” productivity. There’s quite ture range that are difficult ventilation network.

“In terms of ventilation In particular, major ada clear relationship between to control through design. the two. Being able to model That’s where it becomes planning it’s a lot easier vances in fire simulations a mine to cool it with soft- dangerous because that’s these days to run a number can be used as an input tool ware simulation tools such where heat stress cases are of ‘what if’ scenarios and into risk assessments. simulations within a short “Exploring potential as VUMA has made it possi- found.” period of time,” Bluhm said. scenarios in an underground ble to reduce work temperacomputing power “That provides much mine such as fires in certain tures,” Bluhm said.

“While it’s possible to Another area of significant more flexibility in risk man- areas and regions can feed design an underground mine change in mine ventilation agement and hazard man- back into emergency preparfor a certain air tempera- and energy management is in agement. With the model- edness planning and emertechnology ture so_people can safely AD A MN O RS E P _do1 0 computing . pdf Ppower a g e and 1 how 2 / 0 9ling / 1 0 , 1 2 : 1available 5 P M gency response planning,” their job, there are certain it can model different situa- today, there’s no excuse for Bluhm said.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

energy management

Simulation technology is also delivering significant efficiencies and cost savings in energy management for underground mines, adds van den Berg.

“We’ve been able to achieve significant power savings by controlling the ventilation system to match the air flow of certain work times during the operations,” he said.

“In a large gold mining application, for example, an 18 megawatt load was taken from the power grid during a two hour shift change.

“Effectively managing the temperature of an underground mine through the use of simulation software not only avoids heat stress it optimises cooling equipment and air flow thereby achieving energy savings,” van den Berg said.

Effectively applying simulation technology to power use in an underground mine not only reduces consumption and improves the bottom line, says van den Berg, it reduces the carbon footprint.

AustralianMining

May 2012

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We’re dedicated to redefining transport and perfecting all the little things along the way. It’s this total approach that allows us to provide tailored transport solutions focused on uptime, productivity and operating economy. And best of all, everything we do is backed by a national network dedicated to keeping your business moving. So talk to us today and discover how Scania is redefining mining transport.

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Mine ventilation, dust control & Fire suppression

Western Areas has been using a new artifically intelligent dust management system at its Spotted Quoll mine to predict dust impacts across the site.

Forecasting the new benchmarks An artificially intelligent monitoring system is forecasting a better way to manage dust.

D

rier climatic condiThe technology works to emergency dust impacts tions, water short- by providing daily air qual- when they happen. ages, higher envi- ity forecasts generated by “However by using ronmental standards and an ATMOS-5D, which “play a ATMOS-5D mine operators increase in public concern central role in helping min- can now plan, in a standand expectations about the ing companies to accurately ardised way, to minimise environment in the few last assess complex air quality the risk of exposure to adyears has inspired the min- risks associated with their verse dust impacts before ing industry to explore new operations, adjust their site they happen, thus moving more efficient and cost ef- specific operational plans to from a reactive approach to fective methods of dust con- avoid undesirable air quality a proactive, and more effectrol. And these trends appear impacts at local and region- tive multi-stakeholder enunlikely to stop. Global air al scales and increase the gagement approach to dust quality consulting compa- efficiency of risk mitigation control and management.” ny ATMOS Australia has measures,” according to According to ATMOS developed ATMOS-5D, a ATMOS president Orestis the dust forecasting proworld’s first Integrated ‘5D’ Valianatos. gram is a multi-component global and site specific dust He explained that due system which is comprised impact forecasting, control to the inherent complexity of a combination of meteand management system to of mining operations, “it is orological and air quality keep the industry one step difficult to respond in real- forecasting concepts as well A D _ A MS N O MA Y _ 1 2 . p d f e 1 1 8 / 0 4 / 1 2 , 1 0 : 0 6 : 4 3 ahead of the game. time, and Pata gshort notice, as highly specialised compu-

28

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AustralianMining

ter software and hardware that provide the fail safe infrastructure that supports the forecasting activities of the company’s world first Centre for Global and Site Specific Dust Impact Forecasting, Management and Control for the mining industry.

Valianatos went on to say that “the Centre for Dust Management has the global operational capability to allow mining companies world-wide to undertake, on a daily basis, a flexible, functional and custom configurable forward value evaluation of their site specific dust management stratAM AEST egies based on an analytical

approach that balances both environmental management priorities and short-term/ long-term operating goals”.

It actually provides the dust movement forecasts through an overarching online web-based secure interface and database, which allows for an ongoing record of compliance, and enables the authorised decision makers on site to visualise key forecasting parameters presented in a standardised guidance format using computers, laptops, or even smart phones and tablets.

Earlier this year ATMOS Australia launched Continued on page 30

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.MAY12.PG030.pdf

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Mine ventilation, dust control & fire suppression

Continued from page 28

DustAlert+, which is an artificially intelligent dust impact early warning system – which is “a major breakthrough that transforms the way mining companies deal with environmental dust control and management in mining”, Valianatos added.

DustAlert+ is the AI enhanced version of ATMOS Global’s previous early warning system DustAlert, which was a support system for ATMOS-5D. DustAlert+ works in tandem, interconnected with ATMOS-5D, to issue customised and detailed early warnings (up to a few days in advance) for dust emissions that have the potential to affect sensitive receptors.

It is “a new generation of self-aware, self-learning and self-adapting, ever present sentinel that offers continuous dust protection for the full spectrum of mineral exploration, extraction and processing operations,” Valianatos DustAlert+ A D _ A Msaid.

MI N 1 MA Y _ 1 can also be used to control

Dust from the Cosmic Boy concentrator is now closely controlled.

Western Area’s Flying Fox project faced dust control issues.

and manage fugitive dust emissions for operations specific to the manufacturing and energy industries.

DustAlert+ uses the power of artificial intelligence enabled technology to ensure that an optimal dust control approach is used in order to: • minimise or avoid the risk of dust impacts at sensitive receptors • lower the cost of production through advanced planning and scheduling •2 reduce . p d f theP ausage g e of 1 re1 2 source-intensive conven-

an environmentally sensitive receptor area (Declared Rare Flora – DRF), located close to the open pit.

Part of the Forrestania Nickel Project it is located about 400km east of Perth, in Western Australia.

ATMOS-5D dust forecasts and DustAlert+ early warning messages are now being used daily by the miner to automatically anticipate potential dust impacts and movements well before they happen and intervene toP M control dust imA E Sthese T pacts by choosing the most

tional dust control methods (water, energy, etc.) and reliance on human intervention.

Western Areas and ATMOS Australia were jointly nominated by the WA Department of Mines and Petroleum for the 2011 Golden Gecko Awards for Environmental Excellence for the implementation of ATMOS-5D at Western’s Spotted Quoll (Tim King Open Pit) project.

The technology was used to assist Western Ar/eas 0 4in/ avoiding 1 2 , 4or: minimis4 2 : 2 2 ing adverse dust impacts at

suitable approach to dust mitigation for three of Western Areas’ mine sites – Spotted Quoll, Cosmic Boy and Flying Fox. ATMOS-5D and DustAlert+ aided Western Areas in reducing the overall dust deposition recorded at the location of the environmentally sensitive receptor (DRF) by 24.2 per cent from 2010 to 2011; this is despite the fact that work actually grew, with ore mined increasing dramtically for the Spotted Quoll site in 2011 compared to 2010.

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AM.MAY12.PG033.pdf

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Mine ventilation, dust Control & fire suppression

Coal quality control A new dust suppressant is lowering the chance of combustion on site.

D

ust is an ever present issue on site, but when this is coal dust the problem is multiplied.

Coal dust particles are often small enough to easily be inhaled, and can lead to what is commonly known as ‘black lung’.

Australian company RST is fighting this problem through the launch of its latest technology Total Coal Control (TCC).

RST says TCC technology not only provides a dust suppressing formula to stop coal fly-aways and improve its transportation, but it also offers quality control treatment during the material handling process to ensure “only the best coal product is delivered form pit to port”.

RST technical and operations director David Handel said the company identified a gap in the market for technology that has a “total dust solution” that also protects the quality of coal at the end of the supply.

“Our aim was to develop a product that not only did its job in terms of dust suppression, better control and less escapement, but also treated the coal within containment to ensure the best possible product is delivered at the end of the line,” Handel explained.

TCC has the ability to protect coal from moisture and oxidation.

“We have estimated Queensland pumps out around two million rail wagons of coal a year with 80 MT of coal per wagon; however the quality of coal is often ruined during the material handling process.

“By using TCC we are able to stop degradation occurring, which in turn gives coal buyers a delivered product that has a higher calorific value than non-treated coal,” he said.

TCC suppresses dust and ensure coal quality remains high, Handel says.

Importantly, it also has the ability to prevent self combustion within stockpiles as well as halting rain erosion, slumping and further material loss.

Spontaneous combustion is hard to control as it occurs without an ignition source, additionally it tends to occur when exposed to oxygen, which makes transport and stockpiling difficult as it is almost impossible to avoid oxidisation.

M.E.T.T.S. explained that spontaneous combustion in coal, particularly in washery rejects has always been a problem, and these washery rejects can be seen burning at a number of locations across New South Wales alone.

“Benefits to coal stockpiles also include improvements to the control of self-combustion, minimisation of water penetration, reduced hang up

The dust suppressant controls spontaneous combustion. www.miningaustralia.com.au

and carry back during conveying and transport, and the improvement of A fines at Ethe coal D _recovery A MB O G MA Y _washer1 2 . p ies,” Handel stated.

He added that in its simplest role “as a dust suppressant Total Coal dControl f P a gimproves e 1 2visibility, 8 / 0 3 / safety 1 2 , and saves large quantities of water”.

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AM.MAY12.PG034.pdf

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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Election BOILOVER The recent Queensland election gave insights to the public’s opinion of the mining industry, Andrew Duffy reports.

F

or the Greens and Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) the environmental impacts of mining and coal seam gas were key campaign issues in the Queensland election.

But for both parties the flashpoint failed to gain traction. Despite gaining plenty of publicity over CSG opposition the Greens recorded a swing against them in QLD. And KAP only managed to win two seats, both of which fell partially inside leader Bob Katter’s federal electorate.

An election exit poll conducted on behalf of the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA), Australia’s most vocal CSG advocate, was also bad news for mining opponents.

The poll found CSG was the most important issue for only three per cent of voters, and only two per cent for Liberal-National Party voters.

And in another sign environmental concern over mining was waning after the

election, LNP leader Campbell Newman declared the industry was not a priority for his first one hundred days of Government. For the CSG industry and some conservative pundits the results heralded firm proof concern over the resources industry was confined to a minority.

“The Greens and Katter party have egg on their faces,” wrote the Courier Mail’s Des Houghton in a glowing appraisal of the results. But through the midst of this coverage few spectators managed to run the industry funded polling and rhetoric, or results in general, past an independent expert.

Superficial

Dr Geoff Robinson, a political scientist from Deakin University, told Australian Mining while the Greens and KAP ran an industry-centric campaign mining policy did not register as a concern for most voters. But Robinson stopped short of endorsing the APPEA’s exit poll.

“I saw some of the exit

Stopping CSG remains a focus for the Greens and KAP.

34

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AustralianMining

polls from the election and I wasn’t inclined to place a great deal of significance in them either way,” he said.

“They all seemed to be fairly hasty and superficial exercises.”

Robinson said while exit polls were not a reliable way to gauge voting intentions the QLD electorate was nevertheless unimpressed with anti-mining policies.

Robinson said KAP, which marketed itself as tough on CSG, also failed to gain ground in regions where industry growth was strong.

“They didn’t poll strikingly high in southern QLD, even in areas that were particularly affected by the CSG debate,” he said.

“Really their vote was a north QLD one. They drew support in Bob Katter’s home base.”

Flawed industry

Former QLD KAP leader Aidan McLindon told Australian Mining his party was not disappointed by the election results.

He said the community backlash against the environmental impact of mining had won KAP votes and would continue to in the future.

“I think the election was an enormous success and there’s no doubt that the flawed CSG industry has contributed to that success,” he said.

McLindon said the party would be sticking with its tough mining policies, even if they failed to register with voters.

“It’s never about what’s a popular policy, it’s about what’s right and wrong and we believe that the CSG industry as it’s standing now is flawed,” he said.

“We’re not going to dump any of our policies before the next election, we’ll stay true to them and natu-

Coal Seam Gas did not rate as highly as the Parties thought.

rally continue to champion those issues.”

McLindon also cast doubt on APPEA’s exit poll.

“I don’t buy that for a second,” he said, “I don’t know how they conducted it but it certainly wouldn’t be a qualitative measure.

“What it says to me is that there still needs to be a public awareness campaign in terms of the adverse impacts of the industry and it will be another 12 to 18 months from now before people start realising that it’s a bigger issue than it currently is.”

Despite confusion following the election McLindon confirmed to Australian Mining the CSG industry was a major campaign issue for KAP and would continue to be in the future.

“Our call for a 12 month moratorium, a ban from drilling into aquifers, and giving landowners the right to refuse entry still remains,” he said.

“The mining industry will always be an underlying concern for voters and over

time, as more and more people become aware of its impacts, it’ll undoubtedly gain more traction.”

No impact

While also drawing a disappointing vote the Greens appear to be joining the KAP in sticking with their mining policies. Greens mining spokesperson Larissa Waters declined to comment on the election results, but the party has already expressed a willingness to continue campaigning against mining.

Robinson told Australian Mining despite gaining significant publicity anti-mining policies were unlikely to gain traction in the near future. Even in agricultural regions with significant opposition to mining Robinson said anti-industry parties were still minorities.

“It’s probably something that a lot of farmers are unhappy about but people forget that even in rural electorates these days farmers form a tiny portion of voters.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

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4/3/2012 11:43:29 AM

AM.MAY12.PG036.pdf

Page

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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Missing in action Mining companies were mostly absent from marking Earth Hour this year.

T

his year Earth Hour’s organisers marked an­ other successful ‘lights out’ in the name of climate change awareness.

Billed as the “largest envi­ ronmental event in history,” promoters claimed hundreds of millions of people, busi­ nesses, and governments around the world took part.

Despite a big focus on sustainability and environ­ ment participants from Australia’s mining industry Sydney marks Earth Hour. Images courtesy Lisa Williams. were noticeably absent.

According to the World Wildlife Fund Australia, ian­ Mining it marked the the company said. A Wood­ the organisers behind Aus­ event with its head office in side spokesperson told Aus­ tralia’s Earth Hour action, Perth’s CBD. tralian­ Mining it endorsed only two companies from For an hour on March 31 the ideas behind earth hour the mining sector took part. the familiar company tower and encouraged other min­ Rio Tinto and Woodside switched off to symbolically ing companies to take part. were the two companies to mark climate awareness.

“Being energy efficient is make the list, with Wood­ “Woodside turned all fundamental to Woodside’s side marking more than half non­essential lighting off, business, and Earth Hour a A decade ofU participation.

D_ AM L T M A Y _ 1 2 including . p d f our P asky g esignage 1 2be­ 0 / 0represents 4 / 1 2 , an important 1 2 : 2 7 :op­ 2 7 Woodside told Austral­­ tween 8.30pm and 9.30pm,” portunity for energy inten­

before / after

before / after

sive businesses (or large en­ ergy users) to demonstrate commitment to this issue.

“Woodside has partici­ pated in Earth Hour since it started six years ago.”

The absence of most mining companies was in line with most expectations, with P Mhistorical A E S Tdata showing most Earth Hour partici­

pants coming from less en­ ergy intensive backgrounds.

Residential activists make up the bulk of the participants, with most having a carbon footprint about six times smaller than the average level.

WWF Australia did not comment on the participa­ tion of mining companies in Earth Hour 2012.

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AM.MAY12.PG038.pdf

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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Brown out While Bob Brown has resigned from politics new leader Christine Milne looks certain to continue leading an attack on the mining industry.

S

ome of the biggest news to hit Australia’s political and environmental spheres recently was the shock resignation of Greens leader Bob Brown.

To the surprise of most Australians, including Greens party members, Brown quit from politics after 16 years in Parliament.

Brown’s leadership took the Greens from an unknown party to a third force in the Senate.

Now wielding significant power in a partalliance with the Labor Party, Brown held an influential position in Australian politics and his views have increasingly shaped the mining industry and its environmental policies.

With the introduction of the carbon tax and mining tax the Greens have also managed to alienate the industry in recent years.

While a divide has always existed between the two parties the rift has grown increasingly wider and debate more polarised.

On news of Brown’s resignation the NSW Minerals Council said Brown would be remembered for the negative impacts of the carbon tax.

