Australian Mining August 2014

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VOLUME 106/8 – AUGUST 2014

SERVING THE MINING INDUSTRY SINCE 1908

www.miningaustralia.com.au

NO.1 FOR MINING TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT Personnel

INCREASING SAFETY

Starting safety conversations P.20

FIFO

Fighting for

Arranging FIFO flights

productivity

P.22

Contracting

MORE THAN JUST MINING Maintenance and services

The evolving face of mining Print Post Approved PP100008185

REMOTE OPERATIONS

P.34

Dust & Fire

NOMINATIONS CLOSING SOON For information visit www.miningaustralia.com.au

COMBUSTIBLE DUST Fighting coal fires

P.40

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MT324a Australian Mining Comminution Full Page Advertisement June 2014.indd 1

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COMMENT

Mining A mining resurrection Australian

Cirrus Media Manufacturing & Electronics Group: Associate Publisher – Martin Sinclair Email: martin.sinclair@cirrusmedia.com.au Editor – Cole Latimer Tel: (02) 8484 0652 Email: ozmining@cirrusmedia.com.au Journalists – Vicky Validakis Tel: (02) 8484 0964 Email: vicky.validakis@cirrusmedia.com.au Brent Balinski Tel: (02) 8484 0680 Email: brent.balinski@cirrusmedia.com.au Ben Hagemann Tel: (02) 8484 0884 Email: ben.hagemann@cirrusmedia.com.au Group Sales Manager – Tim Richards Tel: (02) 8484 0829 Mob: 0420 550 799 Email: tim.richards@cirrusmedia.com.au Key Account Manager – Sharon Amos Tel: (07) 3261 8857 Fax: (07) 3261 8347 Mob: 0417 072 625 Email: sharon.amos@cirrusmedia.com.au South Africa – Bob Stephen Stephen Marketing PO Box 75, Tarlton, Gauteng 1749, South Africa Tel: 27(011) 952 1721 Fax: 27(011) 952 1607 USA – Jonathan Sismey Cirrus Media 24th Floor, 125 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Tel: (1) 212 370 7445 Fax: (1) 212 370 7441 Email: jsismey@ix.netcom.com Larry Arthur Cirrus Media Suite 203, 3700 Campus Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Tel: (1) 949 756 1057 Fax: (1) 949 756 2514 Email: lharthur@ix.netcom.com Graphic Designer – Dave Ashley Production Co-ordinator – Tracy Engle Tel: (02) 8484 0707 Fax: (02) 8484 0966 Subscription Rates – Australia (surface mail) $140.00 (incl GST) New Zealand A$148.00 Overseas A$156.00 Reader Services – 1300 360 126

Have the dire days of mining ended?

F

or about the last year we’ve heard mining constantly declaimed as dead.

“The boom is over, mining is dead and buried,” many in the media, and especially the opponents of the industry, decried.

Not half smugly in some cases.

ANZ dealt a strong, if not confusing blow to the industry, claiming that within three years about 75 000 jobs would be lost – or approximately a third of all direct and indirect workers in the resources industry.

And to be entirely honest, it definitely looked that way as the commodity prices fell (dramatically in the case of coal), projects were put on hold or cancelled, major infrastructure was shelved, and Cirrus Media Tower 2, Level 3, 475 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, thousands of jobs were lost.

NSW 2067 Australia It didn’t help that this Locked Bag 4700, Chatswood Delivery Centre, NSW 2067, Australia was coupled with a lingerTel: (02) 8484 0888 Fax: (02) 8484 0633 ABN 80 132 719 861 ing hangover from a continISSN 0004-976X www.cirrusmedia.com.au uing decline in productivity © Copyright Cirrus Media, 2014 (which I’ve delved into furAll rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means ther in this edition). without the written permission of the publisher.

Poor practices, poor prices, and poor performance coupled to create a perfect storm for the industry, which Average Net Distribution had previously weathered it Period ending Mar 2014 8,050 out under the protection of Printed by Bluestar Print 83 Derby Street, Silverwater, NSW 2128 a once in a lifetime runaway Tel: (02) 9748 3411 commodity market.

Published 12 issues a year Speaking to Honeywell’s Darren Wyllie he summed up A M 0 8 1 4 _ 0 0 0 _ K I N the- attitude 2 1 of 2 the 0 1 boom 4 - 0 per7 - 1 fectly: “It used to be about

www.miningaustralia.com.au

Comment Cole Latimer ozmining@cirrusmedia.com.au getting as many tonnes out the door as quickly as possible, as that was the best way to make money off the back of the high commodity prices.”

Schneider Electric’s head of mining and metals, Diego Areces, said much the same, stating “it used to be about being the biggest, pushing out the most tonnes”, but now that has all changed.

“The focus is no longer on being the biggest,” he said, “it’s on being the best, the most efficient”.

Wyllie agreed: “It’s now

about how we actually get those tonnes out the door that is much more important.”

Mining is returning in strength, albeit slowly, and it’s on the back of greater efficiency and the push for productivity.

Remote operations, automation, more intelligent use of technology – these are all the building blocks of the next stage of mining, a stage that we have just begun to enter.

Miners are no longer being dissuaded as they are

going to mine smarter, not harder.

There is optimism in the industry, albeit cautious.

In New Zealand Bathurst Resources has begun work on its Escarpment coal mine in preparation for a rise in the coal price, and Anglo American is expecting its reduced Drayton South mine to be approved soon as well.

However some are much more optimistic about the immediate future.

Despite an extremely heavy backlash and low coal price Whitehaven Coal is charging ahead, Rio Tinto is still going through with its plans for a massive 70 million tonnes per year pit at its Yandicoogina mine, and BHP is expanding in the Pilbara.

Mining is coming back, stronger, but still subdued.

FRONT COVER

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On the front cover we’ve featured mining productivity in focus. Mining has faced a major issue regarding productivity, having seen a continual decline in labour productivity in the last decade. In this issue we look at how automation, remote control operations, and the drive for greater efficiency is cutting costs and bringing productivity up to pre-boom levels.

AustralianMining

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Contents

August 2014 issue

Turning old mines into tourist attractions

How old mines can become useful again….p24

Features NSW SPOTLIGHT

Alkane’s DZP project a rare earth find An insight into Australia’s newest rare earth mine .........................p10-13

Plow technology, Polish style

PRODUCTIVITY

Making the mining factory An investigation into our mining labour productivity crisis ............p16-18

SAFETY

How to start the safety conversation Six tips to bring up safety on your site, without starting an argument ... p20

FIFO

Finding a FIFO formula An insight into the other side of FIFO ................................................. p22

PERSONNEL

I’ve lost my job. Now what?

Four tips to help you get another job in the industry ......................p26-28

NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

Northern Exposure Developing the nation ....................................................................p30-31

INTERNATIONAL

Eastern Promise Is Kazakhstan our new mining hotspot? .............................................. p32

CONTRACT MINING, ENGINEERING AND SERVICES

Improving safety in plant maintenance New retractable idlers are cutting maintenance times .....................p34-36 Dust defeater Coal mine dust control services ........................................................... p37 4

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AustralianMining

How plow technology allowed a mine to access new seams….p14

Regulars INDUSTRIAL COMMENT .................................................................. p6 NEWS .................................................................................................. p8 PRODUCT FOCUS: Dust Control & Fire Suppression ................p40-43 PRODUCT SHOWCASE .............................................................p44-49 PROSPECT AWARDS ..................................................................... p50 JOBS .............................................................................................p52-53 EVENTS ............................................................................................. p54 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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INDUSTRIAL COMMENT

Shaping the agenda for a

SUSTAINABLE WORLD Accenture’s Nigel Court asks how mining and metals companies can shape the outcome rather than react to it?

A

ccording to the UN Global Compact-Accenture CEO Study on Sustainability, 63 per cent of chief executives expect sustainability to transform their industry within the next five years.

Mining and metals companies, in particular, have an important role to play in the evolution to a more sustainable world. With operations on almost every continent, and materials integrated into most products and services, the sector is uniquely positioned to contribute to and influence this transition. To successfully navigate this shift though, bold thinking is required, and those that look to shape the outcome rather than react to it will be best positioned for success.

But what defines “sustainability”? According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Scoping Paper: Mining and Metals in a Sustainable World, developed in partnership with Accenture, a sustainable world will require the mining and metals sector to reliably and responsibly provide materials and products to global economies and communities.

By 2050, alternative measures of success will exist beyond profit and loss, where environmental and social costs, as well as their impacts, are considered and accounted for.

The project planning cycles for mining and metals companies are sufficiently long that they can plan today for how they’ll operate in a sustainable world. Critically, communities, civil society, investors and governments will not tolerate unsustainable mining and metals companies, so a proactive response is imperative.

Below, we focus on three of these steps to assist companies in directing their current focus.

1. Invest in research and development (R&D) Key usage cases and opportunities identified by the WEF and Accenture report that support a transition to more sustainable operations include: • sensing and fusion technologies enabling comprehensive geometric 6

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AustralianMining

and geophysical data profiles of a region during exploration; • automated robotics to design the safest, most cost-effective processes for extracting ore; • automated drilling systems to reduce variation, improve quality and reduce maintenance costs; and • driverless fleets or railway operations that utilise object-avoidance sensors, GPS and wireless technology to create a safer environment.

Data capture and analytics also present an enormous opportunity for companies to improve decisionmaking and proactively manage site operations, leading to increased minerals yields, optimised energy use and reduced wear and tear.

A more nascent technology worth considering to significantly impact the sustainability of operations is 3D printing. Successful application of this technology will reduce maintenance downtime because spare parts can be made on-site, having a particular impact in remote regions.

The use of 3D printing also provides an opportunity to produce lighter, smaller and more efficient designs that may last longer and work more efficiently, reducing the environmental impact of operations. As a result of this new technology, broken down

or redundant equipment can be easily recycled for new parts. These are just some of the potential sustainability benefits of incorporating 3D printing into mining production.

Continued pursuit of research and development and new technologies will ensure that mining and metals companies are optimising energy use and contributing to a safer, cleaner and more cost effective operating environment – an important step in the evolution towards a sustainable world.

2. Rethink multistakeholder models Being open to multiple, rather than exclusive, partnership models will be vital. Partnerships will allow governments, companies, investors and civil society to focus on their specialities, and reply on improved collaboration networks and knowledgesharing facilities to fill any gaps.

In addition, successful partnerships will facilitate a greater understanding across governments and civil society about the opportunities and challenges of the mining and metals sector, helping governments and companies to agree on appropriate roles and responsibilities for sustainable business models.

The WEF and Accenture report identifies a collaboration and en-

gagement platform with four key attributes that can be used to identify, maintain and improve partnerships: • Partner definition: Document the stakeholder landscape to identify potential partnerships, list existing partnerships and highlight potential roles and responsibilities in partnership arrangements, and thereby build a foundation for the sector to engage in a strategic dialogue with relevant organisations; • Shared value: Define shared value to ensure partnerships are mutually beneficial and engaging; • Performance catalogue: Compile a repository of historical and existing engagement processes and alliances and identify and document the key success factors of each initiative to guide future programs and partnerships; and • Digital interaction: Use digital technology and networking platforms to enable low-cost, flexible and highly responsive interactive and informed partnership models.

3. Cultivate the workforce The skills and capabilities required to operate mining and metals companies in a sustainable world will be different; this needs to be considered, planned for and developed in advance.

In an ongoing effort to find ways to reduce the impact of their operations, mining and metals companies will become heavily dependent on R&D skills. These skills should be sought after and integrated now, before greater demand results in scarcity. It will also be important to develop in-house life cycle assessment capabilities for collecting, managing and applying robust datasets to measure product performance against industry standards. These assessments and data will help create trust and confidence in the quality of materials that design teams use in working with customers to effectively reduce, reuse and recycle materials.

Perhaps the most important skill to cultivate, however, is the ability to build and manage effective relationships across the product value chain. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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HEADLINES

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

Missing Mt Isa miner found The body of missing Mt Isa miner Brett Kelly has been found.

The Queensland Police Service and mine operator Glencore have confirmed that Kelly’s remains have been recovered from the S63 ore pass. Kelly went missing on June 18 whilst working at Glencore’s Mt Isa copper mine.

Queensland Police believe Kelly, 34, fell down an orepass while he was working.

The orepass is located one kilometre underground at the mine’s copper operations, and is believed to contain around 100 000 tonnes of pre-crushed rock, which is sent via conveyors for further crushing and processing.

He went missing at around 11:30 that morning; however he was not reported as such until mid-afternoon.

“As a result of the initial search and investigations, search teams believed the missing person had fallen into an ore pass. Following very complex and comprehensive planning by all agencies and groups involved, a recovery operation was commenced to locate the body of the missing person,” police said at the time.

Police and the mining company flew in specialist forensic units to recover Kelly and aid in moving approximately 8000 tonnes of ore from the pass.

“Search teams worked in shifts 24 hours a day for the entire period,” according to a police statement.

Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine goes grog-free Rio Tinto’s Argyle diamond mine is going alcohol-free, with workers fearing that other mine sites around the country will follow suit.

In a move that has been met with mixed reactions, Rio has confirmed that as part of its “future operating model”, alcohol will no longer be offered to workers at the Argyle site.