Brown’s A“Senator D _ A M MBob ETM A Y _ 1 parting 2 . p d flegacy, P a gthe e Federal Government’s carbon tax, will increase

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May 2012

AustralianMining

Brown resigned after launching the Greens to significant power in Australia.

the electricity costs of NSW families and businesses …” it said.

What impact new leader Christine Milne will have on the future of the mining industry remains unknown had already 1 3 / 0 4but / 1the 2 ,ambitious 1 1 : 3 leader 0 AM given some firm indications. On gaining power

Milne set her sights on the mining industry and its political supporters. She said she would use her leadership “responsibly and reasonably” but would target the “rapaciousness” of the mining industry. Milne said miners had led the biggest attack on the environment in a “very long time”.

“Not just because of climate change but because of the rapaciousness of the mining industry and the willingness of both the Liberal and Labor parties in Australia to cave in to the few,” she said.

Milne also took aim at the coal seam gas industry and said she was “horrified” by the developments at Gladstone Harbour. A mining issue highlighted by Milne not often addressed by Brown was the impact of fly-in fly-out work on regional communities. The new Greens leader said while she understood why companies chose the arrangement she it was having negative impacts on rural towns and non-mining businesses.

Whilst a different leader with different ideas Milne looks set to continue Brown’s legacy and continue to widen the gap between the Greens and the mining industry. Judging by initial reactions from the Greens and most industry figures the war has just begun.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.MAY12.PG040.pdf

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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

The units can easily be transported due to their containerised system.

The remediation units can be moved and assembled in only a few weeks.

Mobile mine remediation New mining specific units are making remote site remediation easier.

W

hile many mines quickly in an open air enare remote opera- vironment, fuel soaked soil tions, often in the is a problem that no one middle of nowhere, it does wants. not mean that their waste Not just because of the goes unnoticed. environmental issues it creMines work hard to re- ates, but also due to the main as environmentally wastage of fuel which befriendly as possible in their comes contaminated itself. operations; however the All these problems are problems they face in keep- just compounded by a mine ing to strict environmental site’s remote nature. guidelines are exacerbated Seeing this need on site by their remoteness. for a quick solution, Otek If there is a problem, it has designed mobile mine is not always easy to quickly site remediation units. and easily solve it.

It has created a portable, Particularly in the case containerised system which of oil, petrol, or other fluids fixes the issue of contamiwhich can seep into the ground nated ground. and local groundwater.

According to Otek, in AWhile D _ A the M A issues X I A PofRfuel _ 1 2 addition . p d f toPits a g“clean-up e 1 2ca3 / Mining Adfairly 02e - 60x210.pdf 1 20/03/12 12:19 vapours Axiom are solved pabilities, the main benefits

of this system are the ease of set-up/decommissioning as well as its ability to operate in remote and hazardous locations”.

It added that the portable units are low maintenance.

In addition to its remediation abilities, the units are also able to collect data to monitor the process.

This online monitoring system, which automatically logs faults, also instantly reports issues back to base and can remotely correct any operational faults, so that routine maintenance is only required for ongoing projects. Its process control 0system 3 / 1 also 2 , includes 8 : 1 4remote AM PM telemetry for similar auto-

mated remote reporting.

“The set-up has been carefully designed to meet strict ‘zone 1’ hazardous operating requirements,” Otek said, “with the system complying with all applicable Australian Standards including Hazardous Area Electrical, Piping, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Storage and additional strict mine operator specifications.

“This means it can be safely used in dangerous locations like remote vehicle fuelling installation.”

The company goes on to say “where possible, all the materials extracted and cleaned are able to be reused.

“The water is treated to a point where it is able to

be used on site for dust suppression and the recovered diesel is stored in a tank for a number of potential uses (such as ANFO).

“Consequently it delivers a cost effective system and approach to a once difficult process inherent in the mining industry.”

Already in operation, the units have seen action removing diesel from a contaminated water plume underneath the rail workings of a West Australian mine.

“Once this project has been completed it will take only a matter of weeks to decommission, relocate, and re-establish the fully portable system to a new site,” the company said.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Phone Email Web Postal

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May 2012

(08) 8118 6151 sales@axiomic.com.au www.axiomic.com.au PO Box 243 Melrose Park SA 5039 Australia Wide AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMACTMAY_12.pdf

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AM.MAY12.PG042.pdf

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TRUCKS & TRANSPORT

Making tyres MOBILE A forklift is taking the heavy lifting out of truck tyre maintenance.

M

ining truck tyres move objects ranging from are astounding. eight through to 52 tonnes.

The sheer size The company explained of these massive pieces of that these “trucks are at equipment are symbolic of home performing a wide the enormity of the mining range of tasks on the mine industry. sites across Australia, and a Symbolism aside though, key application for Hyster they are huge, and being Big Trucks is the removal huge makes them hard to and replacement of mining move when they aren’t al- truck tyres”. ready attached to the truck.

It said that by using a speThey easily weigh many cialist tyre handling attachtonnes (typically around 15 ment which fully integrates or so), and transporting them with the forklift’s controls, is a pain to say the least. these Hyster Big Trucks can steel frame and rigid arm It becomes a serious rotate, tip, and side-shift the construction; a heavy duty logistical problem, not to truck tyres, “providing the rotator with a complete 360 mention a safety issue, for flexibility needed to align it to degree continuous action; a miners to move these when- the truck and complete chang- forward tipping pad design ever scheduled replacement ing operation without the which allows the forklifts or roadside repair is needed. forklift driver leaving his cab”. to set the tyre down flat; inHyster Big Trucks have According to the com- ternal rather than external been A D manufacturing _ A M H A U M Aheavy Y _ 1 2 pany . p d these f P forklifts a g e 1include 1 1 / 0hoses 4 / 1to2 ,prevent 1 1 : damage; 0 2 AM duty forklifts designed to increased visibility; a rugged unitised control valves with

42

May 2012

AustralianMining

individual test points for a faster fault diagnosis; and “the thinnest profile arms for hard to access tyres and the ability to handle tyres ranging from 1.6 to 4.1 metres in diameter and up to 1.885 metres wide”.

Hyster went on to say that “the safety implications

of this fully automated solution can not be overstated; neither can its benefits for mining truck utilisation times.

“Both coming to reduce workshop or roadside repair risks while getting the truck moving again as quickly as possible has direct effect on the bottom line profit.”

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Innovation

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AM.MAY12.PG044.pdf

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TRUCKS & TRANSPORT

The new trucks can operate fully loaded on spiral gradients of 20 per cent.

All of the new trucks are ROPS and FOPS compliant, and automation ready.

A breath of fresh air A new mining truck is making underground air cleaner than ever before.

D

riving underground presents unique problems that you just don’t encounter on the surface.

Although for both the air is hot, heavy and hu­ mid, and filled with dust, when you add these to the cramped and hot conditions as well as the ever present problem of diesel particulate matter in the air it makes driving and working under­ ground more difficult.

Sandvik is countering some of these diesel particu­ late challenges and work­ ing towards a better under­ ground environment.

It has now introduced two new underground min­ ing trucks with low emission engines, which according to the company makes them the cleanest underground trucks on the market.

The company has re­ leased the new 50 tonne capacity TH550 and the 40 tonne capacity TH450, which both come with en­ ergy efficient, low emission engines built to comply with EPA Tier 4i/Euro Stage IIIB emissions standard for bet­ ter breathing on site.

44

May 2012

AustralianMining

In addition to a cleaner developing its new under­ been a consideration in the drive, the vehicles also have ground truck range, the design of the TH550 and the smallest envelope size in company paid attention to TH540. their payload class and are environmental, health, and “All checking points for designed to operate fully safety issues, as well as the hydraulic and engine oils, loaded on long spiral gradi­ inevitable productivity and coolant levels, and air filters ents of up to 20 per cent at reliability factors. are at ground level; we have high speeds, Sandvik says.

“As well as our low quick fill couplings for fluid It goes on to state that emission engine option, and the belly plate opens by these vehicles with the op­ both trucks incorporate swinging it out to the side,” tional Tier 4i/IIIB Volvo ROPS and FOPS certified Rowe explained. engines consume less fuel, operator compartments, “The engine cooler is produce fewer emissions, easy three point access into easy to clean, and both and have better torque char­ the cabin and to the top of trucks offer automatic cen­ acteristics than the pre­ tral lubrication sys­ vious generation – the “If the engines were running in tem,” he added.

T50 and T40.

Sandvik has also Sandvik Mining’s a city, the exhaust would be planned for eventual product line manager cleaner than the air coming in.” truck problems by for underground hard including a built in rock mining, Scott Rowe, the machine, improved visi­ Vehicle Control and Man­ explained the TH550 and bility, ground level daily agement (VCM) diagnos­ TH540 are the only trucks maintenance points, and tics/troubleshooting alarm available with this clean en­ safety rails along the top of and log system which allows gine option. the machine. the vehicle operator to eas­ “These trucks can pro­ “Improved ergonomics – ily identify the source and vide a healthier environment which will mean reduced fa­ cause of the issue. for all personnel working tigue levels over long shifts The vehicle’s full operat­ underground,” Rowe said.

– include rubber mounted ing log can be downloaded “For example if these and isolated cabs, improved to a standard laptop. engines were running in the sound attenuation and heat “Sandvik’s VCM system centre of a large city then isolation, more efficient air also increases machine us­ the exhaust fumes coming conditioning, and seats with ability and efficiency through out of the engines would ac­ low frequency suspension as features such as automatic tually be cleaner than the air standard,” Rowe stated. shifting, selecting the correct they were taking in.” Rowe Making machinery gear and speed depending on added that in designing and maintenance easier has also the payload, ground condi­

tions and gradient, while at the same time increasing (ve­ hicle) availability as there are fewer failures and reduced downtimes when trouble­ shooting,” Rowe said.

“Additionally, the sys­ tem ensures each TH550 and TH540 is automation ready, and able to be used with systems such the Au­ toMine underground min­ ing solution.”

According to the com­ pany the trucks’ Dana axles have slack­adjustable Posi­ stop brakes as standard, Po­ si­Torq springs in the front axles for between 69 and 85 per cent torque transfer to the higher traction wheel, and No­Spin diffs in the rear axles which provide 100 per cent torque transfer to the higher traction wheels.

“The benefits of this are reduced wheel spin, longer tyre life, and better traction in uphill hauling.”

The TH540 has a pay­ load capacity of 40 tonnes with a maximum speed of 33 kilometres per hour.

The TH550 has a capa­ city of 50 tonnes and a maximum speed of 30 kilo­ metres per hour. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMTREMAR_12.pdf Tread-AustralianAd2.pdf

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4:06

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1:14:21 AM

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AM.MAY12.PG046.pdf

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TRUCKS & TRANSPORT

Biodiesel benefits The hunt for viable fuel alternatives is over, writes Jonathon Thwaites*.

A

s the Mineral Resources Rent Tax and Carbon Tax loom on the horizon, an addendum to the mining tax has gone unnoticed – the slashing of the Diesel Fuel Rebate Scheme.

With the Greens increasing their demands for the Government to cut the current diesel fuel tax rebate for miners, the need for a viable fuel alternative is growing.

The fuel tax rebate scheme has already been pegged for a reduction, despite the mining industry arguing that it does not constitute a subsidy, and by cutting the rebate it would actually act as a tax on business inputs – one which may cost an extra $650 million Rio Tinto has been producing biodiesel fuel from waste oil at its Tom Price mine for a number of years. for the coal mining industry alone.

Western Australia – biodiesel. transporting it over the long fort seem like an exercise in One viable alternative is While distances SoEwhy A D _ A M R A WM A Y _ 1 2 . p d fit isPaaviable g e alterna1 1 8 / 0 4 / 1 2 ,to 1remote 0 : 2 6mine : 5 5 futility.

AM A S T not source it already making its mark in tive, sourcing the fuel and sites can almost make the ef- from your own site instead?

To date Rio Tinto, Newmont, and CITIC Pacific have all entered the biodiesel fray by doing exactly this.

At Rio’s Tom Price mine in the Pilbara, it has already worked closely with the Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation (AAC) and its subsidiary ASHOIL to establish a biodiesel production facility in the Pilbara.

Although much of this biodiesel is only used for blasting in ANFO mixtures to date.

However CITIC and Newmont have looked at a similar process to Rio, using waste oils such as used vegetable oils from camp kitchens and growing Moringa oil trees, to develop their own biofuels.

CITIC Pacific and the Department of Agriculture Continued on page 48

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Whatever it takes to get you there. 1800 CAR 4 HIRE | rawhire.com.au

46

May 2012

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMHITOCT_11.pdf

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AM.MAY12.PG048.pdf

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TRUCKS & TRANSPORT

Continued from page 46

and Food have reportedly es­ tablished a Moringa tree trial block in the Pilbara, which also uses grey water from near­ by mine camps for irrigation.

Gabriella Pacilio, from CITIC, said its current project “will test whether we can grow Morina in the Pilbara and if it is suitable to grow in areas currently infested with mesquite; the shrub has the benefits of be­ ing suitable for producing biodiesel and cattle feed”.

Newmont has taken a number of steps in the bi­ odiesel direction after com­ mencing small scale batch production of the fuel in November last year.

It produces biodiesel fuel out of waste cooking oil from its Jundee camp kitchen; and this biodiesel Biodiesel has already been used in smaller vehicles on mines, with the aim to graduate it to larger has already been used to vehicles. fuel Toyota Landcruisers at the site. for climate change and en­ “This project has given erations with a dry mess,” According to the miner ergy efficiency at Newmont our team a good under­ Williams added. around 2600 litres of bio­ Australia, explained that standing of how biodiesel “It is a good way to ex­ diesel will be produced an­ “biodiesel has a far smaller production works and it cer­ plore the potential of biodie­ nually.

A D _ ABryan M V O L Williams, M A Y _ 1 2 carbon . p d f footprint P a g e than 1 1the 2 / 0tainly 4 / 1has 2 , the4potential : 3 5 : 2for 6 Psel, M with A E Slittle T financial or who is the principal advisor mineral diesel it displaces. application at our other op­ operational risks in prepara­

tion for possible carbon tax mitigation schemes.”

Medical and Scientific manufactured the produc­ tion units for both New­ mont and the AAC, which cost approximately $3000 with an ROI of 1.7 years.

The ‘Moringa’ is a fast growing, drought resistant tree that grows in sandy soil, and can yield between 38 to 40 per cent oil.

Biodiesel produced from waste cooking oil and veg­ etable oils has already been proven at Rio’s Tom Price mine and Newmont’s Jun­ dee operation for smaller transport vehicles.

The wider biodiesel and Moringa project is part of the Asia Pacific Climate Change Strategy, which includes ener­ gy efficiency, renewable ener­ gy and other offset initiatives.

These pilot projects have the potential to be carried out at other mines. *Jonathon Thwaites is from Medical and Scientific Services, and worked on Rio Tinto’s biodiesel production facility.

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Test drive Amarok – the “Complete Package” – at your nearest Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle dealer today.

48

May 2012

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMVOL2MAY_12.pdf

Page

1

12/04/12,

4:39:48

PM

AEST

truck bodies.

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See how you can improve productivity with Jaws Mining NORTHFIELD 2175

A proudly Australian owned and operated business

www.jaws.com.au Phone: 61 7 3277 7499

AM.MAY12.PG050.pdf

Page

50

18/04/12,

10:45

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TRUCKS & TRANSPORT

Redesigning the wheel A dramatic new interpretation of the haul truck.

M

any people have According to the Gerproposed what the man firm Meiller Group and future of dump Chinese transportation detrucks may be. signer Haishan Deng from They picture odd shapes, HaiShang Design, the new unusual designs, complete ‘super tipper truck’ goes into redesigns of the truck, and completely uncharted areas all manner of oddities. How- in terms of haul truck design. ever, despite this the basic Deng stated that he design of the dump truck has was ‘inspired by the movenot changed in decades. Last ment of quadruped animals’ year a German company, and that he designed the ETF Mining Trucks, postu- dump truck with independlated on the future of rigid ent suspension arms that haul trucks. This design dra- are able to better traverse matically increased mobility and absorb uneven terrain and payload capacity, as well the conventional rigid haul as dumping capability. But trucks. While the redesign the basics of the haul truck has changed the shape of the were still there. Does it need vehicle, there has been no a new revolutionary design, word on its specifics such as something completely alien power or hydraulic capabilito the current incarnation, ties, only that it is capable of to set it apart? Possibly. But dumping in four directions. then again, do we need to fix Is this the future of it if it isn’t broken. dump trucks, or is it simply is M the future another ASo D _what A MQ WA U G _of 1 0 yet . pd f P areinvention g e 1 2 of 2 / 7 / 1 0 , 1 0 : 5 9 AM Inspired by ‘the movement of quadruped animals’, the design is a massive leap in truck shapes. the mine site dump truck? the wheel?