While some see the move as a healthy one for FIFO employees, others say banning alcohol on site is a sure-sign the perks that previously came with the job are being stripped away.

With FIFO work more scarce now than ever, incentives to keep people

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or other intensive programs.

“Such an order may be justified, we do not press for him to serve any time in custody,” crown prosecutor David Staehli said at the sentencing.

The Crown also conceded that hoax, which purported to be from ANZ, did no financial damage to the bank.

on site are quite literally drying up.

“The spending phase, when the focus was not on costs is over and companies are now paring back costs to ensure they can produce the returns they’d hoped for,” mining analyst Peter Strachan said.

He said the days when FIFO workers could demand all sorts of benefits in terms of accommodation and scheduling were over.

Having a beer or two has long been a favourite way for Australian workers to wind down, and the wet mess at mine camps is viewed by many FIFO employees as a way to keep sane.

Workers’ camp death thought to be suicide A 37-year-old man has been found dead in his room at the Gateway Village in South Hedland.

The discovery was made by cleaners prior to sunrise.

St John Ambulance were notified but could not resuscitate the man.

Police have said they believe the man had committed suicide, as it appeared to be a hanging incident.

Phase three of mining boom, 75,000 jobs cut According to a new report by ANZ, 75,000 mining-related jobs are at risk as Australia enters “phase three” of the mining boom over the next few years.

The ANZ-led research stated that as billions of dollars worth of investment in the sector tapers off and construction gives way to operation, resource-related roles around the country face a heavy cull.

Senior economist at ANZ, Justin Fabo, said to expect between 50 and 75 thousand job losses as mining employment crashes to three per cent of the gross domestic product from highs of eight per cent.

Fabo warned a softening of commodity prices could make the news worse for those working in and servicing the sector.

“Weaker than expected commodity prices would tilt the risks to more job losses as mining firms seek to cut costs,’’ Fabo said.

“So we think the unemployment rate will be in spitting distance of 6 per cent over the next 12 months, and for improvement after that to be gradual.’’

MH17 tragedy strikes WA MD

Australian Mining gets the latest news every day, providing mining professionals with the up to the minute information on safety, news and technology for the Australian mining and resources industry.

The mining industry is estimated to employ around 263,000 people, meaning ANZ are predicting nearly a third of these roles will be slashed as production ramps up and Australia enters “phase three” of the mining boom.

Whitehaven hoaxer Moylan avoids jail Whitehaven Coal hoaxer Jonathon Moylan has avoided a prison sentence following his sentencing.

Moylan pled guilty last year to a hoax press release that temporarily wiped more than $314 million of the value of Whitehaven Coal.

The press release which was produced by activist group Font Line Action on Coal, purporting to be from ANZ and claimed the bank had withdrawn a recent $1.2 billion loan to help develop the Maules Creek project on ethical grounds.

During the trial Moylan voiced his surprise that it was run by a number of media outlets, with Moylen’s barrister telling that court that “any business journalist worth their salt” would checked the veracity of the release on the ASX itself.

In facing sentencing today prosecutors sought an intensive correctional order, which means Moylan will avoid serving a custodial sentence in jail.

He could potentially instead serve home detention, community service,

Australia’s mining industry has been touched by the tragedy of downed flight MH17, with the untimely loss of the children of Buxton Resources managing director Anthony Maslin.

Buxton announced that Maslin would take personal leave for an indefinite period.

Day-to-day operations of the company will be handled by chairman Seamus Cornelius and other members of the board and company officers.

Maslin’s children, 10 year-old Evie, 12 year-old Mo and 8 year-old Otis were travelling with their 68 year-old grandfather Nick Norris on Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 when the Boing 777 was shot down by Ukrainian pro-Russian separatists.

The family had been visiting with relatives in the Netherlands, and were due to arrive in Perth on the Friday, ready to start the new school term the following week.

Carbon tax repealed The Abbott Government has repealed the carbon tax.

It comes after the initial repeal was blocked in the senate earlier this year.

The move, which was signalled by Abbott in his election run, has been a divisive one with carbon emissions reduction plans scrapped weighed against more than $700 million in costs for this financial year directly from the carbon tax on the QLD mining industry.

Following the announcement, Abbott stated that he had achieved the election promise of ‘axing the toxic tax’.

It was followed by an email to the Coalition’s supporters stating: “This is great news for Australian families and for our nation’s small businesses.”

The news was welcomed by the NSW Minerals Council, the

Queensland Resources Council, and the Australian Mines and Metals Association.

The QRC stated that “one of Australia’s biggest public policy mistakes in decades has been fittingly consigned to the dustbin with today’s repeal of the carbon tax legislation”.

“Repeal of the carbon tax is good news for the Queensland economy,” QRC CEO Michael Roche said.

“The carbon tax was a massive double-fail.

“It failed to achieve its environmental objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while loading the Australian economy with costs over and above anything imposed on minerals and energy export competitors.”

The NSW Minerals Council added that this repeal will help to save resources jobs, congratulating the Government on the decision.

Concentrates resume export out of Indonesia Indonesia has allowed two companies to export some metal ore concentrates after they agreed to pay a new 20 per cent tax.

In the first shipments of their kind since January, an Indonesian official said two firms had agreed to pay the 20 per cent export tax and were allowed to export the iron ore, lead and zinc concentrates.

The move comes after the government banned the export of unprocessed ore and placed a tax on the export of metal concentrates in January.

The policy was aimed at forcing mineral companies to build smelters and processing facilities but it worked to halt the shipment of concentrate valued at around $500 million a month as mining firms grappled with the new rules.

AngloGold sign gas agreements for WA gold mines AngloGold Ashanti has signed natural gas transportation agreements for its WA Sunrise and Tropicana gold mines.

The agreement with APA Group will see the contractor build a new 292 kilometre pipeline, dubbed the Eastern Goldfields Pipeline. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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CASE STUDY

#4

CASTROL OPTIVAL

DELIVERING OPTIMUM VALUE TO THE MINING INDUSTRY

INNOVATIVE GREASE SUPPLY KEEPS CRUSHER OPERATING

Delivery of grease supplies in standard IBCs (Intermediate Bulk Containers) to lubricate Spider Bearings on a Primary Crusher.

IDENTIFY

AGREE

DELIVER

After the failure of a critical Spider Bearing seal resulted in the rapid loss of grease, the significant increase in grease consumption created a shortage of bulk grease bins. To ensure a continuous grease supply to keep the crusher operating, it was estimated a further ten bins would have to be manufactured immediately at a high cost.

To maintain the 24/7 iron ore crushing operation, whilst avoiding the costly manufacture of additional bins, Castrol recommended the introduction of an alternative grease that could be filled into, and dispensed from IBCs. The alternative grease was suitable for use and could be supplied in standard plastic IBCs at a fraction of the cost of manufacturing additional metal bins.

A special adaptor was designed to allow grease to be easily pumped from the IBCs. Continuous supply of grease to the crusher allowed it to remain in operation whilst spare parts were ordered and maintenance planned.

This solution delivered significant cost reductions through the use of IBCs instead metal bins, and most importantly, avoided costly downtime losses.

Conclusion Castrol OPTIVAL helps us forge strategic partnerships with key customers, adding value and efficiencies through a unique and highly effective process

Customer Service - 1300 554 890 Technical Helpline - 1300 557 998 www.castrol.com.au

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NSW SPOTLIGHT

Alkane’s DZP project a

RARE EARTH FIND A rare earths project outside of Dubbo is set to break the Chinese stranglehold on the group of metals.

Vicky Validakis writes.

R

The Dubbo Zirconia Project will cost approximately $11 billion.

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are earths have been described as the metals of the future, and a 45 hectare site in western NSW hosts a mineral resource that can aid the development of this future for the next 70 years.

But what are rare earths and what’s involved in developing Alkane Resources’ Dubbo Zirconia Project?

Promoted by Alkane as a strategic and alternate source of zirconium and heavy rare earth products capable of long-term supply, DZP has been a project 15 years in the making but one that is widely misunderstood within the mining landscape.

Unlike gold, copper, coal, and iron ore which have strong public knowledge around end uses and applications, the minerals hosted in the reserve at DZP are not so wellknown.

This is somewhat ironic because

they are used to make many of the objects we use in everyday life and are found in everything from batteries to car exhausts, paints and magnets.

A rare knowledge

Rare earths are a set of minerals at the bottom of the periodic table and have been described as the “salt and pepper” of the industrial world because they are used in very small quantities in a wide range of applications.

Everything from mobile phones to computers and even ceramics contain rare earth elements.

For example neodymium is used to make magnets, lasers, and ceramics, while dysprosium is used to make lasers and magnets. And yttrium is used to manufacture energy efficient light bulbs.

Continued on page 12 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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NSW SPOTLIGHT

Continued from page 10

Managing Director of Alkane Resources, Ian Chalmers explains that wind turbines would not be in existence without rare earth magnets with the big growth area for rare earths lying in energy efficient technologies and innovations Production from the Dubbo Zirconia project is estimated to meet two per cent of global light rare-earth element demand and eight per cent of heavy rare-earth element demand.

It will also meet eight per cent of the world’s demand for zirconium products and three per cent of niobium demand.

Zirconium materials are used in electronics, ceramics, glass, metals and chemicals, drying agent in paint.

“It’s an amazingly diverse metal,” Chalmers stated.

While niobium is used in special steels, alloys, glass, jewellery, coinage and magnets, Ferro-niobium is for strengthening steel and used widely in the chassis of cars.

Chalmers said all of the metals which will be produced by Alkane are high value and can go straight into the end market.

End to End

The company has been developing the finished product at its Demon- The Dubbo Zirconia Project processing plant is slated to have throughput rates of around one million tonnes of ore per year. stration Pilot Plant at ANSTO since 2008 and said their products are in end-users and understanding their grain size, you’ve got to get rid of buy and pay a reasonable price for.” high-demand overseas. needs. some other impurity”, and that’s Chalmers said the reason for the “Basically what we do is trial inChalmers said the advantages of what the pilot plant does,” Chalm- demand around the material DZP novations and trial changes to the having a pilot plant is the ability to ers explained. will produce is uncertainty around flow-sheet to improve product qual- produce tonnes of material to take “It’s gotten us to a point now the Chinese market. ity and product style,” Chalmers to consumers in the market and say where we’re very advanced in all “There’s a lot of interest in explained. “will you buy it in this form?’”. of our off-take agreements and fun- where these metals are going and The trial has come as a result of “Usually the reaction is ‘yes we damentally have products that we what they’re used for going forward A M0 8 1 4 _ 0 0 0 _ S E I 1 2 0 1 4 - 0 7 - 1 0 T1 0 : 0 8 : 2 0 + 1 0 : 0 0 direct face-to-face discussions with will, but you’ve got to change the know our customers are prepared to into the future.”

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NSW SPOTLIGHT

China produces 95 per cent of global rare earth supplies and 90 per cent of downstream zirconia products.

However Chalmers says this stronghold ‘imbalance’ is set to be diminished as China looks to hold onto its rare earth reserves for its own use.

The country consumes about 65 per cent of global rare earths.

“If you’ve got one country that dominates two strategic metals to that extent, you can understand there’s a level of concern,” he said.

Chalmers said while oversupply issues hover over light rare earths like lanthanum and cerium, others such as neodymium and praseodymium are growing in demand and the same applies to three critical heavy rare earths, dysprosium, terbium and yttrium, of which Alkane will be a significant non-Chinese supplier.

Chalmers said this is why DZP could be viewed as a strategic alternative supply to China.

Not being dominated by a particular rare earth market also gives DZP a competitive advantage.

Its revenue is almost a 25 per cent split across the entire mineral range of ZrO2, Ferro-Niobium, LREO concentrate, and HREO concentrate.

“We’ve got the ability to withstand knocks in certain areas should any of that particular material go into decline for some reason,” Chalmers said.

To this end, the company is hoping to take the questions marks out of the equation supply and demand equation by securing off-take and MOU contracts for its products.

These discussions have been encouraging so far, with industry heavy-weights happy to look at what DZP can offer.

Alkane signed an MoU with Japanese chemical powerhouse ShinEtsu which will see it take DZP light and heavy rare earth concentrates, process them, and then have prior right to buy any of the rare earths produced.

The company will take all of the neiodyimium and most of the dysprosium and terbium to make magnets in a deal marks 80 per cent of the Alkanes rare earth revenue.

A joint venture has also been signed with private Austrian company Treibacher Industrie AG which will see ferro-niobium produced and sold into the European industry.

Meanwhile an MoU has also been signed with a European company who has been in the zirconium industry for 20 years and will marwww.miningaustralia.com.au

A cubic zirconia sample from the site.

ket the DZP products into Europe and North America.

Bullish about a price stabilisation for the industry and certain DZP has a place in the market, Chalmers said “by the time DZP comes online metal prices will have recovered to a point where they are sustainable for the long-term”.

Chalmers said this is why companies were keen to partake in strategic deals with Alkane despite the somewhat depressed metal prices.

“People in the industry know there’s a very good reason why we’re bothering,” he said.

The mine

Located 25 kilometres south of Dubbo the $1 billion DZP will create 4250 jobs and have a 70-year lifespan.

It plans to process more than one million tonnes of ore per year.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment is currently assessing the mine’s Environmental Impact Statement as is expected to make a decision in October.

If all goes to plan construction of the project, which will take around 18 months, can start as early as next year, with first production slated for 2016.

Confident the project will get the green light, Alkane has awarded DZP’s Front End Engineering Design (FEED) to engineering firm Hatch.

The FEED will deliver capital and operating costs estimates to a target of 10 per cent accuracy and a detailed schedule for the project, building on the work of Alkane’s definitive feasibility study.

Completion of the FEED will provide Alkane with the core cost estimates for use in its bankable feasibility study.

The DZP has a net present value of $1.25 billion based on a 20-yearlife, with annual revenue estimated as Ahigh M 0 as 7 1$500 4 _ 0 million 0 0 _ L based A N on long term prices.

Funding for the development of the project is expected to come from Export Credit Agency Funding (ECA), normal project finance as well as a small strategic sale of a percentage of DZP. Chalmers said rare earth metals are considered as a strategic play by many countries including Japan, Korea, Europe and North America.

Chalmers said ECA input, which is how Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill project received most of its billions, would play a large part of DZP’s debt structure.

Selling a 10-20 per cent stake in DZP was also a key area Alkane is targeting.

“These things take time but we still believe it’s a potential to provide some of the capex costs of the project,” Chalmers said.

While there’s no doubt the project is complex, Chalmers said its presents a world-first opportunity for NSW to step into the world of rare earth mining and processing.

“These are very advanced metals that are used have advanced applications. DZP will have that flow on affect in royalties, taxation and wages back to the state of NSW.” “It will also put Australia on 1 the2map 0 1 in 4 -terms 0 6 -of1 exporting 8 T 1 1 : these 0 2 : 1 6 + 1 0 : 0 0 metals.”

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August 2014

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COAL

PLOW TECHNOLOGY, Polish-style Zbigniew Stopa and Michael Myszkowski describe how plow technology has opened new horizons at one of Poland’s biggest hard-coal mines.

L

ocated in eastern Poland, the Bogdanka coal mine lies close to the country’s borders with Ukraine and Belarus, and is owned and operated by Lubelski Wegiel Bogdanka S.A. Lubelski Wegiel Bogdanka is one of Poland’s leading producers of hard coal. Its output of high-volatile bituminous coal is used mainly for power generation and thermal energy, as well as for cement production.

Bogdanka began longwall production in 1982, steadily increasing output to reach 5.8Mt in 2009.

Until then the mine relied on shearers with a maximum output of 20,000t/d from thicker seams, but were limited in operation to seam thicknesses of at least 1.6 metres.

In 2009 Bogdanka’s owners decided to use plows for working thinner seams, with the first set of equipment commissioned in the mine’s Nadrybie section in March 2010.

Coal resources available to the company totalled some 600Mt, of which around 255Mt make up the current mining reserve. A total of 18 seams occur within its 77km2 license area at depths of 650-730m, of which eight contain economic reserves.

The operation itself is split into three sections – Bogdanka, Nadrybie and Stefanów. In total, the mine has six shafts and one coal preparation plant.

Bogdanka’s mining systems

For almost 30 years, underground mining at Bogdanka centered on shearer technology, with the mine having optimised its shearer operations to achieve satisfactory efficiency and reasonable economic results in seams thicker than 1.6m. In seams between 2-2.5m thick, shearer faces achieved run-of-mine outputs up to 20,000t/d, and 15,000t/d in seams 1.6-2.0m thick. Using shearers in longwalls limits the thickness of seams that can be extracted.

As such shearer faces need to be installed in seams that are at least 1.6-1.8m thick to be economic. This means millions of tonnes of in-situ coal cannot be mined economically.

Being able to mine effectively in seams as thin as 1.2m would significantly increase the operation’s mining reserves.

To achieve this, the company decided to introduce plow technology.

First plow panel – 1/VI/385

Bogdanka’s first plow longwall entered production in the Nadrybie section, March 2010.

They faced a of length 250 m, while the panel was 1750m long.

Within the first plow panel, the seam was between 1.4-1.7m thick, and dipped at a maximum of 2.5 degrees.

With operators continuing to fine-tune the system’s control and automation software, and optimise

it to the existing mining conditions, it was not long before the face was producing 6000t/d.

By August 2010 the system achieved peak daily output of 16 894t, and the first panel was completed on 20 October.

In its seven-month life, the plow system advanced an average of 10.4m/d, and achieved an output of 8200t/d run-of-mine. On a monthly basis, this equated to an average advance of 247.4m and an output of 195 400t. The daily running time for the plow averaged 5 hours 23 minutes, with the panel producing 1.38Mt overall.

The second panel – 7/VII/385

The plow system was then moved to the Stefanów section, and started up in October 2011.

This panel was different from the first one in several respects.

The face was widened from 250305m and the panel length was increased to 5.022km. The thickness of the seam in this area ranges from 1.2-1.6 m.

This panel used a different return belt conveyor station, with a 12m overly instead of the 3m used in the first panel. This allowed the face equipment to run longer before the conveyor belt had to be shortened, which achieved greater utilisation of the plow.

The mine also installed a spe-

cial ramp in the main gateroad that helped load any material pushed out from the face by the plow body on to the AFC, eliminating the need for a dinting machine that had been used to handle this material on the first panel.

The plow system in the second panel reached a daily production level of 10 000-15 000t run-of-mine relatively quickly. The daily utilisation rate for the plow increased to more than ten hours, due to the longer face, experience gained on the first panel, and technical improvements.

World-beating performance

On 16 February 2012 Bogdanka smashed the world record for daily production from a plow-equipped longwall, with an output of 24 900t of coal from the 7/VII/385 panel.

During the day, the plow face advanced more than 27m at a 1.63m cutting height.

The second panel was finished in February 2013, with average performance of 11,778t/d.

During the second half of 2012 Bogdanka installed a second plow system in its Nadrybie section.

The new system is used on 250mlong faces and is based mainly on the technology used in the original face.

In the second half of 2014 Bogdanka will commission its third and fourth GH1600 plow systems, which also will be equipped with Cat VFDs.

To access its seams which were previously considered uneconomic, the mine installed a plow system to dig out its thinner seams more productively.

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PRODUCTIVITY

Making the mining FACTORY

As we reach the end of this current mining cycle, how will miners develop to take advantage of the next upswing? Cole Latimer reports.

T

he global resources industry is a constantly evolving beast, and it is now entering a new age of development.

Mining is currently seeing the start of what will be the great convergence of IT and operational technologies.

Many pundits have touted it as the foundation for the industry’s next technological step change, which will be focused on an effort to facilitate productivity gains and reverse much of the loss in productivity the mining industry (particularly in Australia) has seen over the run of the boom.

A study by consultancy firm McKinsey showed that multi-factor productivity was growing up until 2005; but it dropped 0.7 per cent per year until 2011, when the study was carried out.

A report by the Mineral Council of Australia also highlighted that the mining industry last delivered a productivity increase in 2003, but since then overall productivity in the minerals sector has fallen by 30 per cent.

According to a recent 16

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report by Ernst & Young mining labour productivity has declined by about 50 per cent since 2001.

IBISWorld chairman Phil Ruthven explained that the mining boom, or more specifically a pricing boom, protected the industry from the worst of the productivity slumps, but stated that the sector “desperately needs transformation as it is one of the most inefficient industries right now”.

Ruthven explained that mining’s productivity has dropped over the last ten years, and seen “a 9.8 per

cent dip in productivity from 2001 through to 2011”.

Late last year IBM, as part of its Smarter Planet initiative signalled that the industry is reaching the tipping point for productivity and must innovate.

“This right now is the tipping point, we believe, where the risk of inaction outweighs the risk of action,” Andrew Stevens, IBM Australia and New Zealand’s managing director, said.

The Reinventing Australian Enterprises for the Digital Economy report considered what the year 2025

might look like for those companies operating in a range of industries.

It found that the future relied on how well they adopted to new technology and used it to “deliver unique value to customers and citizens with the speed, efficiency and ubiquity they demand.”

Yet despite this slower productivity backdrop there are 26 projects under $500 million at the committed stage, with a combined value of $4.8 billion, 16 mining projects with a value of over $500 million and six projects with a value of over $2 billion, showing that miners are still pursuing growth regardless of productivity.

So how can the industry push through this productivity slump and make mining more efficient?

Flicking the switch

Processing is a key productivity pain point.

It is a critical time for miners as the investment cycle switches from capital expenditure to capital efficiency.

“The size of the problem is too large for conventional solutions to work,” Ernst &

Young’s global mining and metals advisory leader Paul Mitchell said.

“Making productivity gains isn’t as simple as further cost reduction efforts.

The length of the super-cycle and the pursuit of growth led to the subversive change to the organisational DNA of many mining companies.

Their structures, processes, performance measures and culture have all drifted to favour growth over productivity,” he explained.

However real productivity gains will only come from whole-of-business end-toend transformations.

A narrow focus on point solutions or continuous improvement won’t solve the problem and could even be counterproductive.

The NIEIR’s executive director, Dr Peter Brain, told Australian Mining “the major point about the mining sector is that it’s going to come under more difficult times as commodity prices decline and their profitability is going to come under threat,” he said. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PRODUCTIVITY

“What the leaders will do is invest heavily in new technology to integrate the front, middle and back office; much more remote control from remote operations, and looking across the entire supply chain, integrating not just simply pit-to-port, but pit-to-customer.”

Rio Tinto has been a major proponent of this implementation of technology throughout an entire operating chain, demonstrating it with the Mine of the Future remote operations centre in Perth.

According to Deloitte miners need to go beyond traditional cost cutting measures and re-evaluate their entire operational models, cost structures and company culture that became ingrained during the boom.

“Reducing costs over the long term requires mining companies to prepare for a hard campaign of changing the way they do work. This, in turn, should spur them to look closely at their culture to determine if that needs changing too,” managing director of Venmyn Deloitte South Africa, Andy Clay, said.

The firm explained that implementing new technology including automation, using analytics and big data processes to identify trends for greater productivity , rationalising supply chains through six sigma processes, right sizing capital projects and transitioning to modular plants and projects are all strategies which can drive continuous improvements.

This merging of automation technology and computer hardware in to existing processes is increasing mobility on and off site in regards to information and operational control, and giving miners a sharper edge.

This is part of what has been touted as the fourth industrial revolution, which is gaining ground with forecasts of its complete implementation within the next decade.

The new industrial revolution

This next evolution of industry is essentially the computerisation and automation of many traditional industries such as mining and manufacturing.

GE’s notion of an industrial internet and what others www.miningaustralia.com.au

Labour productivity has declined steeply in mining compared to the rest of the economy.

have dubbed “The Internet of Things” (IoT) is about this wider convergence of IT and OT in the workplace, and life in general.

These, coupled with existing technology advances such as cloud computing, ‘Big Data’, as well as machine-to-machine communications already being brought about on many mine sites globally, are making headway in the resources sector.

This convergence is allowing for technology and process improvements to support more automation and operations visibility in mining.

Superfast broadband will play a very important function in logistics, virtual operations (including robotics), ore grade use optimisation, and exploration analyses.

“This will become much more important as mineral prices pause and fall after the current cycle peaks in the 2020s, if not earlier,” Ruthven stated.

The proliferation of remote control centres (such as those developed by BHP, Rio Tinto, and Hancock Prospecting for its Roy Hill mine) will be seen, as well as increased levels of tele-remote operations on- and off-site.

“The ultimate success of these remote operations centres lies in their ability to control and automate processes onsite,” Ventyx’s John Jessop and ABB’s Eduardo Gallestey said.

This requires a synergistic convergence of IT and OT systems across the mining value chain to create a unified, highly collaborative enterprise able to be controlled remotely, either in these remote operations centre or via tele-remote machinery on site.

“Teleworking will continue as a key trend, with possibly one in four people in the workforce working at least partially from home if not full time by

the middle of the century,” Ruthven said.

“This would also address some of the major fly-in fly-out issues currently plaguing the industry, as skilled workers will be able to live anywhere if they so choose”.

Speaking previously to Schneider Electric’s solutions vice president for mining, minerals and metals (MMM) Diego Areces, he told Australian Mining the industry is starting to prepare for this next great leap forward, which will be focused “less on the capital equipment itself and more on the technology progression side, seeing the full integration of Informational Technology and Operational Technology, more simple plug and play process, and most remarkably, augmented reality”.

The opportunity for developing mining, and in turn, productivity levels in Australia lies in optimisation which is supported by increased automation.

“It will be more pragmatic, as it moves to a more sustainable mining model and miners use sustainability as a yard stick to measure their operations,” Areces said.

In essence, developing a ‘mining factory’ that provides operators with clear, sustainable outcomes that boasts more integration, visibility and operational intelligence within their production chain.

This is being implemented both underground and on the surface.

Fortescue recently signed an agreement with Caterpillar for automated fleets that are aimed at cutting fuel usage, increasing safety, and precise haulage across its Pilbara operations.