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www.qmw.com.au 50

May 2012

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMABLMAY_12.pdf

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Take the road less travelled with a 4WD Able Bus & Coach

T

he Able Bus & Coach 4WD mine module ticks all the boxes for a minesite.

A key proposition of the vehicles is robustness.

They’re built on a bigger truck and put less passengers in. It may cost a little more but it’s better in the long run, giving a stronger, more reliable vehicle.

Another key feature of the vehicles is inter-changeability with passenger modules that can be removed from older cab chassis and placed on a new cab chassis reducing replacement costs for companies.

Able Bus & Coach’s vehicle make of choice is Isuzu – and for good reason: Isuzu isn’t just a good make of vehicle; after sales service is unsurpassed.

The tilt cab of the chassis also allows easy maintenance and access to the motor.

A higher ground clearance than a conventional bus chassis is also ideal for mine sites and remote areas.

For safety compliance, the vehicles meet strength and design requirements.

Able-AustralianMiningApril12.indd 1

A higher ground clearance than a conventional bus chassis is ideal for mine sites and remote areas.

All the engineering tests are validated.

Extensive safety features come standard with the coaches.

These include a built-in Rollover Protection System (ROPS) to Australian Standards 1636.1 and 2294.2 and Australian Design Rule rollover compliance, full size coach seats with seat belts and driver’s air bag.

Air conditioners designed and built for extreme heat and vibration also come standard.

Testament to the company’s business philosophy of building tough yet safe, reliable and comfortable vehicles that meet the highest standards are customers such as BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and NationWide Hire and a repeat business rate of 90 per cent.

For more information call Able Bus & Coach on 08 9371 7100, info@ablebusandcoach.com.au or visit ablebusandcoach.com.au

Supplying Australiawide [Est.1995]

4/04/2012 9:45:05 PM

AM.MAY12.PG052.pdf

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TRUCKS & TRANSPORT

Breaking the cycle Easy to operate bead breakers are cutting truck maintenance times.

C

hanging tyres on vehicles can be a long and potentially dangerous process.

Last year a tyre explosion injured three miners at Peak Downs while it was being repaired, only two months after another miner was killed by an exploding tyre at Anglo American’s Foxleigh mine.

So having a product which takes some of the danger and effort out of changing tyres on machinery is always welcome on site.

Enerpac have created its new series of 45kN (700bar) EBB 400 Combi Bead Breakers to solve this tyre issue.

They are specifically designed for vehicles and machinery used in mining and quarrying industries.

According to Enerpac, in addition to cutting down times during routine workshop maintenance and onsite repair operations, the “bead breakers protect staff and machinery by dispensing with heavy, clumsy, labour intensive equipment and replace

it with precisely applied high force from easily handled tools”.

It also speeds up maintenance times, aiding in quicker vehicle turn around and in turn increased production as vehicles are no longer out of service for as long.

Weighing in at around 13 kilograms, the EBB 400 Combi Bead Breaker handles two and three-piece, 2-5-10 hole budd, 7.50X16’s and all tubeless truck and farm tyres and rims. Enerpac says the product is simple to operate and comes without screws, bolts, or attachments.

The breaker’s assembly clamps hydraulically to all rims in a matter seconds and breaks beads precisely with up to 45 kN of force.

These bead breakers are compatible with the majority of Enerpac pumps used throughout Australia and New Zealand, including air/ hydraulic pumps, electric/hydraulic pumps, as well as foot pumps, Pow’rRiser portable lifting jacks, and the recently released Ultima hand pumps.

Tyre maintenance can be a surprisingly dangerous job on mine sites.

52

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AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

FRANG0027_M_AM.pdf

Page

1

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AEDT

In a tough industry, you need a seriously tough truck. That’s why the All-New Ranger is a smart choice for your mining fleet. Because it’s designed and engineered in Australia, you know it’s up for any challenge.

The 3.2L Diesel engine* delivers 147kW power and 470Nm torque, with enough grunt to tow a massive 3350kg.~ And thanks to its active and passive safety features, including Dynamic Stability Control, you can tackle rough terrain with the confidence of a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.# Want more info? Talk to Ford Fleet on 1300 131 330 or visit ford.com.au

PX Ranger 4x4 XLT Double Cab Pick-up 3.2L Diesel shown. *3.2L Diesel engine available on selected models only. ~Braked towing capacity on 4x2 Hi-Rider and 4x4 models when fitted with a Genuine Ford towpack and tow ball. Subject to State and Territory regulations. # Ranger 4x2 XL Single Cab models (standard ride height) achieve 4-star ANCAP safety rating.

AM.MAY12.PG054.pdf

Page

54

18/04/12,

10:51

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TRUCKS & TRANSPORT

Driving change An on road truck manufacturer is making inroads on to off roads.

S

cania has one of the widest range of heavy duty trucks in the world, however on the Australian mine site it is yet to make in roads compared to the other major players.

It is typically recognised for its on-highway vehicles rather than being seen as an off road truck maker.

However the company is now planning to change this with the launch of its new off road model range.

The company says that its new range of heavy duty off road trucks will have a modular system that allows operators to tailor their vehicles for their unique requirements.

Scania stated that the modular system speeds up the production and delivery process, “plus it allows for easy access for servicing and repair, parts supply, and increases service knowledge, which in turn enhances vehicle availability”.

It says that part of its major focus this year will be the mining space, and these modular trucks will respond to the growing need of miners for heavy duty vehicles.

This bespoke off road range will be available in the G-series to begin with, with P-series cabs to soon follow, which will be offered in a wide range of engines and drive train configurations.

The company explained that these vehicles will differ from its current range.

“The new frontal styling is more functional, with the design featuring a solid steel bumper, new lamp placements and lamp protection, and a protective shield under the front end that runs backwards from the bumper to protect the lower part of the charge cooler and radiator, as well as the front end of the sump.”

The trucks will also come with Scania Opticruise which has a new off road mode for greater traction 54

May 2012

AustralianMining

Scania is making its first real foray into the Australian mining space with bespoke off road trucks.

control, as well as a new retarder for enhanced low speed performance.

Chassis improvements include a 30/32 tonne bogie with high brake chambers,

air suspensions for the high chassis, and improved traction due to a revision of the suspension, drive shafts and hub reduction system. The company has also made in-

The company is also powering other vehicles on site.

roads into the mining sector through other haul and dump trucks.

Scania’s latest engines are powering the ‘Generation 9’ range of Terex articulated trucks.

According to Terrequipe’s Greg Landsberg, the new Generation 9 Tier 2 TA400 trucks are more fuel efficient and aid productivity on site.

“Designed for the rigorous conditions found in sand and gravel quarries and mines, the new Gen 9 Terex articulated trucks are designed to keep operators productivity levels high, but fuel consumption and cycle times low,” Landsberg said.

These Scania powered dump trucks have been con-

structed to “minimise downtimes, as the service points on Terex articulated trucks are designed for quick and easy access,” he added.

“The electronic assisted hood raises and the fully tilting cab simplify access to major components and ground level service points.

Landsberg went on to say that lower ownership costs are also another key feature of the new articulated haulers.

“All of the Generation 9 range benefits from oilcooled multiple disc brakes on each axle providing extended component life, reducing service intervals and operating costs, and improving overall braking performance, compared to traditional dry-disc brake systems that are fitted as standard on many trucks from other manufacturers,” Landsberg stated.

The cabs of these Terex trucks have also been developed to improve driver comfort.

They come with reduced interior noise levels, more effective air conditioning, and a new steering wheel and mirror arrangement to aid operator visibility.

Interestingly, an anthracite grey in matte finish on the cab’s interior has been designed to reduce glare.

The smallest truck on the range – the Gen 9 TA250 – has a hauling capacity of 15.5 cubic metres, while the larger Gen 9 TA300 is one of the most powerful trucks in the 30 tonne range, according to Terex.

With a 276 kW engine, it is able easily haul a heaped capacity of 17.5 cubic metres.

Rounding out the top end of the articulated truck range is the TA400, which has a payload of 40 tonnes and a gross power of 331kW, which allows it to travel at up to 60 kilometres per hour. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMBRIMAY_12.pdf

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Fitting giant Off the Road tyres isn’t a job for any ordinary Joe

Joe Ruig has been fitting Bridgestone Earthmover Tyres for over 30 years and like the rest of our 80 plus national tyre fitting team, he has been trained beyond national standards.

Bridgestone Earthmover Tyres staff work on controlling the risks involved in the servicing, maintenance, fitting, inspection and repair of Off the Road tyres and wheel assemblies.

Our safety procedures exceed industry standards and our equipment is modern and developed to ensure fit for purpose.

So when tyre and wheel servicing is required for off the road applications, don’t rely any ordinary “Joe”, rely on the company with the experience and the resource to do it first time every time.

Bridgestone Earthmover Tyres

If you are interested in a career as a tyre fitter with Bridgestone Earthmover Tyres contact careers@BSEM.com.au or freecall 1800 114 040 www.bridgestone-earthmover.com.au

AM.MAY12.PG056.pdf

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TRUCKS & TRANSPORT

Site saviour Emergency response vehicles designed for the mine site.

Y

ou typically think of mine site vehicles as massive haul trucks, wheel loaders, and the oc­ casional ute or 4X4.

None of these vehicles you would equate with ‘safety’.

Now two companies are providing a truly mine safe­ ty focused vehicle on site.

Emergency Transport Technology (ETT) and the Byron Group have applied the latest technologies to 4X4 modular ambulances to bring The interior’s air conditioning is fully tropicalised. it up to the standard of to­ day’s advanced ambulances. practical thinking and ap­ ing walls, custom designed According to the two plication has ensured the de­ composite body extrusions, companies, the changes to velopment of an extension modular cabinet construc­ their Land Cruiser modular that is strong enough for the tion, and radius corners ambulance design isn’t just industry but also not heavy which “give the vehicle a skin deep, “the thinking – known as ETT’s load ruggedised reality but with goes all the way to the spe­ spread extension technique. the appeal of a metro ambu­ cial chassis extension”.

The companies have also lance”, ETT stated.

By using computers to changed the ambulance’s ETT went on to say that conduct finite element anal­ body construction, utilis­ in regards A D _ A MV O L N O V _ 1 1 . p d f P a g e 1 2 1 / 1 0 / 1 1 ,to weight, 1 : 4 5the am­ PM ysis (FEA) combined with ing Monopan weight sav­ bulance is reportedly lighter

The vehicle is able to easily traverse the uneven mine site.

than other 4X4 modular ambulances of the same size, and is actually lighter than others which provide a smaller, compromised working environment for emergency response crews and paramedics on site.

By being a lighter it aids the vehicle in traversing the uneven mine site.

ETT added that despite its lighter weight the vehicle is still sturdy, “you could al­ most say it offers a built in ROPS”.

The modular ambu­ lance’s internal space mea­ sures more than three metres in length, is 1.9 metres wide, and approximately 1.7 me­ tres high.

VOLGREN Mine Transportation Solutions Volgren Mine Transportation Solutions can provide: A vehicle that is: Australian Built Built to Australia’s highest Safety standards Constructed from Aluminium providing the operator with a vehicle that is Stronger, Lighter & Safer Corrosion resistant Low cost of option due to aluminium structure Finance Packages that can: Provide finance for 1 to 500 buses Full vehicle leasing Off balance sheet benefits

The Volgren body can be built on either Australian or the major European chassis models.

Volgren the Company Volgren is Australia’s largest manufacturer of commercial bus bodies. Our bodies are constructed from aluminium which has a natural resistance to corrosion.

This is prevalent to the highly corrosive environment of the mining industry. Our buses also meet the highest safety standards in the ADR’s and roll over.

Volgren have manufacturing facilities across Australia with plants in Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales. Volgren have been manufacturing buses for the Australian market for over 30 years and today has a market share of over 40% of the domestic new bus sales market.

Volgren is proud of their history in the Australian mining sector, providing buses to the industry since 1980 with a delivery of vehicles to Rio Tinto Alcan Gove (formerly Nabalco). These vehicles served the mine for 28 years and only recently were replaced with a fleet of new Volgren buses.

Australian Owned & Manufactured

For more information please contact Sales & Marketing +61 3 9791 4255 www.volgren.com.au

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Mining Magazine Half Page.indd 56Volgren May 2012 AustralianMining

1

Unit 3 8/10 Avalli Rd Prestons NSW 2170

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 47 Beringarra Ave Malaga WA 6090

QUEENSLAND 20 Amy Johnson Place Eagle Farm QLD 4009 20/10/11 3:55 PM www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMTYRMAR_12.pdf

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REM 2

REM 10

REM 9

REM 12

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AM.MAY12.PG058.pdf

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AM

TRUCKS & TRANSPORT

The new kid on the block Caterpillar have unveiled the next generation of its stable 777 series.

T

he Cat 777 has long been the workhorse of the mining industry.

Since the 1970’s one incarnation or another could be found on site, they were almost ubiquitous.

And now Caterpillar has released the latest generation of this truck – the 777G, which provides greater fuel efficiency and performance in the 91 tonne size class.

According to the company, the 777G replaces the 777F. The off highway truck provides increased production due to seven per cent more torque powering work and new transmission controls, which produce quicker haul cycles. This increased power and production is balanced with fuel saving strategies which includes configurable economy settings as well as an adaptive economy mode that automatically optimises fuel consumption based on the user’s production baseline, Cat says.

Additional fuel saving technology has also been devised such as auto neutral idle and Advanced Productivity Electronic Control Strategy (APECS) transmission controls, where the vehicle becomes more fuel efficient at idle in a forward gear or when climbing grades.

“Customers can also choose features like engine idle and speed limiting to further improve fuel savings,” Cat stated.

Caterpillar explained that APECS is a new generation of transmission control strategies, which provides more productivity while cutting fuel usage with torque shift A D _ A Mthat P R allows I M A Rthe _ 1 truck 1 . p management to carry more momentum up grades.

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The latest in the 777 series is providing greater fuel economy while reducing the vehicle’s carbon emisions.

“Drive train durability prof- oxidation catalysts, Cat said. its from next generation electronic “It requires the use of ultra low clutch pressure control, and APECS sulphur diesel fuel and low ash enfurther provides outstanding shift gine oil, but requires no additional quality for a smooth ride.” maintenance or operator input.”

In the focus on fuel efficiency, For operations outside of areas the manufacturer has also worked regulated by the U.S. EPA, such as towards making the 777G much Australia, the 777G reduces emisquieter while also producing fewer sions with Tier 2 or EU Stage II emissions. equivalent technology and fuel efThe company has already begun ficiency. introducing the U.S. EPA Tier 4 FiSome of Caterpillar’s strategies nal engine on the newest truck “two for ‘greener’ vehicles include the Cat years in advance of the effective date NOx Reduction System and two of the regulation, which provides diesel oxidation catalyst canisters, customers an opportunity to ad- one for each bank of cylinders in the vance their sustainability goals”.

‘V’ configured Cat C32 engine.

The solution is fairly simple yet The NOx Reduction System did still f P a gwearing; e 1 4involving / 0 2 / 1engine 1 , 1 verts 1 : 1a8small A Mamount of cooled enhard technology combined with diesel gine exhaust back into the combustion chamber, resulting in reduced cylinder temperatures and reduced NOx formation.

This NOx reduction system takes advantage of the less corrosive properties of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel and low ash engine oils.

The two diesel oxidation catalyst canisters trap residual hydrocarbons in the exhaust.

In addition to hauling more while cutting fuel usage, Cat has also enhanced braking and traction control for the 777G series, a must for any open cut pit with steep grades and slopes or fairly loose, gravelly soil. Hydraulic oil immersed disc brakes now come as standard on

all four tyres of the truck; on top of this the system design also increases the vehicle’s slope holding capability while at the same time providing fade resistant, responsive braking.

Recent design updates are extending brake component life by increasing the force used to disengage brakes.

“The optional Cat engine brake can also extend service brake life and integrates with Automatic Retarder Control, enabling fast downhill travel and reduced cycle times,” Caterpillar stated.

A new parking brake system simultaneously operates the front and rear brakes to hold the truck steady on a slope.

In addition to this, a new traction control system on the 777G is able to differentiate between tyre spin and high speed turns so it can now activate at lower speeds.

The whole system now uses hydraulically applied service brakes for shorter response times and modulation from one wheel group to the other.

Safety and comfort have also been a major focus in the redesign of the 777 series.

Regarding operators, the access system is now wider and requires less effort.

It has new hand rails which promote three points of contact while inside the cab sound attenuation www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM.MAY12.PG059.pdf

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TRUCKS & TRANSPORT

The trucks have seven per cent more torque, and APECS transmission controls.

materials reduce noise by half compared to previous models.

The 777G has a Cat Series III comfort seat with vibration reducing technology and a three points restraint system.

This seat is highly adjustable.

The left side window is electric and features laminated glass for safety, as does the windshield.

The right side window provides an emergency escape route. not ASafety D _ A is MA F Cjust M Acentred Y _ 1 2inside . pd the vehicle, but is also external.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

Object detection is now standard on the 777G. Using a combination of radar, in-cab displays, and multiple cameras, object detection enhances driver awareness and line of sight.

Tyre monitoring is also offered through the use of payload values from the Truck Production Monitoring System, using information such as air temperature and truck speed to calculate the load stress placed on tyres. tyres f PAs a g e reach 1 4 their / 0 4pre-set / 1 2 rated , 1 load speed a warning is given, after

Object detection now comes as standard on the mining trucks.

which operators can choose to slow down or reduce overall payloads.

Ease of maintenance also came under the redesign, with quick and convenient ground level service centres for both electrical connections and fluid fill offered.

The optional fluid fill centre provides access to all fluids from one central location.

The 777G also includes a lit keypad with level indicators that give on which res0 operators : 2 6 Ainformation M ervoirs need filling.

Additional fluid level monitoring is available in the cab.

Caterpillar says it also extended its hydraulic oil filter service intervals to 1000 hours, reducing life cycle costs. The nominal payload of the Tier 4 version will be 96.4 tonnes, while the unregulated version can carry 96.9 tonnes.

It weighs in at 164 tonnes and is driven by Cat C32 engine which pumps out 683kW of power and provides a top speed of 66 kilometres per hour fully loaded.

AustralianMining

May 2012

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AM.MAY12.PG060.pdf

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COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY

SAFER communication I

ntrinsicallysafe communication is key on mines.

Operating amidst such a potentially flammable environment means that having the right communications equipment is crucial.

Sepura’s STP8X radio has been designed to be the Intrinsically safe communication toughest and most robust inis opening up new possibilities trinsically safe TETRA radio available in the mining space. on site.

According to the company, these radios can be used in gassy, and dusty hazardous environments as well as in open cut mines, where intrinsically safe “It is the first IP67 sub- ing machinery, where cable ATEX/IECEx certified pro- mersible TETRA intrinsical- free accessories are becomducts are critical. ly safe radio and is designed ing an increasingly more Mark Barnaby, Sepu- to meet the newly clarified vital aspect of operations,” ra’s product manager, said and extremely demanding Barnaby added. “loud, clear audio, the abil- ATEX and IECEx robustFeatures of the radio ity to use the radio whilst ness tests.” include missed event notifiwearing bulky gloves and Since its launch, the ra- cations, a micro-SD image a new level of ruggedness dio has added bluetooth viewer, and a man-down apwere all key attributes that functionality to the portable plication which is capable of were not yet present in the radio which “will be benefi- identifying when a user has market the STP8X inf a variety A D _- A MG E O MembodA R _ 1 2 cial . pd P a g eof hazard1 1 7 / 0become 2 / 1 2 incapacitated , 1 2 : 0 0 and PM ies all of these requirements. ous environments with mov- notifies rescue crews.

Wi-Fi testing enhanced FLUKE has released version 2.0 of the software that powers its AirCheck Wi-Fi test, making it easier to troubleshoot wireless LAN problems.

It features a one button AutoTest which automatically conducts wireless tests for interference, network quality and rogue access point detection.

Additionally, it also provides increased visibility of client devices such as laptops, and lets users track them, making it easy to identify and solve wireless connectively problems.

Mining Georg Fischer Piping Systems has the solution for safe conveyance of water, slurries and chemicals - around mine sites.

From plastic pipes, jointing technologies, valves, automation, measurement and control.

Contact Us: t: 02 9502 8000 or 1300 130 149 f: 02 9502 8090 australia.ps@georgfischer.com www.georgfischer.com.au

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www.miningaustralia.com.au

FOX0231_AM.pdf

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H O M E I S W H E R E T H E I R LO V E D ONES ARE. Aussies love sports. So keep your workers happy by bringing AFL superstars like Chris Yarran to the mines. With our new Mining Packages, your hard working staff can have their very own FOXTEL box, so they can switch on to hundreds of live games across a number of sporting channels, including the new FOX FOOTY channel. With this much sport at their fingertips, plus an impressive selection of music, entertainment and movies, they’ll never want to work anywhere else.

Find out more by calling our FOXTEL Business Mining Specialist today on 08 9386 9535 FOXTEL is not available in some areas/buildings. FOXTEL marks are used under licence by FOXTEL Management Pty Ltd. FOX SPORTS channels, FUEL TV, SPEED and FOX FOOTY not available in licensed premises. Some channels not available in public viewing areas. FOX0231/AM

AM.MAY12.PG062.pdf

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PRODUCT FOCUS: SAFETY

Rating SAFETY on the mine I n what was one of the most unusual shake ups for BHP Billiton Mitsubishi miners, that did not involve the closure of a mine, BMA announced that it may ban Toyota Hiluxes from mines.

It came after both BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto announced that all but the safest vehicles would be banned from their various mines after plans to only have light vehicles which meet the highest Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) ratings.

ANCAP ratings provide operators with an independent rating and advice on the safety levels of their vehicles.

Rio Tinto has said it is planning to implement a new scheme as early as 2015 that would see its fourteen mines around Australia feature only vehicles that had a safety rating of five stars.

Currently a Toyota Hilux only has a four star rating.

BMA is taking it one step further and from July this year it will have a five star only policy at all of its Bowen BasinAcoal D _mines A M Ethroughout L G J A NQueensland. _ 1 2 . pd These decisions are likely to have a

The announcement of higher vehicle safety standards could change the face of the mine site.

Rio Tinto and BHP are planning to only have vehicles with five star ANCAP ratings to increase driver safety on site.

massive impact, not only on mine sites, but also the car manufacturf ers,Pas a currently g e 1 the 1 / only 1 2 utes / 1 1with , a4 five star rating are the Ford Ranger,

the Ford Falcon, the Mazda BT-50, the Volkswagon Amarok, and the VE Omega. : Holden 2 2 PCommodore M The ute with the worst rating is the Proton Jumbuck.

However while some vehicles have a five star ANCAP rating, these ratings fail to take into account roll overs in their safety criteria.

Although a vehicle may have a five star rating, it may not be as safe in the case of roof crush.

This is why Roll Over Protection Systems (ROPS) have become such a major factor on site, as some vehicle manufacturers have not taken into consideration factors such as these.

But installing ROPS is difficult in some cases if the vehicles have side air bags, which give a vehicle a higher ANCAP rating, but would do little for a personnel vehicle that has been sent flying by a larger vehicle on the mine site.

The news has also worried some in the industry as to what kind of vehicles may replace the majority of light vehicles on site.

However Rio Tinto has stated that it will be working with vehicle manufacturers, such as Toyota, to meet the new approvals.

The outcomes for the mine site remain to be seen.

ANCAP Safety Ratings

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MAR1969_FPAD_297x23.pdf

Page

1

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AM.MAY12.PG064.pdf

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AM

PRODUCT FOCUS: SAFETY

Lifting safety Fall protection is increasing on site.

D

espite the fact that technology that is built into mining is ‘digging’, each harness in the Delta II workers are often fall protection range to track operating at heights. inspections, inventory, and Ensuring that these manage information”. workers are able to carry The harness also has out their jobs safely, Capital a triangular design which Safety has released its new makes it easier to differentirange of fall protection full ate the front from the back. body harnesses.

It goes on to state this Known as the Delta II latest range had included range, it builds on the origi- a number of industry first nal Delta series of harnesses. features, such as quick conAccording to the compa- nect buckles for faster and ny it incorporates a patented more efficient donning; the ‘No-Tangle’ design, stand up REPEL technology webspring loaded dorsal D-rings bing which provides higher – which ensures quick con- abrasion resistance, repels nections to a lanyard or SRL liquids and fluids and is without straining to reach it also naturally self cleaning; as well as one handed op- a rip-stitch impact indicaeration, Velcro covered label tor that allows the wearer packs which protect the new to quickly and easily inspect permanent indented print la- the harness and identify if it bels and the i-Safe system. has been involved in a fall or Capital explained that i- incident; and easy grip end Safe is _“an AD A Mintelligent L I N M Asafety Y _ 1 2 tabs . p dfor f easier P a gadjustments. e 1 1 7 / system which utilises RFID The harnesses have also been

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designed with comfort in mind, with a wide spread over the shoulders and straps constructed to not rub a wearer’s neck raw and to avoid irritation.

Capital added that it also comes with a bonus harness storage bag to take care of the harness.

The harnesses include a riggers harness, cross-over harness, all purpose harness, tower workers harness, miners harness, and live line harness.

The miners harness includes a confined space/retrieval attachment points, has corrosion resistant hardware, and includes a miners belt with battery and self rescue straps.

All of the harnesses in the Delta II fall protection range meet the requirements 0of4the / 1AS/NZS 2 , 11891.1:2007 1 : 3 9 : 3 1 AM AEST standard.

The harness designed for the industry includes a miners belt.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMMSAMAY_12.pdf

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MSA AUSTRALIA HAS GOT YOU COVERED FOR ALL YOUR MINE SAFETY NEEDS

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MSA AUSTRALIA MSA (Aust.) Pty. Limited 137 Gilba Road, GIRRAWEEN NSW 2145 PH: 1300 728 672 Email: aus.customerservice@MSAnet.com Web: www.msa.net.au

MSA AUSTRALIA - PERTH OFFICE MSA (Aust.) Pty. Limited 4 Iron Road, MALAGA WA 6090 PH: (08) 9247 8900 Email: perth.customerservice@MSAnet.com Web: www.msa.net.au

NEW ZEALAND The Gate, Unit E, 373 Neilson Street Onehunga, Auckland, NZ PH: 0800 441 335 Email: nzcusserv@MSAnet.com Web: www.msa.net.au

AM.MAY12.PG066.pdf

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PRODUCT FOCUS: SAFETY

A new strategy on safety After a series of dangerous incidents, Anglo American needed an about face on safety.

T

his time last year Anglo American was facing a safety crisis on site.

The miner was under investigation for a number of safety breaches at its Queensland coal mines.

In one incident a man was killed by an exploding tyre, another lost most of his toes after his foot was crushed by a longwall shield, and three others were lucky to escape injury in a near fatal disaster after a storage dam broke its bank and sent 36 megalitres of water gushing into the Grasstree underground mine.

The Moranbah North mine recorded a roof collapse over its conveyor drift.

At its Callide mine a bulldozer was accidentally The miner has slashed its recorded lost time injury rate by 25 per cent. buried while at its Dawson coal mine a dump truck ran Since then it has further “Put simply our lead- of longwall automation at over a light vehicle. developed its safety pro- ers are accountable; we our Grasstree underground All of these events oc- grams to stop this rate of have programs to address mine are examples of putting curred within a short four incidents. longer term issues like mus- this plan into action.” month period.

Year on year Anglo culoskeletal injuries, we’re This latest announceThese incidents forced a American has recorded a cut working hand in hand with ment comes on the back of serious rethink on safety for in lost time injuries of nearly our contractors to address Anglo American’s plans to the coal miner, one that has 25 per cent, and is planning safety together and we are triple coal production by paid off. to further slash this rate. removing the risk of vehicle 2020 from its proposed new In February last year, According to Seamus interactions on site,” French longwall mines in Queensit took its first steps to in- French, the CEO of Anglo’s explained. land, as well as increasing crease its safety rate by sus- metallurgical coal arm, “our “Physical separation of thermal coal production in pending all operations for a goal is zero harm and we light vehicles from heavy the Hunter Valley. series of safety sessions enti- have a clear plan to get us equipment on our open cut In December Anglo apA D _ A MC I R MA Y _ 1 2 . p d f Pa ge 1 1 8 / 0 4 / 1 2 , 0 : 1 3 : 4 7 AM AEST tled “Stop and Prop”. there. mines and the1 introduction proved its new greenfield

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projects – known as Grosvenor and Moranbah South – just south of its existing Moranbah North coal mine, which will target the same Goonyella Middle coal seam as the Moranbah mine.

It will spend around $1.7 billion on the mines in total.

This came just months after Anglo announced a $2.7 billion growth plan for both Grosvenor and the Moranbah South mines.

French added that “as we move towards underground operational excellence we are targeting best practice longwall performance at our two existing longwall operations, Moranbah North and Grasstree, which will set the benchmark for the Grosvenor and Moranbah South projects”.

These two new mines are predicted to create more than a 1000 new jobs during their construction and operation.

“We have also achieved preferred respondent status for the right to develop our own coal terminal at Abbot Point which will provide port capacity certainty for our project pipelines and existing operations,” he said.

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May 2012

AustralianMining

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AD_AMVANMAY_12.pdf

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AEST

AM.MAY12.PG068.pdf

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PRODUCT FOCUS: SAFETY

The cooler option A tougher shirt is fighting heat stress on site.

H

eat stress is a serious issue fortable shirt – the Work Cool 2.

Kosterich added “for the body on site. With Australian According to the company, these to cool down it relies on adequate mining sites often reach latest shirts have “next generation air circulation close to the surabove 45 degrees Celsius heavy, fabric which provides greater air face of the skin, so if the suffocating work clothes don’t permeability” as well as “venting workers wear clothing make a difficult job any easier. in the underarm and shoulders to which impedes air flow Heat rash, muscle cramps, increase airflows”. and limits effective dehydration, naeusea, and heat Its breathability is ISO evaporation of sweat stroke are just some of the prob- 11092:1993 compliant. then the likelihood lems caused by heat stress.

Tested by the CSIRO the “shirt of heat stress is inThis is exacerbated by clothes features a rip-stop breathable cool creased. that are heavy and lack ventila- fabric…that increases its tear and “A shirt tion, which in turn traps heat and abrasion resistance,” KingGee’s like KingGee’s acts as insulation, raising the body work cool product manager Nico- Work Cool 2 temperature even more. las Gronier said. with breathDr. Joseph Kosterich states The shirts also have reinforced able fabric that “heat stress is something that stitching for toughness. This cooling vents we don’t often hear about but toughness has been rated to du- and a longer needs to be taken seriously, espe- rability standards AS/NZS 2919- sleeve is a cially by tradesmen.

1987. In regards to sun safety, the good option “As a tradie’s job is physical shirt also “provides optimum sun for tradesit is especially important that they protection with its longer sleeve men.” wear cool and supportive clothing and collar extension that is twice The comwhen on site.” as large as other shirts.” pany said breathability was Responding to this problem, Work Cool 2 shirts also meet tested by the CSIRO, while KingGee has developed a range the Australian standard for day strength and tear resistance of Anew D _ work A M S clothes M A M Adesigned Y _ 1 2 . top d and f Pnight a g e visibility.

1 1 2 / The 0 4 /shirt 1 2 , were 4 : independently 1 0 : 1 3 P Mtested AEST Vents on the shirt increase air flow. provide miners with a more com- weighs about 145 grams. by the Qualspec Group.

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AD_AMHONMAY_12.pdf

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Measure, manage, communicate.

Intelligent hearing technology from Honeywell and Howard Leight

QuietPro® is an intelligent headset that combines a communication system with hearing protection, improving awareness in noisy environments.

VeriPro® testing technology, provides ‘real-world’ earplug attenuation level testing in the workplace, combined with training and record keeping.

For more information on call 1300139166 1300 139 166 or visit www.honeywellsafety.com © 2012 Honeywell Safety Products Australia Pty Ltd

QuietDose™ in-ear dosimetry measures and records the actual accumulated noise dose received over a shift and alerts when the critical level is reached.

AM.MAY12.PG070.pdf

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PRODUCT FOCUS: SAFETY

A timely reminder The recent WA Supreme Court ruling on Fortescue Metals Group’s safety liability brought cyclone awareness to the forefront.

W

estern Australia’s mining regions were battered with several serious cyclones this year, as they are every year.

This danger was dispersed between renewed discussions over the safety of remote mining camps caught in cyclones.

The debate was spurred by the WA Supreme Court’s decision clearing Fortescue Metals Group from wrongdoing in the death of two workers in 2007.