As part of the second phase of automation implementation, following the installation of the Continued on page 18 AustralianMining

August 2014

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PRODUCTIVITY

derground operations where LHD loaders have been opertechnology and vehicles at ating since 1990,” Trimetric the Firetail mine, Fortescue lead analyst Cliff Smee said. will have the same system According to Ventyx’s running at its 40 million John Jessop and ABB’s Edutonne per annum Kings mine. ardo Gallestey production Eight ‘Command for line processes are another Hauling’ Cat 793F CMD sector of the industry where trucks have already been progression has been made. commissioned and started “Take, for example, the operations. optimisation of dosing and However while much fo- flow rates,” Jessop and Galcus has been on the surface, it lestey stated. is in underground operations “While many miners althat major strides forward ready have Advanced Prohave been made, particularly cess Control (APC) solutions in the development of block automating the management caving operations which of dosing and flow rates in have utilised automated pro- real-time, most are unable to cesses to essentially turn the easily align this data with the system in to a rock factory. real time conditions out in A survey conducted by the market.

Timetric found the share of “For instance, miners are underground mines using au- unable to connect informatonomous vehicles is expected tion on relative product pricto increase from 32 per cent ing, data on feed material and to 45 per cent in Australia information from sales conover the next decade. tracts, because this informa“While there has been tion is stored in disparate sysmuch press focus on the use tems – often in a completely of autonomous vehicles at different department than the surface mining in iron ore control room operators. operations, A M 0 8 1 the 4 _ real 0 0 0use _ Nof E W - “With 1 the 2 0 convergence 1 4 - 0 7 - of 1 4 automation has been in un- these IT systems and the pro-

cess for gold and copper recovery at Oyu Tolgoi.

In terms of vehicle optimisation, this has been advanced with systems such as Caterpillar’s Minestar, Sandvik’s Automine, Komatsu’s automated system, Atlas Copco’s Rig Control System and many others seeing increased take-up.

Miners now “know what they want from automation, which is good,” Atlas Copco’s blast hole technology project manager Tyler Berens said.

“They’ve obviously accepted the technology and they are ready to push forward and go autonomous where it makes sense to do so.

“I think [automation technology] appealing to any stakeholder in the mining environment – whether that’s an operator, safety officer, manager, or even an investor.

“There are opportunities to eliminate risks normally associated with certain mining activities; there’s the prospect of better efficiencies and lower operating costs.”

Continued from page 17

Greater overall chain visibility will enhance productivity.

cess control OT, the APC can refine the set points to maximise returns for the current feed material and product pricing based on information from the sales system driven by the global pricing index.”

Rio Tinto has taken major steps on this front, earlier this year unveiling its Processing Centre of Excellence.

Based in Brisbane, Rio says this “is a world first, state-of-the-art facility that enhances monitoring and operational performance by examining in real time processing data from several Rio T 1 6Tinto : 0 4operations : 3 6 + 1 spread 0 : 0 0 across the globe”.

SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS FOR RESOURCES

Known by some colloquially as ‘the excellent centre for excellent excellence’, it will provide processing solutions and initiatives to mine sites in Mongolia at Oyu Tolgoi, in the US at Kennecott, and across Australia (at five different sites).

A massive interactive screen will show and analyse technical data in real time, “allowing processing improvements to be immediately introduced and operational performance to be optimised,” the miner said.

Early trials have already led to improvements such as adjusting the flotation pro-

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SAFETY

Six ways to have a SAFETY CHAT without looking like a pompous arse As the industry continues to suffer from a series of safety incidents The Mining Man Jamie Ross explains how you can address the issue on site, without ruffling feather or starting a fight.

I

n the minerals industry we work with people who have a range of different attitudes towards safety and how much risk they’ll take on the job site. From time to time we find ourselves in a situation where we want to let someone know that we don’t think the way they are working is the safest way, or that we don’t think they’re following all the correct procedures for the job.

Having this type of conversation is made all the more difficult when the person we want to chat to doesn’t work for us, and may not even be from the same company or team.

But we shouldn’t avoid having a discussion about safety just because we aren’t someone’s boss. Keeping people safe is only achieved by everyone looking out for each other and having the courage to talk about the best way to do things.

Here are six tips to help make your next safety chat go a little smoother:

1. Pick your moment

There are right and wrong times to have a safety discussion. If the situation you’re presented with is putting someone in immediate danger, then you need to find a way to pause the job as quickly as possible and talk about what you’ve seen.

However, there are times when there’s not an urgent danger, and we are better to wait and have the chat later.

For example, if someone is not wearing the correct PPE, approaching him in front of the whole crew probably won’t work – we should wait until an opportune time later on when you can talk oneon-one. This will make the discussion less daunting, the 20

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point to prove you’re right if the person isn’t interested in listening or acknowledging what you’re saying. It will be best to just leave them to think about what you’ve said, and perhaps come back to it at a later time. If you’re right, they’ll probably change what they’re doing anyway, and if you’re wrong then there was no point having an argument in the first place. We want people to work safely because they see the reasons why, not because they’ve been forced into it when they don’t agree.

6. Lead by example

person less defensive, and if it turns out that we’re wrong we won’t look dumb in front of the whole crew.

2. Use “I” not “You”

The best way to avoid the person getting defensive or argumentative is to focus on your own thoughts and feelings rather than what you want them to do differently.

The easiest way to do this is to make sure you start your sentences with “I” instead of “you”. We want to talk about how we feel and what we think, not directly about their actions or what we want them to change. So instead of “You should be…”, “You are supposed to…”, or “You know you haven’t…”; we want to say things like “I’m a bit worried…”, “I thought the rule was…”, or “When I was on another site they…”.

Not only does this make our comments less direct and confronting to the person (and hence make them less defensive), it also means that if we are wrong (which does

happen!) then we don’t look like such an arse.

3. Ask questions

In a similar way to using “I” instead of “you”, we will try to phrase our comments as questions instead of statements as much as possible.

This again makes the discussions less defensive, and gives the person a chance to explain their actions from their point of view. So we say things like “Do we need to have locked this out first?”, “Do you think we should go a get a ladder?”, or “What’s the procedure for this?”.

Even if you know the answer for sure, using questions creates a more open and effective discussion, and helps you find out more about the other person’s point of view.

4. Blame someone else

Another tactic to make yourself look less like a knowit-all is to reference a third party or source. For example we can base our comments on what the boss said,

what the procedure said, or what our induction said.

We can make someone else look like the “enforcer” of safety rather than sounding like it’s us. So we might say things like “Didn’t they say in the induction that we had to…”, “Come on, the boss has really been hammering us about safety glasses…”, or even a general one like “They’ve been telling us to talk more about safety, so on that note I was thinking…”.

Of course, we can only reference other sources or people when it’s true – we can’t just make things up!

5. Be prepared to walk away

In the end we are all responsible for our own safety, and there’s only so much we can do to influence another person’s behaviours. So if the conversation starts to go off the rails and the person gets defensive or argumentative, the best thing we can do is take some time out. There’s no benefit in pushing the

Leading by example through working safely ourselves may not help us deal with a dangerous situation that we’re witnessing, but over the longer term it sets you up to be able to have these safety conversations in the future. If you’re not a good safety role model yourself, you’re not on a good foundation to talk to someone about what you think they should do differently. How would you feel if someone that never wears their PPE told you you should follow the rules more often? Leading by example with your own safe behaviours is the best foundation for helping others work more safely.

Fortunately safety is so widely spoken about in the industry that most people are happy to engage in a discussion without getting defensive – it just needs someone to kick it off. There’s no doubt people who will still take risks even though they know it’s not the right thing to do, but a little chat to show them that you care about doing things the right way just might make all the difference! www.miningaustralia.com.au

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FIFO

The mining industry presents unique challenges as workers attempt to ensure that miners on different shifts are where they need to be, when they are needed.

Finding a FIFO

FORMULA

An insight in to the other side of FIFO.

F

ly in fly out presents a difficult issue for mining companies.

FIFO workforces pose a huge challenge for mining companies, with the spotlight rarely levelled at how they manage to get people from A to B and on site where and when they’re needed.

Trying to organise hundreds of people travelling, changing shifts, moving from place to place and getting them on and off remote sites is often an overwhelming challenge.

Added to this is the basic communications issues that each remote site faces, coupled with the typical problems faced in any logistics chain and mining firms are suddenly facing a huge series of hurdles.

Throw offshore operations and floating oil rigs in the mix and the operation seems almost insurmountable.

To get people where they need to go, on time, from a variety of different places is a modern logistics marvel.

And one that is relatively unique to the resources sector.

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Speaking to Peter Brady, managing director of specialist business travel company Carson Wagonlit Travel Australia, he told Australian Mining “in our experience travellers in the energy, marine, and resource (ERM) sectors face a number of specialised travel management challenges”.

“The logistics of managing a fly-in-fly-out workforce from urban centres to rural and remote locations have traditionally been complex as travellers need access to air and accommodation options that are considered ‘unconventional’ by other industries,” Brady said.

“Knowing where employees are at all times, whether they are qualified to be there and are on the right rotations, are day-to-day concerns faced by these companies.

“This includes unique travel arrangements that may involve helicopter transfers to offshore oil rigs and charter flights to regional mine locations.”

He went on to state that “operational efficiency, asset utilisation, and unit costs are

primary concerns for organisations in this sector; [however] business continuity and work force management (WFM) optimisation are key ingredients in achieving operational efficiency”.

Unfortunately for many companies this process is manual, or only semi-automated, which increases the risk of error or processing inefficiencies, increasing costs.

“For example we are aware of many scenarios where companies have people co-ordinating rosters and logistical spread sheets to manage beds of a mining campsites and then transferring the spread sheet to different people in charge of booking charter flights, road, and/or commercial flights,” Brady explained.

He went on to say that CWT had spent a number of years working on developing reliable day-to-day logistics rotational crews and other personnel, conducting effective contingency and crisis management planning, as well as establishing continual cost and performance optimisation of travel programs, and had developed a

new tool for operators.

“By talking and engaging with our clients who have constantly evolving needs, it became evident there was a significant opportunity for improvements in this specialised sector; to respond to this need CWT is announcing the development of a first-to-market, fully integrated online tool for FIFO travellers and travel buyers that will automate the entire process, thus virtually eliminating any margin for error and generating significant process cost saving opportunities.

“We expect the potential impact of this unique offering, on both travellers and arrangers in this industry, to be game changing.”

In regards to FIFO in the mining sector, Brady explained the industry will continue to cut costs and automate.

“Technology is clearly the game changer; travellers are looking for a mobile onestop shop so they don’t have to organise or deal with their trip in fragments,” Brady said.

“A recent report we re-

leased titled CWT’s Travel Management Priorities 2014 highlighted that 37 per cent of surveyed travel managers will be prioritising the development of a mobile strategy this year; from what I’ve seen this is reflective of the consumerisation of corporate travel, as travel managers and travel management companies seek to provide increasingly sophisticated products and services.

“An example of this is the future of single-use payment cards, these cards feature pre-set controls, authorisation and spending limits, which allow companies to reduce fraudulent activities, maintain central billing and accurately reconcile expenditures.

The report went on to show companies have a need for simplified crew management technology and a 24/7 travel service aligned with mine operating hours.

“In terms of wellbeing and the security of their employees, companies want to be assured that their travellers can be easily tracked and are safe throughout their journey,” Brady said. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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MINE REHABILITATION

Turning old mines into

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS Two formerly closed mines overseas that have been transformed into stimulating, functional and inspired public spaces has Australian Mining questioning why similar innovations aren’t being undertaken here?

W

hile we like to think of ourselves as pretty cluey, Australia tends to be more conservative when it comes to artsy innovations and daring to be different.

The ‘she’ll be right attitude’ is deeply entrenched in everything we do from how we build our cities to adopting new technologies, which means space for creativity and a deviation from the norm is often stifled by the tried and tested.

So what does this have to do with mining I hear you ask?

Two disused mines in Europe are showing what can be achieved with a little imagination and some up and go – and we think it’s high time the same ideas are used here to make of mines doing nothing.

Exhibit 1

Belgium, Genk: The Winterslag mine A former coal mine in Belgium has been reborn as a modernist community space, with high schools, movie theatres and hiking tracks taking the place of old mining infrastructure.

The Winterslag mine in Genk, on the border of Belgium and Germany, was built in 1917 and operated until 1988.

Since then the site – including processing facilities, factories, and even the underground tunnelling system – have been revitalised, transforming the mine site into a space to be enjoyed by the local community called C-mine.

The site now hosts a movie com24

August 2014

AustralianMining

plex and a high school, with the for- Exhibit 2 mer slag heap turned into a hiking Wales, Blaenau Ffestiniog: Llecharea. But the work has not stopped wedd slate mine An abandoned 176-year old unthere. The mine’s old ventilation shaft has been transformed into an “ex- derground mine has been transformed perience space,” where people can into a trampoline park. Blaenau Ffestiniog’s slate mine explore a maze in North Wales of underground boasts three giant tunnels and climb trampolines poto the top of the sitioned between 180-foot-tall 6 to 54 metres ventilation tower above the floor into an observa(with safety nets tion deck. included) in cavVisitors say erns twice the the C-Mine Exsize of St Paul’s pedition does not Cathedral in follow a set path.

London.