The court rejected a Worksafe appeal over the incident when Cyclone George destroyed the company’s mining camp.

The cyclone killed two and injured dozens more when it tore through the Pilbara site, lifting dongas and flipping some over.

An investigation following the accident revealed some dongas were not anchored building A D _ A Mto CO N M A Ystandards _ 1 2 . p for the region.

Fortescue had always rejected liability for the accidents, and it initially argued against the case on a legal technicality.

The company was originally charged under the Occupational Health and Safety Act but maintained its safety management procedures came under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act. The 2010 argument aimed to have charges dismissed as they failed to identify the measures the company should have taken to avoid risks.

In its final judgement the court rejected WorkSafe’s claims FMG and its mining contractor had a duty to maintain the dongas on its work camps.

Justice Steven Hall said a separate company had been contracted to maintain the accommodation.

“Offences of this nature do not d impose f P a liability g e 1 upon 1 8 / employers,” 0 4 / 1 2 , Hall said.

9 : 1 2

AM

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No More Tangles

“The fact that an accident has occurred and that it was possible to conceive of some means by which it could have been prevented, does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that the employer must have failed to do all that was reasonably practicable to ensure workers were not exposed to hazards.”

While Worksafe accepted the ruling it said it was disappointed with the result.

FMG marked the ruling a pleasing result.

“Fortescue is pleased that both the Magistrate’s Court and the Supreme Court have reviewed the evidence and dismissed the WorkSafe charges against the company,” it said.

Regardless of the ruling or the liability, the case brought an important safety issue for the mining industry back to the forefront.

FMG is not the only company to have faced such charges in its history, and was not alone in facing pressure following Cyclone George in 2007.

Wild weather and its safety implications are perennial issues in the mining industry and with the lives of workers at stake, the problems are

too serious to ignore.

Some construction companies have warned in the past about the need to rethink temporary mining accommodation.

All mining camps are required to have an area rated Region D, which is usually a common building such as a dining room or recreation facility.

The building serves as a common cyclone shelter and means workers can avoid getting caught in unstable or flimsy buildings likely to be impacted in storms.

For offshore operators like Apache Energy and Chevron working on the North West Shelf companies are required to have strict emergency plans which usually require the evacuation of non-essential personnel before cyclones hit the region.

Lowrie Constructions have also called on companies to employ Region D buildings as integral parts of their fly-in fly-out camps rather than additional add-ons.

With not only the safety of employees but millions of dollars of export earnings impacted by cyclones FMG’s case will have companies watchfully monitoring their policies. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMPIRMAY_12.pdf

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Servicing the Mining Industry for 30 years All Products and Services exceed MDG41 requirements Mining dedicated Service and Supply Centres with pressure testing facilities Specialists in Open Cut and Underground applications for all soft and hard rock mining All Service and Supply Centres ISO9001:2008 accredited RTO Registered by VETAB Project Management for machine overhauls and hose refurbishment NATA certified hose testing facility Experience across all OEM mining equipment manufacturers National fleet of mining specific mobile service units

AM.MAY12.PG072.pdf

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PRODUCT FOCUS: SAFETY

Handheld power Safer and more portable welding.

W

elding is by its very nature an unsafe job. When holding an extremely hot torch which is connected to flammable material you need the safest welders around.

Kemppi’s new range of light, portable welders is making this job easier and safer.

The Minarc Evo range has been designed for use in mines and can be connected to either mains or generators.

According to the company the new series offers a choice of MMA, MIG/MAG, and DC TIG welding equipment.

The models provide output current at 35 per cent duty cycles and feature power factor correction and inverter power technologies.

The Minarc Evo 140 and 150 VRD (voltage reduction device) are aimed specifically at miners.

They meet Australian standards and have been tested to achieve lower than volt A D35 _ A M Cmaximum O A 1 M Aopen Y _ 1circuit 2 . p voltage with 300Msec from peak load.

The mine specific model has a voltage reduction device embedded.

These models feature integrated VRD, a VRD operational status light and fail to safe function in the event of VRD failure.

The 140 also has a maximum 10 amp rating.

The Minarc Evo 150 is a MMA df P aand g e TIG 1 machine 1 8 / 0 that 4 / 1fea2 , tures precise arc ignition, large

voltage reserves and automatic arc dynamics control, making it suitable for welding with all electrode types.

It also has a large LED meter display, remote current control and Lift TIG ignition.

1 0Kemppi : 0 5 : also 3 6 hasA the M MinarcMig AEST EVO 170 and 200 machines, which

allows users to choose between automatic or manual mode for more precise welding.

It also has an automatic mode controlled by an adaptive arc regulation system.

Automatic mode in the MinarcMig 200 allows users to simply set the plate thickness and weld.

Its material selection includes ferrous, stainless steel, aluminium, and CuSi filler wires.

The company also has the Minarc Tig Evo 200 and 200 MLP within the new range.

These welders provide HF ignition and the control, power and work capacity to complete a variety of TIG welding tasks.

MinarcTig Evi is designed for DC TIG welding such as repair and maintenance applications.

Functions include pre and post gas time control, current upslope and downslope time control, and remote control options.

WHEN TRAINING MATTERS When safety matters

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Our courses are delivered by highly experienced and qualified specialist trainers. As leaders in the resource sector, we offer training, refresher and safety courses both on and off site.

Contact the team at Coal Train today to discuss how we can customise courses for your business or visit our website for upcoming course dates. www.coaltrain.com.au 61 Queen Street Yeppoon 4703 Ph: 07 4939 1445 Email: admin@coaltrain.com.au

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CT028

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMPAFMAY_12.pdf

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AM.MAY12.PG074.pdf

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INDONESIA

SHOCKING changes

Indonesia’s foreign ownership changes shocked miners earlier this year, but earlier fears seemed to have dissipated, Andrew Duffy reports.

E

arlier this year the Indonesian Government stunned international investors and resources companies by announcing strict new changes to mining regulations.

The changes were met with a mix of shock and skepticism, but sent analysts and miners to the drawing board to assess their impact.

Initial reports were mixed, but most stakeholders have since moved to quell earlier fears over unmanageable regulations.

Most analysts and companies agree that so long as the Indonesian Government continues to be transparent about its intentions companies will be able to work with the regulator.

The Government has already defended itself against the changes and marketed the legislation as protection against foreign interests.

Intrepid Mines managing director Brad Gordon, who leads a gold, silver, and copper-gold project in Indonesia, has joined with most other companies in playing down fears over the laws.

“The implications are limited,” he said.

“The two clear messages from us are really that the most significant effects of these regulations won’t occur until well into the future – at least 10 years or more.

Secondly the divestment will 74

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be done at a fair, commercial value. So it won’t be value destructive.”

The most significant changes stipulate that some foreign mining companies must divest 51 per cent of their projects within ten years.

The sell-off will focus on approvals granted after 2009.

The new laws also propose a ban on the export of some unprocessed minerals by 2014.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said the regulations were likely to drive up Indonesian mining costs but they would not be completely negative.

The agency said while the Government was taking a tough line on the international industry it was also unwilling to enact anything that would “kill the sector”.

BIS Shrapnel mining analyst Adrian Hart told Australian

Mining while the changes would pose some challenges to companies their impacts would be manageable.

“Mining companies are usually mainly concerned about unforeseen changes in the regulatory environment – sovereign risk,” he said.

“Most companies will adapt to changes in regulation and taxation if it is a clear and transparent process, and well signposted in advance.”

Hart’s comments endorse the prevailing view in the industry that so long as the Government works with companies the changes will be manageable.

On initial announcement of the changes mining analysts at Deloitte said the move would “make Indonesia a lot less attractive to foreign investors”.

But most stakeholders have taken a softer line.

Gordon said while the changes would have a limited impact they had also strengthened the Intrepid’s resolve “to look for other world class assets, which we’ve been doing for several years now anyway”.

With respect to the company’s two projects at Tujuh Bukit in East Java, Gordon said the laws may result in changes or delays to the company’s plans.

“We actually have two projects at Tujuh Bukit. We have a gold oxide project and a much larger copper porphyry project,” he said.

“We were going to bring the gold oxide project into production first, but if these regulations remain in place it may be preferable that we delay the gold oxide project and start both projects at the same time.

“It would mean we would hold 49 per cent of the copper porphyry project around 10 years after we get into production.”

Gordon said the changes would also have Intrepid assessing their exploration budget in Indonesia, though that was something that was regularly looked at.

“We have to be prudent in how we manage our cash in these circumstances,” he said.

While unexpected Indonesia’s mining changes should not have been a total

shock to the industry, and represent the tightening of an already strict Government.

The changes build upon a ruling several years ago stipulating foreign countries must divest 20 per cent of their projects within the first five years of production.

They were also followed by calls from some Government ministers to hike the tax on mining exports.

Government officials said atop of stricter foreign ownership laws Indonesia should place a 25 per cent tax on mining exports this year rising to 50 per cent next year.

The moves were also marketed as a step to develop Indonesia’s own mining industry and ensure locals had the most privileged access to their own resources.

Now the industry has had a chance to assess the changes beyond initial reactions most of the earlier fear over the regulations has dissolved.

But while there doesn’t seem to be a wholesale move away from Indonesia for international companies the region has lost some of its shine for the time being.

With its high quality deposits companies will no doubt keep an eye on Indonesia for the future, but where industry is heading is uncertain. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMKSBMAY_12.pdf

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AM.MAY12.PG076.pdf

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DIAMONDS

Diamonds aren’t FOREVER The long search by BHP and Rio Tinto for diamond buyers looks close to ending.

Buyers of Rio’s assets will snap up the Argyle mine in WA

D

iamonds form part of the lesser known businesses of Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.

But these assets have garnered plenty of attention recently with both companies looking to offload their interests.

BHP started the speculation first after announcing a review of its diamond business late last year.

The company said a full or partial sale was being considered.

BHP said the move was in line with its focus on “upstream” mining assets that don’t require the intensive processing requirements, such as the cutting, polishing, and marketing, that diamonds do.

“This review will examine whether a continued presence in the diamonds industry is consistent with BHP’s strategy and evaluate the potential sale of all or part of the diamonds business,” it said.

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Currently BHP’s diamonds interests are limited but not insignificant.

It owns an 80 per cent stake in the EKATI Diamond mine and had a 51 per cent stake in the Chidliak exploration project, both in Canada, which it sold in December last year.

While the company said these projects were valuable and viable it saw “few options to develop new diamond mines” that were consistent with its overarching strategy.

The EKATI mine was Canada’s first diamond mine and accounts for ten per cent of the global diamond supply.

It lies only 200 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle and the remaining 20 per cent of its ownership is split evenly between the two geologists associated with its discovery in 1991.

While BHP’s announcement came and went last year, interest in its dia-

monds was recently revived after Rio Tinto made a similar announcement.

Rio enters

Following BHP’s lead Rio Tinto said earlier this year it was considering selling off its diamonds.

Much like its competitor, Rio said it had begun a “strategic review” that would include looking for potential buyers.

Rio’s diamonds business is slightly smaller than BHP’s, but also includes an Australian project.

The company owns the Argyle mine in WA, where the largest ever pink rough diamond was uncovered earlier this year.

Elsewhere in the world Rio has controlling interests in the Diavik project in Canada, the Murowa project in Zimbabwe, and the Bunder development in India.

Miners in Zimbabwe took a major regulatory hit

this year after the Government raised mining and licence fees by between 500 and 5,000 per cent.

Registration of diamond claims were also hiked by a factor of five, rising from $US1 million up to $US5 million.

Like BHP, Rio said the diamonds market was still positive but it was better suited to other industries.

“The diamonds market outlook is very positive, with demand growing strongly and lack of new discoveries limiting supply,” it said.

“We have a valuable, high quality diamonds business, but given its scale we are reviewing whether we can create more value through a different ownership structure.”

No detail

The exact details on Rio’s strategy and its reasons for backing the diamonds sale aren’t public.

Unlike BHP Rio is not immediately turned off by downstream assets, but it has been divesting similar assets over the past few years.

For Rio part of its concern about the diamond business centres on the size of the industry.

The company said the diamond business was a small sector and better suited to smaller companies.

Like BHP Rio had earlier been unwilling to give a timeline for any action and said the process “may take some time”.

Bright future

Early indications hinted both mining giants would not have trouble finding buyers for their assets.

At the start of the year market researcher IBISWorld predicted diamond mining would be the fastest growing industry in 2012.

It said while the diamond business had delivered www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM.MAY12.PG077.pdf

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DIAMONDS

five consecutive years of decline it was set for a strong comeback in Australia.

IBISWorld general manager Karen Dobie explained the growth would come on the back of lower global prices, a rising Australian dollar, and higher production levels.

She said together diamond and gemstone mining would rake in around $600 million this year, up 36 per cent on 2011’s takings.

Pressure builds

Last month expectations of a BHP and Rio sale rose even further after research firm Nomura released a paper suggesting Rio and BHP could have more success selling their assets if they BHP’s EKATI mine was Canada’s first diamond mine teamed up.

BHP and Rio’s diamond businesses are worth around largest diamond companies. owned Alrosa would have $2.2 billion and $1.9 billion “The rationale would larger diamond businesses. respectively, which repre- be the creation of the largNomura endorsed the sents less than one per cent est listed diamond company earlier diamond market reof each company’s value. with a solid asset base and search by IBISWorld and But Nomura said pooled lower overall sovereign said potential buyers of Rio together, at close to $4.1 risk,” it said. and BHP’s assets would billion, the assets would Analysts said only De in A D _ A MK O P MA Y _ 1 2 . p d f P a g e 1 1 1 / 0likely 4 / do 1 2well , 1 0the : future.

0 8 : 4 8 create one of the world’s Beers and Russian state“The market has posi-

www.miningaustralia.com.au

tive fundamentals with maturing mines and growing Asian demand,” it said.

Bubble bursts

Throughout this process Rio and BHP kept quiet. the ruse A But M A ES T was up after news emerged the private

equity firm KKR was planning on combining Rio and BHP’s assets as Nomura had suggested.

While the deal is anything but sealed, KKR appears to be leading bids after several other diamond firms dropped out. Neither Rio nor BHP are making public comments on the deal, and did not mention KKR in enquires from Australian Mining.

Rio expects around $2 billion for its diamond division, eyed separately by KKR, and the equity firm is also leading a $750 million bid for BHP’s EKATI mine.

The story of this deal highlights some of the secrecy involved with both mining deals.

And it also highlights the impact external speculation and research can have on changes in the industry.

While nothing is certain, as is so often the case in mining, the deal highlights a rising interest in the diamond industry, a sector we’re likely to hear more from in the future.

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AM.MAY12.PG078.pdf

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Q&A

Q and A Australian Mining discusses mining’s big issues with the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy acting CEO Nigel Long. Andrew Duffy reports.

T

he South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy is one of SA’s most prominent mining advocates. It has strong links to the resources industry and works across private companies and the Government to keep the mining industry growing sustainably. Australian Mining caught up with the Chamber’s acting CEO Nigel Long to discuss the big issues in SA’s industry.

Q: Which issues are of most concern to SACOME at the moment?

A: The big things for us are the indications the State Government is considering additional budget saving measures targeting the mining industry. We’ve some great concerns for cuts to the diesel fuel rebate scheme and deductabilities for research and development and exploration expenditure.

Because South Australia is still very much an exploration state ending the immediate deductability of exploration spending could curtail exploration activity. When we’re just starting to see exploration get past post-GFC levels that’s of real concern. It’s encouraging to see the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing a continued rise in exploration but if these sorts of measures are enacted they could curtail growth in the industry.

While there’s an exploration boom we’re more than aware that we’ve already got 19 mines either producing or approved, and there’s a key issue around workforce and having the number of people available to meet demand. Skills are also critical, not just the immediate skills from training but also workplace readiness. We’re very much focusing on making sure that the training and education programs are in place to meet the range of jobs necessary for the industry. We also have to make sure this training is up to the level that meets the requirements of the sector.

We’ve also got a renewed focus on community engagement because we’re seeing a lot more exploration in high productivity agricultural land and in highly populated areas. In the past the mining industry was focused in the state’s far north, where there was the pastoral industry, but it didn’t have the same 78

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Mining and exploration is booming in South Australia.

impact on communities as it will further south. In these new regions we have a greater range of industries and we’re also seeing people living in the area for lifestyle regions.

Q: Do you think there are things to learn about community engagement from how the coal seam gas industry has played out in Queensland?

A: Yes. While we’re not talking about the same kind of concerns with respect to fracking and the impact on aquifers, that industry reminds you of what’s important, which is being engaged with your community. This engagement is not just something companies have to do; it’s something they have to embed into the way they do business. At the end of the day you might have an economically viable resource and you may have all the licencing requirements done through the regulator but unless you have the community on side you’re not

going to have a sustainable project.

Q: Has SACOME heard directly from mining companies about workers entering the industry and not being adequately trained?

A: Yes, that’s the feedback we’re getting from some of our members.

We know that some companies have taken on their own Registered Training Organisations to create training programs to meet their needs. Obviously no mine is exactly the same and there are always going to be differences between mines that no course can cover in full. Onsite training and inductions will always be needed. But we’re not talking about those things. In some cases the quality of programs, in terms of what workers are learning, is just not up to scratch and it’s not to the standard required at some companies. We really need to have those training programs, be they public or

private, better match industry expectations so workers don’t have to do courses again.

Q: Do you have concerns about the state’s current infrastructure?

A: Our key infrastructure requirements centre on the need for a bulk commodities port. There are three locations identified. Port Bonython has been a long standing one for us at the Chamber, we’re trying to get that developed for the burgeoning iron ore mines towards Coober Pedy and the Eyre Peninsula. We’re also looking at Port Spencer to further the iron ore projects in the southern Eyre Peninsula but that could also be a multi-commodity port feeding into the agricultural sector.

The Eyre Peninsula is also very poorly serviced by electricity from the national electricity grid and that’s something that’s critical for the mines in the region. Rail is also a significant factor, the lower Eyre Peninsula is serviced by narrow gauge rail and there is no connectivity with the rest of the state’s network. We’re looking at the whole range of infrastructure needs for the industry and we need to be looking at how these different regions connect from development right through to the export stage.

Q: What is your relationship with the State Government and what do you think of the Federal Government’s mining policies?

A: We’ve got a very supportive Government in this state. There are aspects that we’re keen on the Government to move forward on, Port Bonython being once example, and it would be fair to say they haven’t shown the level of commitment to that project we’d like to see. But overall we have a very constructive relationship with the State Government and it’s our view this State understands the mining industry a lot better than the Federal Government.

What we’ve seen from the Federal Government with the introduction of some of these taxes is a lack of understanding about mining and the implications these policies have on mining and the development of the industry. From our perspective the Minerals Resources Rent Tax and Carbon tax are very much just a matter of getting the budget back in surplus for political reasons. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMBLAMAY_12.pdf

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AM.MAY12.PG080.pdf

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Belt scrapers

Increased wear life.

Metso has released an updated version of its successful trellex belt scrapers. Its trellex ABC 70 is well known throughout the industry, and now Metso has engineered it to be better.

According to the company, by adjusting the existing design and materials it has managed to increase wear life by around 25 per cent, improved its stability and performance, and has even made the belt scrapers even easier to install.

Metso added that “we’ve made changes to our own production process -making the new and improved trellex ABC 70 more easily available to hard working mines worldwide”. the trellex ABC 70 is fully compatible with other trellex pre-cleaners such as the ABC 90 and the ABC 95, which means operators do not need to carry out any mechanical alterations when changing to a different blade type.

• Metso Minerals Australia 07 3623 2999 www.metso.com

Air handling ContInued circulation of air is one of the most important factors in underground mining. on the back of servicing this continued need, Automated Control engineering (A.C.e.) and Weber have introduced the vent-captor 3201. According to Solid state switching device. the company the 3201 vent-captor is a solid state switching and monitoring device for use in industrial air handling applications. the compact air flow monitor 3201is a self-contained switching device without any mechanical moving parts that converts flow conditions into electrical switching signals. the 3201 has been designed to be simply installed into any air flow application and perform reliably even under the harshest environmental conditions.

It features a repeatable alarm, adjustable set points, has a switching range from 1 m/s through to 10 m/s, has a medium temperature of between minus 20 degrees Celsius and up to 70 degrees Celsius, and is ‘universally applicable”. the product is sold by A.C.e. in Australia.

• Automated Control Engineering 02 4954 5004 sales@aceg.com.au www.aceg.com.au

Safety boots

Foot protection.

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tHe mine site takes a heavy toll on work wear. If the clothes aren’t up to scratch then miners will soon know. Wolverine has released its footwear line in Australia, which is designed for the harsher environments. the company says “it is designed to move with you in your environment, and provides flexibility and comfort of an athletic show with the support and durability of a work boot”. this range includes both safety toe and soft toe options. the latest shoes are the Guardian and the Guardian8.

Features include a carbon max safety toe, eVA midsoles for weight reduction without a loss of protection, heavy duty outsoles with aggressive tread designs for unstable or slippery ground, a leather upper, and padded collars for increased ankle support. According to Wolverine the carbon max advance safety toe is 50 per cent lighter than steel, but still offers the same level of protection. the Guardian is a six inch mid cut boot, while the Guardian8 offers eight inches of support around the ankle and “is an ideal shoe for mines,” Wolverine says.

• Wolverine www.wolverineaustralia.com.au

AustralianMining

Bulk materials loosening A new ‘Block Buster’ bulk bag conditioner is helping to loosen solidified materials. Flexicon’s Block Buster has two hydraulic rams and specially contoured end plates that press the opposing sides of bulk bags, loosening materials that have solidified during shipment and storage, enabling bulk Has hydraulic rams. bag unloaders to discharge it through bag spouts.

A cantilevered I-beam with motorised hoist and trolley allows loading and unloading of bulk bags without the use of a forklift. the bag can also be raised and lowered using the hoist, and rotated manually, for conditioning at any height on all sides. the system controller and hydraulic pump can be mounted on the exterior of the safety cage or remotely. the conditioner is fully enclosed on all four sides for operator safety and includes full-height doors that are interlocked to disallow operation of the system when the doors are open. the conditioner is recommended for bulk bags containing hygroscopic chemicals and other materials prone to solidifying to the point at which pneumatically-actuated flow promotion accessories integral to bulk bag dischargers are inefficient or completely ineffective.

An optional hydraulically actuated, variable height turntable allows for automated in-frame bag rotation and conditioning of bulk bags at varying heights. the number and pressure of hydraulic ram actuations, the height of the turntable, and the number of 90 degree rotations are all user programmable. the conditioner can come as a stand alone unit or integrated into Flexicon’s bulk bag discharging systems.

• Flexicon 07 3879 4180 sales@flexicon.com.au www.flexicon.com.au

Drilling coolant one way to avoid problems during drilling, particularly deep hole drilling, is to look at your coolant delivery system. three types of coolant systems are common: flood coolant, lowpressure through-spindle coolant and high-pressure throughspindle coolant. With flood coolant, less and less coolant reaches the tool tip the deeper the drill penetrates the workpiece. eventually, no coolant can get to the bottom, and machining occurs dry. As a result, chips become impacted Medium pressure units. in the flutes of the tool even though coolant is visibly flowing over the top of the hole.

In fact, the hole ends up being dry cut, while the tool heats up and is subjected to premature wear or breakage. However, retrofitting a machine for high-pressure coolant supply can be a costly exercise and for many operations the extremely high-pressure of 70bar is not always necessary.

Medium-pressure coolant systems can be a good alternative, because they still have a positive effect on both chip breaking and heat. dimac tooling has released new Cooljet Medium-Pressure units, which overcomes this issue. the coolant forced into the cutting zone at a medium pressure is more effective in removing heat than at low pressure and increases tool life and allows the use of higher cutting data. the new Cooljet Medium-Pressure unit features a fixed coolant flow of 30l/ min (8gpm) at 20bar (300psi), a single high-capacity filter and a 150 litre (40 gallon) tank. the unit allows for a quick and affordable installation, without the need to modify the machine tool.

A Plug&Pump interface developed by Cooljet allows rapid and intelligent connection. on top of this, the machine is compact and only occupies a space of .5 metres by 1 metres.

• Dimac Tooling 03 9561 6155 www.dimac.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.MAY12.PG082.pdf

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Infrared thermometer

Palletising robots

Ircon has unveiled its Modline 7 series of infrared thermometers for heavy duty industrial environments. According to the company, the Modline 7 is a rugged IP65 (nEMA 4) sealed sensor system with the ability to carry out continuous temperature monitoring and control. The thermometers are used in a wide variety of industrial applications such as processing and furnace refractory. It offers exceptional versatility with extended temperature ranges (-40ÂşF to 5432ÂşF/3000Âşc), high-resolution optics and fast response times.

For heavy industrial environments.

The thermometer’s sensing head can operate as a stand-alone sensor, providing simultaneous analogue and digital outputs of process temperatures. Motorised focus control and both through-the-lens and laser sighting are standard on all units. The new thermometer’s intuitive sensor design – with integral water-cooling in a stainless steel enclosure or high-temperature water jacket – reduces installation and setup time. The water jacket is intended for use in ambient temperatures up to 599ºF/315ºc with an integrated air purge capability.

An optional air purge collar accessory enables the lens to be cooled and kept free of debris in hot dusty environments.

In addition, the Modline 7 standardized installation accessories and common Windows ModView Pro software platform minimize multiple product configurations at the user’s facility. Sensor setup and monitoring can be accomplished either from the rear panel of the instrument or from the ModView Pro software. This allows for remote Pc-based sensor configuration, temperature monitoring, trending and archiving via an intuitive graphical user interface.

For example, users can change the temperature display from degrees Fahrenheit to degrees celsius, adjust emissivity levels, scale the range, focus the sensor, activate filters (e.g., peak hold, valley hold, and averaging) and save data for future reference or graphing.

The sensor system also features preset alarms for early warning detection, system on/off control or quality record keeping. A programmable relay output can be triggered manually by product temperature (process alarm), sensor internal temperature (sensor alarm) or manually.

Modline 7 Series thermometers use high-speed digital signal processors with an rS-485 serial data communications networking capability that supports up to 32 sensors. • AMS Instruments and Calibration 03 9017 8225 sales@ams-ic.com.au www.ams-ic.com.au A D _ A MP E L MA Y _ 1 2 . p d f Pa ge 1 1 8 / 0 4 / 1 2 , 4 : 2 3 : 2 7 PM

ABB has launched an automated, robotic machine designed for high speed end of processing line palletizing. Its PalletPack 460 now features the new IrB 4460 robot.

The 4-axis IrB 460 features a 110-kilogram capacity plus a reach of 2.4 meters. Its compact footprint makes it ideal for integration into existing packing lines, convenient for high-speed bag or compact end of processing line case palletizing.

ABB’s PalletPack consists of an IrB 460 robot; a Flex-Gripper (either the claw or one-zone clamp gripper); a control PLc; a safety PLc; PalletWare support software; user documentation; and the ABB FlexPendant featuring an easy-to-use graphical human machine interface.

A key feature of the PalletPack is the wizard enabled set up and programming, which makes programming very similar to that used for a traditional PLc. This enables PLc programmers – without specific robotic experience – to program the system, eliminating the complications that can arise when a specific programming skill set is required.

The programming and operation are carried out via the user friendly FlexPendant, the standard ABB robotics human machine interface.

This features a graphical interface with four user friendly screens; pallet and pick set up, pallet pattern set up, path profile and movement edition. • ABB 1800 222 435 abbhelp@au.abb.com www.abbaustralia.com.au

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AD_AMSCHMAY_12.pdf

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AM.MAY12.PG084.pdf

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Failsafe valves

Planetary gearboxes

RotoRk has unveiled its new range of manually energised spring-return actuators for failsafe valves. the new Rotork ManPower range is built for valves that are infrequently operated.

According to the company these actuators reduce installation time and expense since no external electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic power supply is required.

Needs no external power supply to operate.

Suitable for a wide range of ball, butterfly, and plug valves, the scotch-yoke actuators are equipped with a compact, self contained manually operated hydraulic power pack.

A hydraulic hand pump on the power pack is used to operate the actuator and compress the failsafe spring, holding the valve in the open or closed position until a failsafe signal is received, at which point the spring immediately drives the valve to the safe position.

Failsafe operation of ManPower units can be triggered by electrical signals, high or low pressure pilots or fire sensors, enabling the successful fulfilment of many ESD (Emergency Shutdown) and pressure related protection duties in the oil, gas, petrochemical and pipeline industries.

Rotork ManPower actuators are available with output torques up to 45,000 Nm, with explosion proof and watertight certification to international standards. A wide range of options includes local position indication, integral limit switches, speed control, high speed operation, local electrical controls, manual reset and corrosion resistant trims. Where space is restricted the ManPower hydraulic module can be located separately from the valve. Standard units are suitable for a temperature range from -23ºC to +60ºC and equipped with built-in temperature compensation.

• Rotork Controls 03 5338 1566 www.rotork.com A D _ A MI D E C MA Y _ 1 2 . p d f Pa ge 1 2 0 / 0 4 / 1 2 , 1 2 : 3 6

PittMAN has released planetary gearboxes for DC motors to increase torque density.

According to the company “the G30A planetary gearboxes are designed with maximum torque density and durability in mind”. the smaller gearboxes are engineered to complement five different series of motors to allow a wider range of output torques and speeds. the mounting profile is 30.5mm (1.20-in) in diameter, or 38.0mm (1.50-in) square when the optional mounting flange is used.

Gearbox lengths vary depending on the gear reduction and range from 33.7mm (1.33-in) to 51.2mm (2.02-in).

Fourteen standard reduction ratios are available ranging from 4:1 to 1296:1 and allow a maximum output load of 2.47Nm (350 oz-in) to 8.83Nm (1250 oz-in). Custom gear ratios can also be configured to meet just about any application need. the G30A planetary gearboxes incorporate sintered steel planet gears to promote high torque capacity and low audible noise while maintaining its compact design.

Single piece carrier plates with integral gear posts and sun gear can be arranged to achieve many different reduction ratios. the gearbox output is through a 416 stainless steel shaft and a sintered metal output bearing. optional ball bearings are available for high radial loads.

Pittman says these gearboxes complement its brush, brushless, and DC motors.

“When the G30A is combined with the latest motor materials and manufacturing technology such as high energy neodymium magnets, silicon lamination steel, and advanced winding techniques to maximize slot fill, a high-efficiency system is created perfectly suited for high-tech motion applications,” it added.

• Pittman Motors www.pittman-motors.com

PM

LF1B-N SERIES (IP65) LED LIGHTS • • • • • • • •

Energy Saving: One third of fluorescent lamps Space Saving: 16mm high x 27.5mm wide Long life: Five times of fluorescent lamps Vibration and shock resistant, RoHS compliant 5 length options from 134mm to 1,080mm Improved brightness, Additional colour options Choice of clear or white cover 70% of initial luminance at 40,000 Hrs

Part Number Structure

L F 1 B – N C 3 P – 2 THWW2 – 3M Length: Illumination Colour: A: 134mm (5.275”) THWW2: Cool White Cover: B: 210mm (8.267”) TLWW2: Warm White 3: Clear C: 330mm (12.992”) SHY2: Yellow 4: White D: 580mm (22.834”) SHR2: Red E: 830mm (32.677”) THS2: Blue F: 1080mm (42.519”) SHG2: Green

Cable Length: 3M: 3 metres

(Operating voltage range: 21.6 to 26.4V)

For more information contact IDEC,

Phone: 1800 68 4332 84

May 2012

AustralianMining

Email: sales@au.idec.com

Web: www.idec.com/australia www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMVICMAY_12.pdf

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M i n i n g

S o l u t i o n S

Fast. saFe. RelIable.

A complete line of shouldered couplings, fittings and valves from Victaulic.

Victaulic shouldered Fittings

Victaulic shouldered butterfly Valves

CoMIng soon! Victaulic HDPeto-shouldered transition Couplings

Meet construction deadlines and compress schedules

Maintain speed, simplicity and quality for the entire system

Shouldered Installation-Ready couplings eliminate loose parts on the job and install up to 10 times faster than other pipe joining methods.

Victaulic Shouldered Butterfly Valves and HDPE-to-Shouldered Transition Couplings provide a complete system of versatile shouldered products for underground and surface mine piping applications.

Improve jobsite safety Couplings, fittings and valves install easily and quickly without fire hazards and noxious fumes, eliminating the need for costly precautionary measures associated with hot-works.

Contact us today to schedule a hands-on demonstration of Victaulic Shouldered Solutions at your facility! vicaust@victaulic.com +61 39392 4000

www.victaulic.com/mining

Victaulic1028043 FINAL.indd 1

18/04/2012 09:57:35 CLIENT:

Victaulic

PUBLICATION:

Australia’s Mining

AM.MAY12.PG086.pdf

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Machinery cleaners

The supports have full coating saddles.