“It takes visiThe trampotors through a lines are hung range of differwithin two vast ent disorienting chambers and spaces, starting connected by with an archive walkways and that carries out slides. the memory of To cater for the mine-industhe extra adventry,” the archiThe trampoline took a kilometre of netting. turous, the hightects said. est slide stands These are said to include ‘atmospheric spaces” at 18 metres.

As if this wasn’t cool enough, where sounds and images of the mine’s former life fill the air, as well Bounce Below lights up the walls of the mine with a technicoloured as mine-specific art installations.

The ‘unusual creative space’ of light display that illuminates the cavthe C-Mine is becoming a burgeon- ern, creating a dreamlike affect for ing tourist attraction for the town, bouncers.

“Imagine a vast underground with thousands of people visiting chamber, lit in vibrant colours, where the space each year.

you bounce through the Earth’s bowels on an enormous trampoline. It’s a virtual-reality thrill – except it is an actual physical experience,” The Guardian’s Jonathan Jones wrote.

The caverns are the remains of a Victorian slate mine that’s tunnels were cut out by men and boys in the 19th century and then used as the mine’s tramway in the 1970s.

The train ride to the cavern takes approximately five minutes and is 30 metres below the ground.

The trampoline wonderland has even caught the attention of famous celebrity reporter, Perez Hilton.

“You win, Wales. You win.

The title of “Most Fun Place In The World” is all yours” said the Los Angeles-based Perez in his online blog.

“How can it NOT with this new tourist attraction at the Llechwedd Slate Caverns!

“An underground arrangement of three giant trampolines deep inside these massive caves! Shut. UP!” Bounce Below is the brainchild of Sean Taylor who said it is the only one of its kind in the world.

“The surreal experience of Bounce Below cannot be matched as there’s nothing like it anywhere else on earth,” Taylor said.

“It’s essentially an underground playground.”

It took over a kilometre of net and over 4500 man hours to build the underground trampoline system. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2014-07-23T08:58:15+10:00

PERSONNEL

I just lost my job.

NOW WHAT? Redundancies in mining are on the rise. So how do you score another job if you’ve been in the same role forever? We’ve got you covered with four expert tips.

W

orkers in the mining industry have had a rough trot of late as softening commodity prices, and a drive by companies to reduce workforce numbers to pre-boom levels, sees the number of job cut announcements increasing.

Over the last few months, major mining companies along with suppliers and logistics service providers have announced their intentions to trim workforce numbers.

BHP Billiton has cut over 500 jobs since the start of the year from across its iron ore and coal mining businesses as the miner works to enforce a productivity drive aimed at ensuring A M 2 8its 7 2global _ M o competitiveness b i l e _ HP remains intact.

Mining manufacturer Sandvik has announced it will shut down its Australian manufacturing operations and move them offshore in the next 12 months, shedding 170 jobs as it looks to keep costs under control.

Meanwhile rail operator Aurizon will cut 480 jobs by 2017 as it works to streamline its operating model.

And if the first six months of 2014 wasn’t bad enough, experts are warning to not expect a reprise any time soon.

According to a new report by ANZ, 75 000 mining-related jobs are at risk as Australia enters “phase 2

2 0 1 4 - 0 7 - 2 2 T1 5 : 1 7 : 1 9 + 1 0 : 0 0 Continued on page 28

Available on PC, tablet and mobile!

Miningaustralia.com.au, the online home of Australian Mining, is now mobile

facebook.com/ AustralianMining

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@ozmining

Australia’s most trusted and respected source of mining news since 1908 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PERSONNEL

Continued from page 26

three” of the mining boom in the coming years.

This follows from phase one which saw a surge in global commodity prices, and phase two that was characterised by the billions of dollars sunk into projects as investment exploded to unprecedented levels.

The ANZ-led research stated that as billions of dollars worth of investment in the sector tapers off and construction gives way to production, resource-related roles around the country face a heavy cull.

Currently the mining industry is estimated to employ around 263 000 people, meaning ANZ is predicting nearly a third of these roles will be slashed.

Director of recruitment company Maddison Collins, Elizabeth Thair said proactive measures are needed to help those going through job losses to determine their career pathways.

“Anyone going through redundancy is facing a number of problems not least being a sense of loss through losing a job that supports a family,” Thair said.

“Dealing with this sense of loss is our first priority so that a person’s confidence and self-belief can be developed going forward.”

Thair said the next step for people dealing with a job loss was a frank self-assessment which aimed to identify skills, abilities, strengths, interests and unique qualities to determine realistic career objectives and the pathways to get there.

“With the current job market flat and hundreds applying for each job vacancy, unless you have an award winning resume, and stand out of the crowd when addressing

Practise your interview techniques with common questions you are likely to be asked.

selection criteria, you will not get an interview,” Thair explained.

She said there are several ways to increase the chance of scoring a new job, both within and outside of the sector.

Do your homework:

Tailor your resume to include career profile, key skills and abilities, and achievements; a cover letter that explains briefly the job you are applying for; and address selection criteria clearly outlining your suitability to the requirements of the prospective employer.

“Job seekers have only 20 seconds at most to make an impression as recruiters are bombarded with hundreds of applications,” Thair explained.

“The selection may even be through a computer generated selection process looking for key words that match the job description. It is for this reason that a clearly written, concise cover letter and selection criteria written with key words taken from the job description may get you to that first interview.”

In many cases, skills learnt in particular specialised roles can be transferred, so highlighting flexibility, accomplishments and performance successes are very important.

Build a personal brand:

Identify your point of difference.

Knowing who you are is important in knowing your personal brand.

Questions such as ‘what is your authentic you?’ will help you in determining your brand.

“Are you kind, respectful, punctual? Where do you stand out, what are your strengths that make you who you are?” Thair asked.

Thair said knowing what you have to offer and promoting these positive traits will help an employer identify if you will fit the company culture.

“Having a personal brand is now just as important as a business brand,” Thair stated.

Create a marketing plan:

Do your homework and research the company you are looking to join.

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Develop strategies for your job search that is built around specific job goals and industry targets.

“A plan is vital to every business and is just as important to the success of a jobseeker,” Thair said.

A marketing plan includes location, industry selection, and employers based on the job description and makes for efficient use of time when looking for a job. “The process I use is very much driven by an assessment done at a first meeting where together we have determined a career direction,” Thair said.

Interview techniques:

Practice potential interview questions such as “what can you bring to the position?” and “what makes you stand out of the crowd?”

Thair said some people had trouble in shining light on their positive attributes as nerves took over in the interview process.

“I had the privilege of working with Sonny a few weeks ago who came to me for advice on the process for interviews,” Thair explained.

“Sonny originally was working in the mining industry and took voluntary redundancy last year.

“He stated in an email: “I am unable to portray myself in a manner that reflects what I am capable and able to offer, are you able to help?”

“I researched the job he had applied for and developed a possible scenario of questions to test him.

Sonny received a list of questions to work on beforehand which we covered in a mock interview.”

While the result of the interview is pending, Thair said it was important for people to feel confident and in control, and effective interview techniques was a major part of the process. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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CUTTING

ADVERTORIAL

Explosive move to Australia Explosive move to Austral Explosive move to Australia I Explosive move to Australia CUTTING EDGE

Our view is that time is of the essence in any mineral extraction operation.

International explosives company International explosives company customisation of the products will nternational explosives comNitro Sibir was founded in Russia Our view is that Nitropany SibirNitro was founded in Russia in 1990 by a group of local drill save the operators in the field time Sibir was founded time is of the and blast specialists, supported in 1990 by a ingroup of local drill and effort in carrying out their duin Russia 1990 byexpertise a group of with the technical of Nitro essence in any and specialists, supported Nobel, a world leader in explosives ties. localblast drill and blast specialists, supCUTTING EDGE mineral extraction innovation, development and with the with technical expertiseexpertise of Nitro As drill hole diameters have ported the technical production. operation Nobel, a world leader in explosives Nitro a Sibir Australia changed in certain applications, of Nitro Nobel, world leader(NSA) in Manager Duncanand Minto innovation, Technical development Duncan Minto so should the explosives that are explosives said innovation, developthe company was the biggest production. explosives supplier in Russia, with Nitro Sibir loaded into them. ment and production. around 400,000 tonnes of bulk Nitro Sibir Australia (NSA) and effort in carrying out their duties. explosives sales per year and a fleet To this end NSA will be workNitro Sibir Australia (NSA) As drill hole diameters have of around Duncan 200 mobile processing Technical Manager Minto International explosives company ing very closely with sothe customer Technical Manager Duncan Minto changed in certain applications, units.

Nitro Sibirbiggest was founded in Russia Our view is that said the company was the should the to explosives that are loaded Since establishment, the company base develop effective in 1990 by a group of local drill said the company was the biggest into them. time ismore of the explosives supplier inandoperations Russia, with has introduced Finland blast in specialists, supported products for contemporary appliexplosives supplier in Russia, with To this end NSA will be working and has invested facilities, people withinthe technical expertise of Nitro around 400,000 tonnes of bulk essence in any and infrastructure in Australia. very closely with the customer base Nobel, a world leader in explosives cations. around 400,000 tonnes of bulk exexplosives sales“The percompany year and a fleet to develop more effective products for extraction is looking to mineral innovation, development and NSAapplications. sets itself apart through per year and fleetIt expand elsewhere in theaworld. contemporary production. ofplosives aroundsales 200 mobile processing operation has expanded into Finland some NSA sets itself design apart through innovative and equipping Nitro Sibir Australia (NSA) of around 200 mobile processing units. years ago and is now getting innovative design and equipping the Technical Manager Duncan Minto Duncan Minto established in Australia and is the user to carry out day-to-day units. user to carry out day-to-day charging said company was the biggest Russian Since establishment, thethe company Expanding: Russian explosives Nitro Sibir is innow situated in Australia to explosives companycompany Nitro Sibir is now situated Australia to service miners’ needs. scouting in Africa, Canada and Latin Expanding: operations themselves, thus putting Nitro Sibir explosives supplier in Russia, with charging operations themselves, Since establishment, com-a service miners’ needs.

America.

The company provides has introduced operations inthe Finland control of the charging operations around 400,000 tonnes “The of bulk “The products are not over Australian business unit is safety, working to markedly reduce full service offering and is flexible thus control of the effort in carrying out chargtheir duties. pany introduced operations inyear and back into putting their hands.and explosives sales per a fleet and hashas invested in facilities, people same basic objectives as the exposure of manufacturers, specified, but manufactured to in how it packages this offering to has the As drill hole diameters have Mr Minto said NSA offered of around 200 mobile processing ing operations back into their unplanned events involving exploproduct it could forthe the transport given operators, ap- the public and deliver the optimum end result time Finland andthehas invested in said. facili- the original company, namely customer,” Mr Minto and infrastructure in Australia. in certain applications, so something differentchanged to the market units. development of formulations and users to the potential effects of theft, and time again.

NSA is a privately owned hands. sive products. plication. ties, and infrastructure in thetechnologies should the explosives that are loaded products to Since establishment, company for the production of incidents and other unplanned events “Thepeople company is was looking to “Our view is that time is of the by supplying explosive company that created primarily companies to place in blast into them. involving explosive solutions to hasexplosives introducedneeds operations in Finland Minto said NSA offered essence in any belief mineral extraction is that miningMr “Theexplosives Australian business unit products.“Our fundamental Australia. to service the of cost-effective expand elsewhere in the world.

It blasting challenges,” he said.

To this end NSA will be working and has invested in facilities, people “Our fundamental belief is that operation, therefore getting the job holes themselves. miners, contractors and quarry to the market simple work will be produc- something has theandsame basic ofobjectives as willsafe, company is infrastructure looking toAustralia.

“What a lot of different companies and in safe, simple work be productive done in the shortest possible overall “Design commissioning has “The expanded into inFinland some very closelywant with the customer base operators the Australian mining to do is buy the gear and operate it effective time is essential to a successful work,” Mr Minto said. manufacturing plants, including and construction industries. to develop more products by supplying explosive products tofor “The company is looking to tive work,” Mr Minto said. the original company, namely the expand elsewhere the world. years ago and isin now gettingIt onsite themselves, which iscontemporary where a lot of facilities and the provision of “We believe in operator control of enterprise.”

Mr Minto expand said customer needs elsewhere in the world.

It applications. mining companies to place in blast “We believe in operator conof formulations and has expanded Finland adevelopment complete established in into Australia andsome is Finland That’s NSA believes all operations are markets are moving to. drove the business strategy, with has expanded into someoffering of fit-for-purpose the drill and blast process, therefore NSA setstheitself apart through explosives, exact market Nitro wants tominers’ be differentand as such a degree of the deliveryof systems been NSA providing the most Latin suitable years ago and is now gettingblasting accessories Expanding: Russian explosives company Sibir isandnow situated in Australia to Sibir service needs. holes themselves. trolhave ofNitro the drill blast process, technologies for the and production years ago and isCanada now getting esinnovative design and equipping the scouting in Africa, and technical services is our priority.” designed with safety, reliability and customisation of the products will in,” he said. product it established could for the in given Australia and is user to carry out day-to-day charging “What a lot of companies want therefore the delivery systems have solutions tablishedThe in application.

Australia and is Africa, scoutAmerica. company provides a cost-effective savesituated the operators in the field time miners’ needs. robustness as key attributes.