Pipe supports Swift Metal Services has expanded their range of heavy duty pipe supports. these supports are produced in accordance with client specifications and available in sizes ranging from 300mm up to two metres in diameter.

According to the company it has already working with major contractors such as thiess and watpac. its heavy duty pipe supports have a full coating for the saddles, with galvanizing and powder-coating the most common finishing.

Swift pipe supports are available with linings such as neoprene, to prevent abrasive wear points, where vibration of pipes and tubes may be an issue. the company added that it has capacity to produce 20 pipe brackets through to thousand, and has short lead times as well. for further information on sizes and weight capacities contact Swift.

• Swift Metal Services 1800 626 525 sales@swiftmetal.com.au www.swiftmetal.com.au

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AuSSie Pumps has released its new 4000 psi portable engine drive Scud range of cleaners.

According to Aussie these cleaners were designed specifically with plant operators and miners in mind.

Designed for the toughest applications, Scud 400 delivers a whopping 4,000 psi pressure, or 6,400 psi when used with an Aussie turbo Lance. the company says “it can blow mud, dirt and even concentrated built up caked dust from oil leaks, away in seconds”.

Designed specifically for mining. it adds that it can be adapted for the specific need. for example, the basic Scud 400 can be equipped with an integrated lifting bar for use on-site, can come in a “mine spec” version with a Yanmar diesel engine, and more importantly, can be fitted with a hose reel with up to 50m of high pressure hose on board. that integrated hose reel means the operator can clean a big piece of plant without having to move the machine. it is powered by a Bertolini pump fitted with ceramic pistons, for a longer life. these pumps also come with rapid action check valves, and high temperature seals.

A valve cap system prevents cap failure due to over pressurisation by isolating valve cap thread.

A range of engines are available, from Honda standard recoil start petrols to electric start versions and optional diesel drives. the standard diesel is the Yanmar 10hp, but bigger horsepower Kohler engines are also available as an option. it has a heavy duty one piece steel construction, is hot dip galvanised, with integrated tie down points and lance holders integrated into the design.

Scuds also come with four large wheels with 13” pneumatic, off road tyres, as standard. the Aft also includes a thermal dump valve that prevents the machine from overheating in the event of excessive bypass running.

• Aussie Pumps www.aussiepumps.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Single axis servos Rockwell Automation is distributing its Allen-Bradley kinetix 350 single axis servo drives. These drives provide motion scalability and connect and operates with the new family of compactlogix controllers, supporting Integrated Motion on etherNet/IP. cIP Sync and cIP motion technologies provide real-time, closed-loop motion control on standard ethernet. This topology-independent network provides a simplified integration of the entire control solution on one network, including programmable automation controllers (PAcs), human-machine interface, I/o and motion.The kinetix 350 requires less panel space and can be connected easily. In addition, users can Requires less panel space. reduce design, installation and commissioning time by reusing code across various logix control platforms. Programmed with RSlogix 5000 software, the servo drive provides a scalable motion system to be used with controllogix and compactlogix PAcs. • Rockwell Automation 03 3757 1111 www.rockwellautomation.com.au

Reversible drum system

Fills drums in 2 mins.

coMPReSSed Air Australia has released exair’s new reversible drum vac system. Powered by compressed air it has no motors or impellers that may clog or wear out. Its high powered vacuum fills a 205-litre drum in less than two minutes. with the simple turn of a knob, the same stainless steel pump quickly empties the drum. coolant sumps can be easily refilled; floor spills vacuumed, or contaminated liquids transferred to filtration tanks in minutes. The flow rate in and out of the drum can be controlled with the knob, making it ideal for dispensing liquids. electrically operated “all purpose” vacuums aren’t designed for use in industrial environments, as a result, motors wear out quickly and impellers clog. However as the reversible drum vac does not use electricity and has no moving parts, it assures maintenance free operation. An automatic safety shutoff valve prevents spills or overfilling.

• Compressed Air Australia 1300 787 688 www.caasafety.com.au

Rugged modules Combination sensors.

Pressure sensors AMeRIcAN Sensor Technologies have launched a combo pressure/ temperature sensor and pressure/ temperature transmitter. The transmitters provide both pressure and temperature outputs from a single process point. This dual output configuration reduces process penetration points and leaks s in critical systems such as hydrogen, oxygen, heavy oil processing, hydraulics, analysers, offshore, pipelines and ammonia systems.

• American Sensor Technologies www.astsensors.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

Ge has unleashed its bcoM6-l1200 rugged type 6 coM express Module for heavy duty and rugged applications.

Originally for military works. originally designed for military applications, the bcoM6-l1200 is ideal for oeMs designing computing platforms into equipment for industrial and harsh environments. By separating the carrier card from the processor, the bcoB6-l1200’s coM express architecture extends the useful life of the sub system by allowing simple, cost-effective upgrade of the processor alone. This reduces long term cost of ownership while ensuring that performance keeps pace with changing needs. on-board components are specifically selected for their reliability in demanding conditions, and, unlike solutions designed for benign environments, processor and memory are soldered to the board for maximum resistance to shock and vibration. extended mechanical construction protects the module, which is designed for optional coating for even greater resistance to moisture, dust, chemicals, and temperature extremes. For systems integrators looking for solutions that deliver high performance coupled with low power consumption, the bcoM6-l1200 offers a range of five VIA Nano and VIA eden processor options, with performance between 800MHz and 1.2GHz (x2.)

• Metromatics 07 3868 4255 www.metromatics.com.au

g in v o m th r a e r u o y l l For a nt solutions. equipme AVAILABLE FOR HIRE/SALE: • WHEEL LOADERS Cat 972H, 980H, 988H, 992G & K • DUMP TRUCKS Cat 773D & F, 775F, 777C, D, F & G, Komatsu HD785-7 • DOZERS Cat D8T, D9T, D10R & T & D11R & T, Komatsu D375-5EO and D475-3 • GRADERS Cat 140H & M, 14H, 16H & M • EXCAVATORS, Hitachi ZX870, EX1200 & EX1900 • SCRAPERS Cat 623G, 631G, 637G & 657E • MANUFACTURE purpose built Water Trucks & Service Module Units • SUPPLY Heavy Haulage

FREECALL:

t 1800 000 830 www.andysem.com.au

SALES: Darren Rawson +61 439 789 994 darren@andysem.com.au

RENTAL: Daryl Hogan +61 418 389 285 daryl@andysem.com.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Harry Garft 0458 775 992 QUEENSLAND: Rob Featherstone 0428 789 793 AustralianMining

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AM.MAY12.PG088.pdf

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9th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards In this issue we have a brief word from some of the sponsors about their companies and why they choose to sponsor the Prospect Awards.

Prospect Consulting

Xstrata Coal

Prospect Consulting provides outstanding Recruitment and Management Consulting services to the resources and energy sectors nationally. Our experience gives us knowledge of the real issues facing organisations, allowing us to focus on developing solutions that are relevant, pragmatic and cost-effective.

Whether it has been providing Recruitment Process Outsourcing services to meet bulk recruitment needs, delivering tailored safety programs or implementing a global management operating system on behalf of a client, we are a trusted partner to leading industry players through all phases of the boom and bust cycle. Since 1993 we have been helping organisations maximise their people and business performance. Our approach is simple: performance through people.

Prospect Consulting is proud to once again be a sponsor of the Australian Mining Prospect Awards. We are excited to be associated with the Awards and to be able to officially recognise the mining companies and individuals that have shown innovation and superior performance throughout 2012.

Xstrata Coal Queensland is proud to support the Australian Mining Prospect Awards by sponsoring the Community Interaction category that celebrates the investment that the mining industry makes in regional communities.

Xstrata Coal is the world’s largest international exporter of thermal coal and one of the largest producers of hard coking coal, producing both premium quality hard coking coal and semi-soft coal. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Xstrata Coal has interests in over 30 operating coal mines throughout Australia, South Africa and Colombia. In 2010 Xstrata Coal’s Australian operations produced approximately 70 million tonnes of coal for export and domestic use from 15 mines, the majority of which are located in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales and the Bowen Basin in Queensland.

Xstrata Coal employs approximately 8,200 Australians. In 2011 our continuing commitment to the communities in which we operate is demonstrated by our investment of more than $18 million in more than 50 different community initiatives across the areas of health, the community, arts and culture, education and training, including more than $3.5 million to assist flood affected communities in Queensland.

MMD Mining Machinery Developments (MMD) designs and manufactures mineral sizing (crushing) equipment and services to the mining, metallurgical, industrial minerals, alumina and other industries.

The core products, Mineral Sizers (crushers) and Feeders offer a solution to problems such as variable ore properties, product requirements, site conditions and environmental issues.

Founded in 1978, to design and manufacture equipment for the UK underground coal mining industry, today MMD size over 60 different minerals world wide, in many varied process industries.

MMD Sizing equipment is available for surface or underground installations, stationary or mobile, and for climatic conditions ranging from arctic to tropical. The MMD Sizer range now includes, primary, secondary and tertiary Sizers for wet and dry processing of metallic and non-metallic minerals for mining, industrial minerals and quarrying industries.

To complement the robust Twin Shaft Mineral Sizer, MMD has designed and developed a range of heavy duty Apron Plate Feeders, which convey unbroken material to the crushing plant.

Standard widths available are 1500, 2000, 3000 and 4000mm on D4, D7, D9 and D11 Caterpillar sealed and lubricated tractor chain.

The mobile and semi-mobile sizer systems developed by MMD are both high in capacity and compact in size when compared to the traditional technology in this field. The latest range of MMD Mobile Sizers have the ability to offer mine operators unprecedented levels of productivity, and therefore very low operating costs per tonne.

These energy efficient electrically driven “Green Mining Solutions” are all designed to assist mining companies to achieve the double bottom line of being both economic and environmentally friendly.

MMD is proud to be the long-running sponsor of the Australian Mine of the Year award.

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Caltex Australia Caltex is Australia’s leading transport fuel supplier and convenience retailer and the only integrated oil refining and marketing company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Our business value chain incorporates supply, refining, logistics and marketing.

We are committed to operational excellence at all levels. We strive for clean, safe, reliable operations for the benefit of our employees, contractors, franchisees, resellers and stakeholders alike.

Be a leader in Australia’s mining industry and nominate today

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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NOVEMBER 1, SYDNEY For close to ten years the Australian Mining Prospect Awards has recognised and celebrated innovation and performance in the industry.

Last year close to 400 of the industry’s best gathered to highlight an industry that is excelling amidst a global down turn. And now it plans to gather again to showcase all that mining in Australia can do, and those that are making a difference. Are you?

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES • Mine of the Year • Hardrock Mine of the Year • Coal Mine of the Year • Explorer of the Year • Mine Manager of the Year • Contract Miner of the Year • Minerals Processing Plant of the Year • Contribution to Mining

• Employer of Choice • Mining’s Woman of the Year • Young Achiever • Community Interaction • Innovative Mining Solutions • Excellence in Mine OH&S • Excellence in Environmental Management

AND NEW FOR 2012 The People’s Choice award, which is chosen from the awards recognising individual achievement and is voted on by an online poll at www.miningaustralia.com.au

DON’T MISS MINING’S NIGHT OF NIGHTS

BE A PART OF IT! Download the nomination kit at www.miningaustralia.com.au/awards

For further information, please contact (02) 9422 2759 or email awards@miningaustralia.com.au SPONSORED BY:

AM.MAY12.PG090.pdf

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MINING JOBS

To advertise a new job contact Hussein Azzan at 02 9422 2851

To see the latest jobs available visit www.miningaustralia.com.au, which is updated daily.

Technical SaleS/Service repreSenTaTive – cenTral WeST or norThern nSW, coalfieldS company: minova description: This is a fantastic opportunity to make a significant difference within a global leader, specialist manufacturer and provider of products and services to the underground mining industry. Your combined sales and industry experience will assist you to be successful in identifying opportunities to build existing business.

As part of a Technical Sales & Services Representative team, covering the Northern or Central West NSW Coalfields (2 opportunities) you will be reporting directly to the Service Manager and act as solution specialist, liaising with teams and client managers to ensure our product and services are meeting the high quality standards expected by our business.

The key to your success will be the demonstration of: Exceptional industry/trade knowledge (familiar with underground support preferred), technical Sales/Services Experience (construction, tunnelling, mining or similar) and developed, adaptive communication & relationship building skills. please apply by visiting www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs manager BelT & ShuTdoWn ServiceS company: Bhp BilliTon description: The Manager Belt & Shutdown Services oversees maintenance activities based on site shutdown requirements and condition based maintenance strategies for conveyor belts.

Reporting through to the Head of Central Maintenance Fixed Plant, this Perth based role requires regular travel to site to successfully lead and develop the FIFO crews responsible for delivery of the services. The primary function of this role is to assist site maintenance teams to deliver target plant availability.

The individual we require will be a superior performer, with leadership, people management, and operational management capability. Your solid understanding of maintenance and engineering practices will be supported by relevant tertiary or trade qualifications and extensive experience in delivering outstanding results in asset maintenance.

This position is based in our Osborne Park office. Our offices are easily accessible by road and public transport. Our buildings provide unique working spaces embracing the latest state of the art technology.

A competitive remuneration package is offered commensurate with experience, and includes performance incentive, a generous superannuation A Dand_shares A Mscheme.

I N P MA Y _ 1 2 . p d f Pa ge scheme To submit your application please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs

aSSiSTanT SuperviSor – TruckS company: rio TinTo description: As a world leader in finding, mining and processing the earth’s mineral resources, Rio Tinto delivers minerals and metals that meet global needs and contribute to improving our living standards. Our success depends not only on the quality and diversity of the Group’s assets, but also on the talent, skills and safety of our people.

The Assistant Supervisor, Trucks supports the crew Supervisor in the following areas – managing safety, leadership, training and efficient resource allocation of the work crew with a specific focus on the short term scheduled maintenance plan.

The Truck Maintenance Department at HVO is responsible for carrying out the preventative and breakdown maintenance activities on all Haul Trucks and Letourneau Loaders.

To succeed in this role you will need to have a mechanical trade qualification and some previous experience with Microsoft office and SAP programs.

You should also have demonstrated the ability of building positive working relationships with key stakeholders. The ability to initiate and implement change with commitment and drive are essential attributes to the role. This is a great opportunity to take the next step in your career into a leadership role! apply now at www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs accounTanT: coSTS company: goldfieldS auSTralia description: Gold Fields Australia are currently seeking an Accountant: Costs to join their Commercial at St Ives Gold Mine.

Reporting to the Superintendent: Management Accountant, you will be responsible for contributing to the overall effectiveness of the business, as an integral part of the Business Analysis team by taking ownership of the St Ives Budgeting Process from Start to Finish as well as preparing all Quarterly and Rolling Monthly Forecasts. The incumbent will also be responsible for driving the cost review process across site and conducting the NPV Analysis of Business Plans and options. key responsibilities will include: Developing the budgeting capability of the Operating Departments, to deliver timely and accurate forecasts in accordance with agreed timetables and guidelines and enhancing the capability of the company to consistently achieve mining, production and development targets in alignment with legislative requirements by diligently 1applying 1 and 2 /imparting 0 4 /knowledge 1 2 , and 4skills. : 2 8 : 1 6 PM A Gold Fields is committed to developing the skills of its team which means

you will have the opportunity to discuss your career goals with your manager and identify possible pathways available to you within our growing global company to achieve your personal and professional goals. please apply by visiting www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs geologiST: mining company: goldfieldS auSTralia description: Gold Fields Australia is the 4th largest Gold Mining Company in Australia and with two Operations in Regional Western Australia and an Operations Support Office in West Perth.

Gold Fields Australia are currently seeking a Geologist: Mining to join their Mineral Resources team at St Ives Gold Mine.

This role is offered on an 5 days on, 2 days off roster and would require the incumbent to be residential in Kalgoorlie or Kambalda. key responsibilities will include: Ensuring timely and accurate collation of geological data and reports, contributing to the geological interpretation and modelling process and working with the open pit team in order to maximise the return from the mine through minimisation of dilution and maximisation of recovery.

Gold Fields is committed to developing the skills of its team which means you will have the opportunity to discuss your career goals with your manager and identify possible pathways available to you within our growing global company to achieve your personal and professional goals. please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs to apply.

E

adviSor: ohS company: goldfieldS auSTralia description: Gold Fields is currently seeking an Advisor: OHS to join the Occupational Health and Safety Team at St Ives.

This role is offered on an 8 days on 6 days off roster, and would require the incumbent to be residential in Kalgoorlie or Kambalda. For successful candidates relocating from Interstate or other locations, Gold Fields provide a generous relocation package to assist with the associated costs.