A driving behindexplosives the business ADVERTISING Expanding: Russian explosives company Nitro Sibir is now in Australia to service scouting in Canada and Latin force operations themselves, thus putting America.

TheLatin company provides a Australian “The products are notoperations over is safety, working to safety, markedly reduce to do business is buy the gear and operate it designed with reliabilito“The blasting challenges,” he said.unit been ingservice in Africa, Canada and full offering and is flexible control of the charging “The products are not over “The Australian business unit is safety, working to markedly reduce full service offering and is flexible back into their hands. specified, but manufactured to the exposure of manufacturers, has the same basic objectives as themselves, which is where a lot of inAmerica. how it packages this offering to ty and robustness as key attributes.

“Design andsame commissioning The company provides basic objectives asof the exposure of manufacturers, specified, but manufactured to in how it packagesathis offering to has the Mr Minto end said result NSA offered deliver the optimum end result time transport operators, the public and the original company, namely the deliver the optimum time transport operators, the public and the original company, namely the the customer,” Mr Minto said. the customer,” Mr Minto said. markets are moving to.

That’s the “The products are not over full service offering and is flexible manufacturing plants, including something different to the market of formulations and users to the potential effects of theft, and time again.

NSA is a privately owned development and time again. users to the potential effects ofview theft, development of formulations and supplyingSibir explosive products market wants to to specified, manufactured detheproduction provision inNSA how it this offering is packages a privately owned and other but unplanned events technologiesand for the of incidents “Our to is that exact time is of the by Nitro company that was to createdonsite primarily facilities mining companies to place in the blast involving explosive products. cost-effective explosives solutions to incidents and other unplanned events technologies for the production of essence in any mineral extraction “Our view is that time is of to service the explosives needs of company that was created primarily be in,” he said. liver the optimum end result time of a complete offering of fit-forthe customer,” Mr Minto said. holes themselves. blasting challenges,” he said. operation, therefore getting the job “Our fundamental belief is that miners, contractors and quarry explosive products. explosives solutions to involving essence in any extraction to service explosives needs of cost-effective time purpose accesNSA isthe a privately owned com“Whatmineral a lot of companies want simple work again. will be productive done in the shortest possible overall “Design and blasting commissioning of safe,and operators in the Australian mining explosives, blasting challenges,” he said. to do is buy the gear andthe operate operation, therefore getting jobit “Our fundamental belief is that time is essential to a successful work,” Mr Minto said. manufacturing plants, including and construction industries. miners, contractors and quarry “Our view is that time is of the pany that was created primarily to sories and technical services is our themselves, which is where a lot of enterprise.” facilities and the provision of “We believe in operator control of be Mr Minto said customer“Design needs onsite done in the shortest possible overall safe, simple work will productive and commissioning of operators in the Australian mining essence in any mineral extraction priority.” service the explosivesdrove needs min- strategy, NSA believes all operations are markets are moving to. That’s the the of business with a complete offering of fit-for-purpose the drill and blast process, therefore is ofessential a Sibir successful work,” Minto manufacturing plants, including explosives, blasting accessories and the operation, and exact marketto Nitro wants to be different as suchtime a degree delivery Mr systems have said. been providing the most suitable therefore getting theandjob A driving force behind the busiers,construction contractors industries. and NSA quarry operatechnical and services is our priority.” of designed with safety, reliability and customisation of the enterprise.” products will in,” he said. product it could for onsite the givenfacilities the provision “We believe in operator control of Mr Minto said customer needs done in the shortest possible overworking to the markedly tors in the Australian mining and ness is safety, save the operators in the field time A driving force behind business robustness as key attributes. application.

ADVERTISING Ambitious: strategy, Interest in Nitro Sibir Australia’s explosive technologies is areduce complete of fit-for-purpose NSA believes all operations are thetime drill is and blast process, therefore drove the business with all essential to a successful theoffering exposure construction industries. high with users on the east coast expressing a desire to be involved.of manufacblasting accessories the delivery systems have been different and as such a degree of NSA Mr providing the customer most suitable turers, transport operators, and the enterprise.”

Minto said needs explosives, technical services is our priority.” customisation of the products will designed with safety, reliability are and Nitro product it could for the given NSA believes all operations public and users to the potential drove the business strategy, with Sibir Limited save the operators in the field time robustness as key attributes.

A driving force behind the business application. different and as such a degree of effects of theft, incidents and other NSA providing the most suitable http://www.nitrosibir.com.au/

Sights set on Western Australia when moving international: NSA

Dynamics of industry appear to be changing

Sights set on Western Australia when moving international: NSA

Ambitious: Interest in Nitro Sibir Australia’s explosive technologies is high with users on the east coast expressing a desire to be involved.

Dynamics of industry appear to be changing

Duncan Minto Nitro Sibir

and effort in carrying o As drill hole dia changed in certain ap should the explosives t into them.

To this end NSA w very closely with the c to develop more effectiv contemporary applicati NSA sets itself a innovative design and user to carry out day-to operations themselves control of the chargi back into their hands.

Mr Minto said something different t by supplying explosiv mining companies to holes themselves.

“What a lot of com to do is buy the gear themselves, which is w markets are moving exact market Nitro Sib in,” he said.

Sights set on Western Austra when moving international: N

The team at Nitro Sibir believes the desire to be involved with the current bulk explosive technology company.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS TO MAINTAIN should be rolled out to more users, “The dynamics of the explosives THE INTEGRITY OF THE NITRO SIBIR BRAND in particular those working in the industry appear to be changing; this Established: Nitro Sibir’s WA explosives plant facility is located on the Kalgoorlie Explosives Reserve. underground environment. means Nitro Sibir is well placed to When Nitro Sibir set its sights second being manufactured. business and now it is setting up Nitro Sibir Australia (NSA) take advantage of the opportunities on Australia, the state of Western Technical Manager Duncan Minto that will arise,” Mr Minto said.

“It has also invested in an capacity to supply a number of Australia was seen as the fastest way underground charging unit for bulk other products.” said the blasting results obtained “Nitro is also lookingtechnologies is Ambitious: Interest in Nitro SibirSibir Australia’s explosive to get established in the country. from a fully coupled bulk emulsion In setting up facilities in WA, emulsion and plans on supplying to expressing expand ina desire Canada,to be involved. high with users on the actively east coast product were superior to those The Russian explosives company both surface and underground Nitro Sibir will be creating jobs Africa and Latin America. One of obtained from cartridge products, bought an existing business with operations.” and will be able to offer short lead and as such the change to this the family owners mentioned he is production and storage assets on the Mr Minto said a second reason times on the product range to WA interested in expanding into other technology was definitely justified.

Kalgoorlie Explosives Reserve in WA users of its products. for setting up in Western Australia territories from the Australian base. in May 2013.

“Furthermore, the safety benefits “Nitro Sibir bought a mobile was to target small to medium cap “The company has assets in of reducing the amount of Class 1 “That gave the company immediate manufacturing unit and is working mining companies, contractors and products manufactured, transported Europe that can be deployed in manufacturing capability in the with the Department of Mines and smaller users. and stored, are very appealing. this region as and when demand packaged explosives product line,” Petroleum to get a manufacturing “WA fits this segment very license for the bulk ANE plant. The requiresthe further investment.” desire to be involved Nitro withSibir theAustralia (NSA) Technical The team at Nitro Sibir Community safety is important to believes well. There was also a demand bulk plant has arrived and we are bulk explosive technology all of us,” he current said. company.

Manager Duncan Minto said.

Mr Minto said Nitro Sibir’s future be rolled out to more users,was to“The ambition provide a total, Mr Minto should said interest in NSA’s “In addition, the company is now for the product and it really got in the process of securing a block dynamics of the explosives them (Nitro Sibir) into plant something in particular those working in the industry NitroNitro Sibir’s WA explosives facility is ground located on Kalgoorlie Explosives Reserve. offering in of Nitro explosive technologies of upon which to erect it,” Kalgoorlie working having a bulk cost-effective, quality commercial appear toisbehigh changing; Ambitious: Interest Sibir Australia’s explosive technologies withthistowardsEstablished: Established: Sibir’s WA explosives plant facility isthe located on the underground environment. had been intense so far, with users explosives offering plant purchased its tangible very quickly,” he said.

Mr Minto said. to markets. means Nitro Sibir is wellANE placed to and has users on the east coast expressing a desire to be involved.

Explosives Reserve. on the east coast expressing first mobile processing a set“Soits the ADVERTISING ADVERTISING company bought second beingthat manufactured.

When unit, Nitrowith Sibir sights business and now it is setting up Nitro Sibir their Australia (NSA) take advantage of the opportunities on Australia, the state of Western to supply a number of Technical Manager Duncan Minto that will arise,” Mr Minto said.

“It has also invested in an capacity www.myresources.com.au THE MINING CHRONICLE VOL. 19, NO. 6 PAGE 21 Australia was seen as the fastest way underground charging unit for bulk other products.” said the blasting results obtained “Nitro Sibir is also looking to get established in the country. from a fully coupled bulk emulsion In setting up facilities in WA, emulsion and plans on supplying actively to expand in Canada, product were superior to those The Russian explosives company both surface and underground Nitro Sibir will be creating jobs Africa and Latin America. One of obtained from cartridge products, bought an existing business with operations.” and will be able to offer short lead and as such the change to this the family owners mentioned he is production and storage assets on the Mr Minto said a second reason times on the product range to WA interested in expanding into other technology was definitely justified.

Kalgoorlie Explosives Reserve in WA users of its products. for setting up in Western Australia territories from the Australian base. in May 2013.

“Furthermore, the safety benefits “Nitro Sibir bought a mobile was to target small to medium cap “The company has assets in of reducing the amount of Class 1 “That gave the company immediate manufacturing unit and is working mining companies, contractors and products manufactured, transported Europe that can be deployed in manufacturing capability in the with the Department of Mines and smaller users. and stored, are very appealing. this region as and when demand packaged explosives product line,” Petroleum to get a manufacturing “WA fits this segment very license for the bulk ANE plant. The investment.”

Community safety desireto torequires be further involved with the Nitro Sibir Australia (NSA) Technical The team at Nitro Sibir believes theis important

Dynamics of industry appear to be changing

Our view is time is of th essence in a mineral extr operation

AM0814_030

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NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

NORTHERN Exposure A recent summit focused on developing Northern Australia is highlighting the potential of the region.

David Sparkes writes.

F

ortescue Metals Group has used a high level summit on developing Northern Australia to continue its push for a ‘use it or lose it’ policy on leases on Western Australian gas reserves.

Fortescue director of external communications Tim Langmead made the comments during his keynote speech at the Northern Development Summit in Townsville.

The summit will submit recommendations to the Federal Government for its white paper on developing Northern Australia.

Speaking on the role of mining in developing Northern Australia, Langmead said Australia is heading for a “supply crunch situation” on gas and the creation of more gas projects would lower the domestic price.

“You can land gas off Northern Australia and make a 12 per cent rate of return,” he said.

“Why isn’t that happening? It’s not happening because a lot of that gas is locked up with companies thinking about what they might do with it.

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“Our point is there is a very clear market signal right now and there are [gas] companies like Apache and Santos who are saying the same thing,” he said.

“But there are some policy set-

tings that aren’t allowing us to get in there and do what the companies did in the United States. “[There are] 35 retention leases on conventional gas offshore in Western Australia, but they are just lock-

The challenges of infrastructure in the region was a major focus.

ing that gas up from development.

“There are companies that would love to get their hands on it and like the internal rates of returns they’d be looking at to supply the domestic market.”

The speech followed an announcement on May 29 by Fortescue CEO Nev Power that the company would push for the ‘use it or lose it’ policy to be introduced.

Fortescue is pursuing a strategy of switching from diesel to gas across its Pilbara iron ore operations and is building the Fortescue River Pipeline to deliver gas from the Solomon Hub. It expects the strategy will save it $20 million in energy costs.

Langmead said lower gas prices would also benefit the agriculture sector, both in terms of energy costs and by lowering the cost of fertiliser.

The summit in Townsville gathered key figures from government, industry and academia, including minister for trade and investment Andrew Robb and Northern Territory chief minister Adam Giles.

Organised by leadership group www.miningaustralia.com.au

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ADC Forum, it hosted discussion on issues affecting the future of Northern Australia, including population growth, infrastructure, mining, agriculture, and other industries.

Langmead said for Northern Australia to grow as the century unfolds, it is critical that the mining and agriculture industries work well together.

“We are disturbed when we look around and sometimes see a failure of our industries to work together,” he said.

Despite a recent slowdown, Langmead said mining would continue to play a pivotal role in Northern Australia in coming decades. He went on to state that perceptions about the slowdown in China’s economy are inaccurate.

“The reality is, Chinese steel production is still continuing to grow,” he said.

“In fact, it is growing at about 6 per cent. China’s urbanisation story has only just begun.

“Their plan is to move hundreds of millions of people from rural china into urban areas that will require amazing steel intensity.”

While GDP growth is lower Langmead said volume growth in China was actually higher now than when GDP growth was at its highest.

“In dollars, you are getting more growth today in China than you were five years ago,” he said.

Emphasising the role of mining in developing Northern Australia, he said Fortescue contributed about $2 billion in royalties and taxes last financial year and created 10 000 jobs, which inluded 1200 indigenous employees.

Minerals Council of Australia’s Brendan Pearson also made a presentation to the summit.

He told delegates the mining sector relied heavily on Northern Australia and would benefit from its development.

The council predicts that over the next five years, Australia could increase export volumes of its top five commodities from the current level of $120 billion to $180 billion.

Pearson said there were a number of policy settings government’s needed to consider to achieve those results.

He focused on the fuel tax credit scheme, which came under fire from the Greens and other groups leading up to the federal budget in May. The Government left the scheme intact in the budget, but Pearson warned the same argument would be made against the scheme every year and governments needed to stand firm.

“I would say that [removing the scheme] represents, in terms of present risks to growth, one of the single most dangerous assaults on growth in Northern Australia,” he said.

“I think it is emblematic of

some of the policy challenges that we will have over the next few years.

“That rebate is really important to a whole range of sectors in this country.

“If it was to be removed, it would be the equivalent of applying a $147 carbon tax on diesel fuel.”

He said 61 per cent of the credits go to groups outside the mining industry, often for diesel power generation in off-the-grid areas, and remote indigenous communities and agriculture would be hit hard if it were removed in the future.

Former minister for resources and energy Martin Ferguson supported Pearson’s argument.

Ferguson, who is now group executive for Seven Group Holdings, said claims the scheme should be abolished came up every year.

“I know as a minister it is (an option) that is actually rolled out by a number of departments every budget process,” he said.

“It requires the government of the day to actually say ‘no’.

“If that had disappeared in this budget round, then you would have seen more coal mines close in Queensland.”

Ferguson made a passionate speech on the future of the resources sector and its ability to boost Northern Australia.

“We have to stand up and fight.”

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AustralianMining

August 2014

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INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Kazakhstan’s new capital Astana is focused on growth. Image: Ken and Nyetta.

Eastern

Kazakhstan exports nearly 20% of the world’s uranium. Image: Anuar T.

PROMISE

Kazakhstan is providing Australians a new rapidly developing mining hotspot. Cole Latimer writes.

M

ining is full of quiet achievers; be it individuals, companies, or even countries.

Globally speaking Australia, Canada, South Africa, China, India and the US are in focus every day, but what about the countries that are the quiet achievers?

What about Chile, Ghana, Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan has been touted as one of world’s best endowed states when it comes to high class deposits, if perhaps one of the world’s most overlooked.

It is the world’s largest uranium producer under IAEA standards, the fourth largest copper producer (with 40 million tonnes in proven reserves), has the world’s ninth largest proven gold reserve and almost the same levels of zinc, but often fails to rate a mention.

As Austrade states “Kazakhstan is one of the world’s most promising emerging markets for natural resources”, and importantly for Australian operators it is looking to double mineral production within the next five years.

Kazakh president Nazarbayev outlined a gold production goal of 70 million tonnes per year before 2015.

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This has created a high potential for Australian operators, with the potential to rate as highly as China, after it rated ahead of the major Australian trade partner, ranked at 59th according to the World Bank’s 2010 ‘Doing Business’ survey.

The nation is making a major bid to attract investment in to the region, changing its mining laws and allocating nearly a billion dollars for new geological exploration programs in the region.

The country’s government approved close to USD $885 million for the implementation of the new program, according to its vice minister of new technologies Nuralan Surabayev.

The program will focus on the search for new deposits in the country as well as a new Geological Exploration Centre to further attract investment.

“Under the industry blueprint, the Kazakhstan government has stipulated several priorities for the mining industry. Large enterprises are charged with increasing production of basic metals while small and medium-sized businesses will be supported to establish high value-added end production

utilising these base metals,” Austrade explained.

Business has already started growing between Australian and Kazakhstan with approximately $38 million worth of goods and services exported to the country.

At the fifth Astana Mining and Metallurgy Conference, held in June this year, more than 1200 people gathered from around 30 countries gathered to discuss the developments in the nation and its potential growth path.

Much of the focus of the show was on the modernisation and development of the industry and how to increase its productivity, similar to that of Australia’s own mining industry.

As part of this push for development Kazakhstan announced a change to its existing mining codes to encourage international investment.

Its prime minister, Serik Akhmetov, told the country’s Ministry of Industry and New Technologies to have the concept for a new Mining Code ready by July 1 to increase the nation’s attractiveness to explorers.

It is also considering tax incentives for foreign investors.

Aset Isekeshev, Kazakhstan’s minister of industry and new technologies, said Rio Tinto is already looking to spend more than $13 million on exploration, whilst the government is looking to spend around USD$ 1 billion to fund increased exploration.

The country’s positive growth also saw the Business Monitor rate Kazakhstan at the top of its Risk/Reward rating “largely due to the substantial rewards on offer in these countries relative to other European players,” it said.

“We expect Kazahkstan’s coal production to reach 123 million tonnes by 2017, at an annual average growth rate of 2.1 per cent from 2012. Our forecast is slightly below the government’s aim of achieving production capacity of 138mtpa by 2016 and up to 151mtpa by 2020. Most of the growth will come from Bogatyr Coal, as the company enters the third stage of developing its Bogatyr mine.”

Following its success in Russia, Austmine is also looking to Kazakhstan, with its CEO Robert Trzebski outlining a new mission with eight to ten Australian METS companies within the coming months.

“This’ll be our sixth visit to Kazakhstan,” he told Australian Mining.

The event, which will be held in September and worked as part of the larger Mining World Central Asia exhibition, where Australia is slated to sign a MoU similar in nature to that signed with Russia, which will aims at greater co-operation between Australia and Kazakhstan enabling mutual exchange of knowledge and expertise, including scientific research into mining solutions.

Trzebski explained that “while the currency devaluation has some questioning the country’s stability, the truth is there are still massive opportunities, particularly in base metals and maybe even uranium.”

He went on to add that state of coal, however, is a different one, as the commodity is battered by poor prices globally.

“Kazakhstan has always offered great opportunities, and has always been ahead in the region in terms of adopting technology and implementing new technology.”

This sentiment was echoed by Palaris’ Joe Carr, who stated “Kazakhstan is modernising”. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2014-07-23T12:52:01+10:00

CONTRACT MINING, ENGINEERING AND SERVICES

Improving safety in plant

MAINTENANCE Gold Coast engineering firm ESS has developed a heavy-duty, retractable idler frame that precludes the need for most scaffolding and work at heights when changing conveyor rollers, and knocks hours off maintenance time.

T

he most crucial type of plant at any ship loading facility is the conveyance for materials. Without conveyor belts, nothing gets onto the ship, and without regular maintenance the conveyors don’t run.

By the same token, the most important aspect of performing maintenance on industrial plant is to ensure the safety of workers.

It was with this focus on safety that Gold-coast based engineering firm ESS took on a design challenge at one of Australia’s largest coal loading terminals in Queensland.

The client’s brief was to upgrade the idler frames on conveyance systems throughout the facility, thousands of idlers in total, in a way that would make it safer and easier for shutdown crews to perform roller change-outs.

usually requires scaffolding and fall arrest equipment to ensure worker safety.

That level of hazard control greatly increases the time and expense spent on basic maintenance, especially when the costs of scaffolding, and waiting for a scaffold crew, is thrown into the equation.

Reports from the client on this project indicated the usual crew size for performing roller maintenance on conveyors would be two or three workers, plus scaffolders to erect

The hazards of maintenance

Changing rollers is traditionally quite a time consuming, often dangerous task the must be performed at heights over land or sea, and this 34

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AustralianMining

The sliding idlers locked and opened.

and dismantle work platforms, or an Elevated Work Platform with a full time spotter.

To tackle these problems ESS collaborated with the client to develop an updated sliding idler system that could be quickly installed, take the hassle and danger out of the task of changing rollers, and improve belt contact with idler units.

Catering to the client

ESS product development manager Terry Thew oversaw the quoting

and design phases of the project, which involved manufacturing and installing new idler frames to create a system that would still be compatible with the original rollers.

Thanks to the ESS background in conveyer idler manufacturing since its original incarnation as Martin Engineering, Thew was able to bring experience to the client that would ensure their satisfaction in innovation and design.

Thew said that ESS has been manufacturing idler frames for thirty years; however a modern approach was needed to make the overall design more robust for longer life and safer for maintenance staff.

“Our idlers were a Martin Engineering design, but we refined that design about four years ago,” he said.

“We are still streamlining the system with every new job, we’re constantly developing it based on the same principle, but we’re just improving the product and the way we manufacture it.”

Continued on page 36 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2014-07-23T13:11:40+10:00

CONTRACT MINING, ENGINEERING AND SERVICES

longer lasting performance.

“We’re really pleased with Key concerns how they function, everything The major concern for ESS was en- works extremely well,” Thew suring and improving on existing explained. safety standards on site, particularly “The bar does not need to for working at heights and over wa- be greased, because when the ter, but also with a focus on manual whole unit is built in stainless handling and pinch points. steel, everything just slides “Our system is quite suitable very nicely. for anywhere where you’ve got an “The ones installed on site elevated conveyor, where someone have been in situ, out on the has to work at heights, places where wharf, in a salty environment, you previously had to go up in an for about four years, but EWP basket, and have to manhandle they still just pull out straight heavy rollers in and out of the bas- away. ket,” Thew said.

“We do offer a galvaRemoving the rollers from idler nised option, but we encourframes can be quite physically diffi- age people to use the stainless cult. The fittings can be jammed in option. with extended use and ore dust, and “Stainless will certainly often need to be beaten out with a last for the life of the plant.” hammer.

The ESS HDTM idler The idlers slide out on a custom-built track.

With the weight of the roller and frame has several design feabeing forced to work in awkward po- tures that improve on various safety site a month or two ago and they run sitions, suddenly the risk of sustaining aspects. very smoothly, there’s no movement a back injury from manual handling ESS builds their idler frames or vibration, they’re very rigid.” becomes much greater. Workers with a wide footprint, which ensures The HDTM frame slides easily sometimes have to climb into the con- stability on the conveyer. from each side of the conveyor belt, veyor and lie on the bottom belt to Thew said the HDTM frame fea- and disengages the roller easily from push out the rollers, which is far from tures a stopper pin which prevents the belt, especially in the case of videal as a working position. the frame from sliding all the way returns. However in the case of flat out from its mounting. returns a little extra help is required.

The ideal solution “Some… can disengage from First is the belt lifter, which enThe Heavy Duty Trac-Mount their track and start to fall in one sures the roller will not have to be (HDTM) idler frame was designed direction or the other, which is not dragged against the friction of the and manufactured by ESS, as an secure and creates hazards such as belt. upgrade to conveyer plant, with a pinch points,” he said.

The belt lifter is a small rotary range of benefits for most material “Ours is fully enclosed around mechanism welded to the mainhandling facilities, whether in an un- the slides and is very stable all the frame of the idler. derground mine or for ship-loading way out.

An operator simply has to use a operations over-water.

“It self-supports until it finally spanner to rotate the hex nut conThe key principle of the HDTM disengages from the track.” trol and it lifts the belt just enough Idler Frame is that it slides out from The ESS frames are 80 per cent to achieve 10mm of clearance for the conveyor perpendicular to the stronger than most traditional idler easy roller removal. direction of the conveyance, along a frames, as a straight bending calcuThe HDTM also integrates a pair custom-built track. lation, and quite a bit stronger in of drilled holes in the frame, one set The HDTM Idler Frame is man- torsion strength as well. designed for the retaining bolt which ufactured in RHS, in either stain“If you see them in service, holds the frame in place, with anothless or galvanised steel; however they’re very rigid,” Thew said. er offset pair of holes left empty.

ESS recommends stainless steel for “I was just looking at some on The offset pair allows maintenance staff to insert a podger or pry-bar, which they can use to easily lever and break any stiffness in the frame from long use.

One of the best things about the HDTM idler frame is that it is light enough to be easily handled in cases where it needs to be slid all the way off its track, so there’s no need for any other lifting devices such as chain block or come-along in order to remove it from the conveyor frame.

Most importantly, having the ability to safety slide the idler frame out from the belt means workers can easily access the rollers without entering the belt, without scaffolding The retractable idlers allow for quicker replacement and maintenance on site, and underneath the belt, and without less stock requirements. any need for a fall arrest harness.

Continued from page 34

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Improving roller performance over traditional idlers

ESS have also designed a fine angle adjustment for angled rollers, which allows a progressive angle change from flat return to V-return, or vice versa, to be smoothly adjusted during or after installation.

For example, on carry-side idlers where there’s a transition from fully troughed down to the head pulley where the belt lies flat, it can be very hard to measure what those angles are and to get them positioned in exactly the same place.

“So we did some very accurate measuring of the rollers and made them to duplicate the existing idler frames, but even then in the existing ones there were some gaps between the roller and the belt,” Thew said.

“We built in a fine-angle adjustment for the trough rollers, so that we could adjust the angle to 0.5 degree increments over three degrees.

“That allowed us to set all of the idlers so that they were touching the belt and supporting it correctly.”

Enjoying the benefits of their investment

Comments from the crews who have been involved in maintaining the new idlers indicate the ease and increased safety with which rollers can now be changed. One supervisor on the coal loading facility told ESS: “I’ve used every retractable idler on the market, and now I’ve finally found one that works.”