As the Advisor: OHS, your role is to assist in the development, implementation, maintenance and improvement of the OHS Management Systems and Standards in surface mining, to support the achievement of the company’s objectives and targets. key responsibilities: Demonstrate a good level of knowledge and S understanding T of surface mining operations, haulage, mineral processing Continued on page 92

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AD_AMRITMAY_12.pdf

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UNRESERVED PUBLIC AUCTION

Bunbury (Perth), Western Australia May 22, 2012 | 10 am Start

1 OF 2– 2008 CATERPILLAR 140M VHP

1 OF 4– KOMATSU 530M

UNUSED– 2011 CATERPILLAR 980H

4– 2009 VOLVO A40E 6X6

DON’T MISS OUT. We are still accepting consignments for this auction. Don’t miss out: call & take the hassle out of selling your equipment or trucks.

CURRENT INVENTORY INCLUDES:

3 – Crawler Tractors 11 – Wheel Loaders 4 – Motor Scrapers

5 19 4 2

– – – –

Motor Graders Articulated Dump Trucks Rock Trucks Jaw Crushers

Flexible contract options All-inclusive service Competing on-site & online bidders

For complete and up-to-date equipment listings visit

» rbauction.com

Certain sale & payment dates

CALL TO CONSIGN: 08.9410.2533

AUCTION SITE:

Lot 1, Temple Rd., East Picton, Bunbury, WA Sale Starts 10 AM 3HUWKB$XVWUDOLDQ 0LQLQJB0D\ ,VVXHB PP[ PPB LQGG

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MINING JOBS

To advertise a new job contact Hussein Azzan at 02 9422 2851

To see the latest jobs available visit www.miningaustralia.com.au, which is updated daily.

Continued from page 90 of precious metals and shared use infrastructure to enable the competent delivery of an OHS service, coordinating the scheduling of OHS activities to ensure compliance with the OHS Management Systems Standards and managing the area induction process and checking that area certification & training requirements are being complied with Start building your career today and be Better Off with Gold Fields!

Please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs to apply.

Geologist: QA/QC Company: Goldfields Australia Description: Gold Fields Australia are currently seeking a Geologist: QA/QC to join their Mineral Resources team at St Ives Gold Mine.

Reporting to the Unit Manager: Resource Geology, you will be responsible for contributing to company growth and development through the provision of a comprehensive quality assurance and quality control service to the mineral resource team by ensuring that information captured and entered into geological databases is accurate and reliable.

This role is offered on an 5 days on, 2 days off roster and would require the incumbent to be residential in Kalgoorlie or Kambalda.

Key factors to your success include: Tertiary qualifications in Geology, minimum 2 years experience in a similar role, in gold, intermediate level competency in the application of Microsoft Office suite and high level proficiency in the application of Microsoft Access based databases.

Gold Fields is committed to developing the skills of its team which means you will have the opportunity to discuss your career goals with your manager and identify possible pathways available to you within our growing global company to achieve your personal and professional goals.

Start building your career today and be Better Off with Gold Fields!

Please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs to apply.

Metallurgical Technician Company: MMG Description: The Golden Grove underground base and precious metals mine in Western Australia produces concentrates of zinc, copper and other base and precious metals. Golden Grove’s Metallurgy Department is currently seeking expressions of interest for the role of Metallurgical Technician.

In this multifaceted role you will be responsible for ensuring the consistent operation of the On-Stream analytical equipment throughout the processing plant. Using your strong knowledge of laboratory practises, you will help develop and carry out test-work procedures required for various simulation and analytical laboratory work. Reporting to the Senior Metallurgical Technician, on a day to day basis you will also be responsible for producing accurate and timely reports on analytical samples and developing procedures for laboratory based test work.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced Metallurgical or Laboratory Technician who is look for a hands-on role in a friendly team environment. This permanent position will commute on an 8/6 roster from either Perth or Geraldton.

Accommodation and meals are provided in a comfortable modern camp with swimming pool, fully equipped gym, Foxtel, beach volleyball, outdoor cricket pitch and tennis courts. The successful candidate will be offered a remuneration package commensurate with their experience and the current market.

To start your career journey with MMG, submit your application online in either Word (.doc) or Adobe (.pdf) format by clicking on the ‘Apply’ button or visiting the job search page of our website – http://careers.mmg.com/ jobSearch.asp?stp=AW&sLanguage=en.

Health and Safety Advisor Company: MMG Description: The Golden Grove base and precious metals mine in Western Australia produces concentrates predominately of zinc and copper. Currently we are operating the underground mines of Gossan Hill and Scuddles, and we have recently completed our first blast to create an open pit mine.

We now have an opportunity for an experienced Health and Safety Advisor to join our team.

You will use your strong influencing and coaching skills to support our line managers in the implementation of health and safety policies, procedures and practices and to continuously improve our safety efforts on site. As a champion of health and safety initiatives you will work with the various site departments to improve employee’s general understanding of the function, and to assist with risk assessments, planning and sampling programs.

To start your career journey with MMG, submit your application online in either Word (.doc) or Adobe (.pdf) format by clicking on the ‘Apply’ button or visiting the job search page of our website – http://careers. mmg.com/jobSearch.asp?stp=AW&sLanguage=en.

Underground Mine Geologist Company: MMG Description: The Golden Grove base and precious metals mine in Western Australia produces concentrates predominately of zinc, copper and lead.

Currently we are operating two underground mines – Gossan Hill and Scuddles and we have recently completed our first blast to create an open pit mine.

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We currently have a great career opportunity available for an experienced Mine Geologist to join our team at Golden Grove.

This permanent position will commute on an 8 days on/6 days off FIFO roster from either Perth or Geraldton. Accommodation and meals are provided in a comfortable modern camp with wireless internet connection, swimming pool, fully equipped gym, Foxtel, beach volleyball, outdoor cricket pitch and tennis courts. The successful candidate will be offered a remuneration package commensurate with their experience and the current market.

To start your career journey with MMG, submit your application online in either Word (.doc) or Adobe (.pdf) format by clicking on the ‘Apply’ button or visiting the job search page of our website – http://careers.mmg.com/ jobSearch.asp?stp=AW&sLanguage=en.

Reliability Engineer Company: MMG Description: As a result of continued growth we have two exciting opportunities for Reliability Engineers, which form part of our Asset Reliability team. Reporting to the Senior Reliability Engineer you will be responsible for the identification and management of asset reliability risks that could adversely affect plant or business operations. You will be responsible for developing engineering solutions to address repetitive failures and other problems that adversely affect plant operations.

The role deals with both fixed plant and the mobile fleet and covers three main areas loss elimination, risk management and life cycle asset management. The role will include general analysis of equipment reliability, investigation of events and variances and project work with a strong emphasis on safety, equipment reliability and maintenance quality. There will also be a focus on developing our Reliability Engineering systems and building capacity.

To be successful in this role you will need proven experience in reliability / maintenance engineering and be familiar with Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (preferably SAP). In addition you will need the ability to manage competing demands and influence a stakeholders at all levels to achieve sustainable business outcomes.

To start your career journey with MMG, submit your application online in either Word (.doc) or Adobe (.pdf) format by clicking on the ‘Apply now’ button below or visiting the job search page of our website – http://careers.mmg.com/jobSearch.asp?stp=AW&sLanguage=en Expressions of Interest – Mining Engineers Company: Rio Tinto Description: Rio Tinto Alcan Weipa Rio Tinto Alcan is offering suitably qualified professionals the opportunity to broaden your experience and take the next step in your career whilst receiving excellent mentoring from a well-respected professional team. We invite expressions of interest for Mining Engineers who would be interested in joining the Rio Tinto Alcan team at our Weipa Bauxite Mine in beautiful North Queensland.

You will have tertiary qualifications in mine engineering or a related discipline and ideally have operational experience in surface mining operations, preferably in bauxite. We are seeking degree qualified mining engineers in our organisation, with experience in the areas of risk analysis, mine scheduling, planning, design and working in multi-disciplinary teams.

A career with Rio Tinto Alcan will allow you to learn and grow through challenging work and development opportunities. We’ll give you the tools you need to succeed, and more importantly the freedom to think and innovate.

With us, your drive will make a real difference. We embrace change, safety, strong leadership and sustainable performance. You’ll be doing things that matter, with talented people who place respect, integrity, accountability and teamwork at the heart of everything they do. Join us. Take control of your life, shape your future, starting today!

Visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs to apply.

Maintenance Supervisor Company: Rio Tinto Description: Rio Tinto Coal Australia’s Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) is one of the largest multi-seam open cut mining operations in Australia. With four pits spanning over 26km HVO offers fantastic opportunities, including industry best-practice support and mentoring to help you reach your career goals.

Hunter Valley Operations currently has a position available for a Maintenance Supervisor. In this role you will be accountable to the Superintendent Maintenance for the safety, leadership, training and efficient resource allocation of the crew whilst at work.

Maintenance experience with mining equipment and previous supervisory experience is desirable. To succeed in this role you will need to have a mechanical or electrical trade qualification/background.

You should also have demonstrated the ability of building positive working relationships with key stakeholders.

The ability to initiate and implement change with commitment and drive are essential attributes to the role.

This is a great opportunity to take the next step in your career into a leadership role! Apply now to be considered!

Please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs to apply.

Specialist – Reliability Improvement Company: Rio Tinto Description: Rio Tinto Alcan’s (RTA) Yarwun alumina refinery is located 10 km north-west of the Central Queensland port city of Gladstone. Adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef, Gladstone offers an enviable integration of large industry and commerce, environmental protection, community wellbeing and lifestyle opportunities.

Reporting to the Manager – Reliability, the Reliability Specialist will be responsible for improving reliability of assets within a defined area of the refinery. You will be required to work closely with the Area Production and Maintenance Superintendents to improve area performance through the analysis of area losses for production, quality and cost. You will identify chronic problems and then work with the area team to identify the root cause and improvement strategies to eliminate loss.

Ideally you will possess an Engineering degree with demonstrated experience in heavy industry. You will have excellent analytical skills, be proficient in root cause analysis and have a proven track record for improving equipment reliability and reducing cost. Your knowledge or practical use of SAP, Six Sigma, LEAN, RCM, PMO, & TPM will be highly regarded.

To apply, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs.

Paraburdoo – FIFO – Belt Maintainer Company: Rio Tinto Description: As a world leader in finding, mining and processing the earth’s mineral resources, Rio Tinto delivers minerals and metals that meet global needs and contribute to improving our living standards.

We are currently recruiting for a dedicated, experienced and safety oriented Belt Maintainer for our Plant Maintenance department at Paraburdoo. This position is day shift only working 8 days on, 6 days off on a FIFO basis.

Reporting to the Maintenance Supervisor, the primary function of this position is to inspect and maintain conveyor belts and other rubber based materials to ensure reliability of the plant.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in a similar role in the mining or quarry industry.

Paraburdoo offers direct flights from Geraldton, Exmouth as well as Perth.

Interstate FIFO options are also available from most major cities that fly directly to Perth.

In return for your expertise, Rio Tinto offers highly competitive remuneration, including a bonus scheme, site allowances, health subsidies for you and your family, discount diamonds and salary packaging. Rio Tinto can also provide relocation assistance to Perth.

Rio Tinto values diversity within its workforce and encourages females, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply.

Please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs to apply.

Diesel Fitters Company: Downer Description: As a market leader in infrastructure and engineering services, Downer understands and recognises the contribution employees make to the success of our business.

We are currently seeking experienced Heavy Duty Diesel Fitters to join our maintenance team at Boggabri. The workshop currently work a 4 panel roster, 5 on, 5 off and 12 hour shifts. These positions present the opportunity for growth and career development in our rapidly expanding operation.

About you: Trade qualified heavy duty fitter, experience in the maintenance of large scale mining equipment (Caterpillar, Komatsu and Hitachi equipment) and an understanding of computer based maintenance systems.

In return we offer: Residential positions (No FIFO or Camp facilities), competitive rates and working conditions and supportive working environment with a focus on safety, training and development.

Please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs to apply.

Quarry Manager Company: Maniac Mining Description: Our client, one of the world’s leading gold producers operating throughout Australia, currently have an immediate need for an experienced Quarry Manager to work FIFO to one of their WA sites on a 2 to 3 month contract commencing April 2012.

Depending on the skill set and experience of the suitable candidate, there is a broad range of scope to be involved in wide ranging areas of the site operations; it is expected you will be more than just a nominated person and will be seeking to take a hands-on involvement.

This is a unique opportunity to enhance your career with a leading mining organisation, and includes a negotiable and highly competitive day rate for the right applicant. With an anticipated start in early April for the suitable candidate, also on offer is a flexible roster (8x6 FIFO), along with flights to Perth, Melbourne or Brisbane. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

If you feel you have the skills required to make an immediate impact and are looking for a challenge then apply now. Confidential enquiries can be made to Ashley Smith (Managing Director – Maniac Mining) on 0407 13 13 23.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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COCOONED

YET LIBERATED. We created the new Lexus LX to move you in a way you’ve never felt before: that of feeling completely cocooned in luxury, no matter where your sense of adventure leads you. An obsessive desire made possible through remarkable innovations such as Multi Terrain Select to keep you sure-footed, and the safety of an available* Pre-Collision System to give you peace-of-mind. While heated front seats and 4-zone air conditioning are two of a host of luxurious appointments you’ll equally enjoy exploring on the inside. Feel it at lexus.com.au *Enhancement Pack only.

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EVENTS

Conferences, seminars & workshops Event submissions can be emailed to ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au 5th Annual Kimberley Resources Conference 10 May 2012 Cable Beach Club Resort, Broome

follow suit and take a lucrative slice of the future profits.

• IIR Conferences 02 9080 4300 http://www.iir.com.au/

Queensland Mining Exhibition (QME)

MiltonJuly Holmes 24-26 2012 Director Mackay Showgrounds, QLD

5th Annual Kimberley Resources This show allows specifiers and Dust Explosions 2012 Conference is your opportunity to industry professionals to come 29-30 May 2012 develop your strategy for success together to catch up on products Penrith Panthers in the booming North West and and technology, industry trends and The Dust Explosions Conference Kimberley region. to network with mining industry will examine the means to control Assess how the leading experts in colleagues. QME features free entry to dust and the latest technology to the area are planning their mineral all people in the mining, engineering A D _ A M D E L M A Y _ 1 2 . ensure p d fthe maximum P a g esafety 1 of your 1 8 / 0 4 / 1 2 , 1 0 : 0 3 : 5 9 exploration and development and and construction industries. organisation. see how your mining operation can • QME The risk of complacency around 02 9422 2955 combustible dust management in qme@reedexhibitions.com.au the workplace may not be overtly www.queenslandminingexpo. obvious but the consequences can com.au be dire.

Developed in consultation with Mining and Engineering respected Australasian and NSW (M&E NSW) international experts, this event will 28-30 August 2012 examine industrial hazards, Newcastle, NSW the means to control or eliminate M&E NSW has become a “must dust and analyze the latest attend” event for all buyers and technology to ensure the maximum industry professionals, with over protection and safety of your 230* exhibitors in 2009. organisation.

A D _ A M Q U T M A Y _ 1 2 •. http://www.informa.com.au pdf P a g e 1 3 / 0 4Keep / 1abreast 2 , of 1the0latest : 5 products 1 AM and technology as well as network 02 9080 4300

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with industry colleagues in a vibrant business environment.

• M&E NSW Peter Thompson 02 9422 2472 Peter.thompson@reedexhibitions. com.au www.miningandengineeringnsw. com.au

Goldfields Mining Exhibition (GME) 30 October-1 November 2012 Kalgoorlie-Boulder, WA GME provides local and international

suppliers with a unique opportunity to conduct business face to face with key buyers and decision makers in Western Australia. Staged by Reed Exhibitions, GME provides a valuable opportunity to network and exchange ideas and information with industry colleagues in an interactive business environment.

• GME Chris Ghosh 02 9422 2955 chris.ghosh@reedexhibitions. com.au www.goldfieldsminingexpo.com. au

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If what you do depends on Lime, talk to us.

Mining operations depend on Lime. Which is why industry leaders get their Lime from Sibelco. Whether it’s Quicklime, Hydrated Lime or one of many other limestone products you may require, you’re getting quality, premium Lime. Choose Limil from one of the seven Sibelco plants around Australia and you can look forward to 135 years of Lime manufacturing expertise, the security of long-term supplies and a level of quality and consistency that our ISO9001:2008 Quality Program delivers.

To find out more about Limil, Sibelco and our industry-leading products, visit www.sibelco.com.au

UNM13793