The biggest attraction for clients to the idler frame upgrade is the huge saving in time and man-hours when performing maintenance. Where the client had reported idler maintenance taking two to three workers anywhere from an hour to an entire shift to change the rollers on a single idler frame, now the same jobs can be done by a single worker, sometimes in less than ten minutes. This means massive maintenance cost savings to the client, enabling the idler to quickly pay for themselves, and continue to save precious profits to the company and its shareholders.

ESS general manager Chris Wilson said he has the highest regard for the way his staff engages with the client.

“From my experience here, all our guys that work on site do so in a collaborative way,” he said.

“They work with the client to identify issues and respond to the safety requirements and hazards on site, and with the high quality of our products, in design and manufacture, we’ve been very successful in being able find solutions.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

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CONTRACT MINING, ENGINEERING AND SERVICES

Dust defeater New surface control products are helping miners to combat dusty conditions on site.

T

he issue of dust is a constant one on mine sites, whether they be open cut or underground, the problem is the same.

Airborne dust presents a major issue on coal mines, which are often located to close to local communities.Late last year the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority’s Dust Stop Program was developed to enforce new standards on dust control, aiming to achieve an 80 per cent dust reduction by this month.

The program required all 30 of NSW’s open cut coal mines to assess their dust control plans including minimising haul road emissions and enforcing poor weather operation Mine dust accounts for about 40 per cent of an operations total emissions. standards.

“Mine haul roads are generally 40 per cent of total emissions.

BHP Billiton’s Mt Arthur coal mine dirt roads and sustain continuous “When it is windy and dry, this was fined $3000 for a failure to heavy vehicle traffic,” EPA acting [overburden] dust is more likely to comply with conditions of approval chief executive Mark Gifford said. leave mine sites, so tighter control is after excessive dust levels.

“Dust generated from haul needed at these times,” Gifford said.

Departmental response took roads within the mines is the bigDespite being in practice for 12 place within half an hour of the ofgest source in time for an AM 0 7 1of 4 fine _ 0 0dust 0 _particles R E C -on 1 months, 2 0 1 4miners - 0 6 -are 1 7still T 1facing 1 : 1 air 2 : 4 fence 1 + 1being 0 : 0reported, 0 most mine sites, contributing about quality management issues. In July officer to witness trucks dumping

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overburden at an elevated level in windy conditions.

Shire of Muswellbrook mayor Martin Rush told Australian Mining that environmental planning conditions requiring the use of best practice techniques to minimise the harmful emission of dust “are not there to decorate mining consents”.

“The conditions are real: They are real because there is no safe level of dust emissions and reducing dust is therefore in everyone’s interest,” he said.

With this in mind, Mantek has developed Settler, a wetting and dust control product that compacts and settles dust of almost any surface.

The product works by reducing the surface tension in soil to allow for faster and deeper water adsorption, which in turn reduces and settles dust to provide better air quality management on site.

“Better dirt compaction eliminated shifting during machinery movement and blasting, which reduces airborne dust,” the company added.

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AM0814_038

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2014-07-21T15:12:04+10:00

BOOK REVIEW

Book Review:

Beyond the Boom The Reserve Bank’s John Edwards breaks down the economic boom, and mining’s role in it, in his new book.

Ben Hagemann writes.

T

he Reserve Bank’s John Edwards has presented an optimistic interpretation of Australia’s economic progress over the past ten years in his latest work, ‘Beyond the Boom’.

Edwards has taken it on himself, in this most recent Lowy Institute Paper, to dispel some of the more common economic beliefs about the Australian mining boom.

Chiefly he argues that the economic prosperity of the boom was not wasted, either by the people who benefited financially from their direct employment in the industry or by the Labor Government who took over from the Coalition in 2007, one year shy of the Global Economic Crisis.

One of the most arresting features of Edwards’ treatise on our modern economic history is the clarity with which he guides the reader’s understanding of the subject matter.

Even someone with little financial or political background will be able to understand what Edwards means when he describes various measures of economic performance against the GDP, doing so in a way that is considerate enough in explanation to cater for the interested layperson.

Edwards argues that international reverence for Australia’s prosperity over the last ten years has not 38

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been based on misleading information, and that the sceptics along with their warnings about the dire straits faced by Australia, are wrong.

The most important notion Edwards has to offer is quite bold; that the mining boom is by no means over, and even that it may have barely begun.

The crucial point he makes is that the face of the mining and greater economic boom is one that is destined to change.

So far our understanding of the boom has been based on increased investment in mining and processing expansion, on high prices for iron ore and coal, and on high demand for our mineral exports from China.

Edwards seeks to mitigate our impressions of the impact of the boom, in the context that it had far

less impact than we have been led to believe by interpretations of mining’s contribution to the GDP. So too does Edwards attempt to allay our fears about the apparent downturn, explaining that the post-2008 economic world is very different to the one we knew before, and that a large part of the changes we believe have happened to the boom are based on it spanning both sides of the GFC. The upshot of Edwards’ arguments is that the boom has not ended, but simply shifted gears to a new paradigm which, in the coming years, will develop several new features.

One will be emphasis on our trade relationship with Japan as an export destination, taking up the slackening demand from China.

One only has to look to Rio

Tinto’s new Australia-Japan Studies Chair at the University of Tokyo to see new corporate groundwork for that relationship going into place.

Interestingly, Edwards also points to the increasing requirements for technology-based skills.

With the advent of automation, the mining industry will become increasingly dependent on comparatively high-tech maintenance and operations services, and lessen the demand for manual labour performed by tradespeople.

He stresses the importance of education in the coming years, with a cautious eye on Coalition government policies relating to the proposed Gonski reforms and budgetary changes to university fee capping, changes that could stymie the flow of intellectual capital in this country.

However Edwards is even-handedly apolitical in his assessments of the economic policies of the Coalition and Labor governments over the past 15 years, passing no judgement on the politics behind the policies.

In short, this book is a must-read for anyone wishing to broaden their knowledge of modern economic history in Australia, and an enjoyable way to learn more about mechanisms that drive our growth. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2014-07-10T09:50:58+10:00

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2014-07-22T08:55:26+10:00

DUST CONTROL, VENTILATION & FIRE SUPPRESSION

A HEATED issue New technology is taking the heat out of fire suppression.

F

lammable liquids, combustible materials, and extremely hot machinery combine to make the mine site a veritable powder keg.

It’s a simple fact that combustible dust and super-heated metal and motors don’t mix.

Unfortunately these two things meet face to face on a constant basis, creating the potential for a dangerous incident.

This is especially the case for mining vehicles and non-road mobile equipment on sites, and adding to this is the remote nature of many mine sites.

Protecting your workers and equipment is not just a financial and regulatory necessity, but also an ethical one.

The best way to fight fires on equipment is to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

With this in mind Tyco Fire Protection Products has developed the ANSUL CHECKFIRE 210 electronic detection and actuation system.

According to Tyco Fire Protection it has been “designed for mining vehicles and non-road mobile equipment, and alerts operators about potential fire hazards and actuates the fire suppression system if a fire occurs, helping to protect vital assets such as personnel and property operating in extreme environments” such as mining.

CHECKFIRE 210 uses mining specific ANSUL fire suppression systems, including the ANSUL LVS vehicle fire suppression system which uses a wet chemical agent that provides not only fire suppression, but also a cooling effect on superheated vehicle surfaces while at the same time blanketing the fuel and cutting off oxygen to the fire, snuffing out the chance of reflash.

Its A-101 fire suppression system uses FORAY dry chemical agents for Class A,B, and C fires; while its A-101/LVS twin-agent fire suppression system combines both dry and wet agents.

“The CHECKFIRE 210 system will integrate seamlessly with current mining equipment, enabling operators to further strengthen their fire suppression systems with this detection and actuation technology,” Tyco Fire Protection’s director of preengineered systems, Mark Neumann, said.

He went on to say “the CHECKFIRE 210 system offers colour-coded, plug and play connectors for easier installation and an isolate feature that enables continuous detection and protection from actuation during maintenance”.

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The fire protection system is also equipped with two independent detection circuits for different applications that allow the system to fit specific site hazards and machinery needs such as “single-, two-, and cross-zoned detection and discharge pressure feedback monitoring or alarm only”.

Dual-zone protection allows operators to set the system to monitor two independent zones, ensuring the system only activates when one zone detects a fire.

Cross-zone protection is designed for operators that need to monitor more than one zone at the same time, and causes actuation only when fire affects both the outlined zones.

“The features and enhanced interface are intuitive, which provides ease of use, which is important when a fire situation arises and time is of the essence,” Neumann said.

The system also features supervised plug and play circuits; automatic or manual actuation; an internal reserve power source; a compact display unit with two mounting options to fit machinery design; either linear detection for wider ranging hazard areas or spot thermal detection for targeting specific hazards in smaller areas; continuous system updates; and is FM approved and CE marked.

The system is designed to protect against coal spon com. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2014-06-11T15:30:59+10:00

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2014-07-22T08:57:16+10:00

DUST CONTROL, VENTILATION & FIRE SUPPRESSION

Fighting fire hazards Innovative approaches to spontaneous combustion are helping operators avoid product loss.

W

hen storing or loading large amounts of coal, or even stockpiling it, the issue of spontaneous heating or combustion is and oft forgotten, but crucial one.

When coal is exposed to oxygen its temperature rises and generates heat and in turn promotes further oxidisation, which can cause it to ignite suddenly.

Whether on site or at the port, the issue is ever prevalent.

Earlier this year Glencore saw potential spontaneous combustion issues in the spoil piles at its Collinsville coal mine.

While the legacy issue of the spoil piles igniting was key, the resulting gas emissions from the burning coal also presented a seri42

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ous problem, not just for the mine but also people living in the vicinity of the operation.

There is also the added problem of airborne coal dust.

As more coal dust rises into the air the chance of a spontaneous combustion rises.

This is in addition to the dangers it presents to air quality on a work site.

This becomes a serious issue at many coal ports, such as Newcastle’s Kooragang Island, where tonnes of coal are moved daily, sending a blanket of coal dust into the air.

At one Dutch coal terminal, bulk materials handling company OBA, encountered this problem and worked to develop a unique solution to overcome it.

“Self combustion of coal is something we have to take into account every day,” OBA planner Dick Meijer explained.

“To prevent it from occurring at the port we had to take a number of appropriate measures, specifically we would send out an excavator or wheel loader to dig out and spread the suspected area, as well as having dedicated combustion fighting equipment that allows us to compact the area and to release oxygen out of the coal pile,” he said.

However the problem with this lies in the fact that the actions are all responsive, instead of proactive, with OBA addressing the issue once combustion occurs or comes close to igniting.

One way it did was by

measuring the R70 value [which is a time consuming process and takes more than 16 hours], looking at the increased presence of ethylene CO, hydrogen or ethane.

Reaction time is crucial for the operator, as not only will combustion create costs from energy and quantity loss, it will also have serious safety and environmental impacts.

Because of these ever present issue, OBA looked to a way uncover potential self combustion hazards before they happened.

“In order to minimise those costs as much as possible, we were looking for a way to monitor the temperature of our coal stock before it’s loaded on to the barges,” Meijer said.

“Thermal imaging turn-

ed out to be the perfect technology to do this.”

He explained that previously OBA carried out weekly inspections via an external agency, but has now invested more in its own thermal imaging cameras “to be sure that all the coal leaving our site has a temperature that is safe to be transported”.

In Europe regulations outline a mandatory coal load temperature of below 60 degrees Celsius, before, during, and after the loading process.

“Therefore, every load of coal that leaves this terminal needs to be back by a valid monitoring certificate; thermal imaging allows us to meet these requirements more easily,” Meijer said.

The terminal is now equipped with three ruggedwww.miningaustralia.com.au

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DUST CONTROL, VENTILATION & FIRE SUPPRESSION

ised FLIR A310f cameras to monitor the coal stockpiles and ensure valid monitoring certificates.

“One of the major advantages of thermal imaging compared to other technology is that the cameras can monitor entire areas of the coal stack, so when the coal is on the conveyor belt thermal imaging cameras can read the entire coal mass, not just the surface,” Meijer said.

Each camera is positioned on a tower with a wide view overlooking several conveyor belts that deliver the coal to barges.

“This way OBA can detect coals with high temperatures [and] by positioning the thermal imaging cameras as close to the barge as possible it can visualise the entire conveyor belt stretch (up to 900 meters) and monitor the coal temperatures up to the last second before loading, which helps prevent the risk of a combustion incident on board,” the company said.

Once the thermal images areAtaken M 0 8 they 1 4 _are 0 0sent 0 _over UNI IP to a central control room

www.miningaustralia.com.au

The cameras are designed to operate in harsh mining conditions.

where they are continuously monitored.

The operators use a software system that provides intuitive colour codes to communicate the real time status of the coal loads, with green meaning with satisfactory - ranges, 1 2 0and 1 4yellow - 0 7 that - 1 1 the temperature is rising and

sitting between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius.

When it reaches the yellow level OBA takes preventative measures such as digging out and spreading the coal.

A code red means that temperatures have risen above T 1 0 : 55 5 2 degrees : 3 7 + 1Celsius, 0 : 0 0 which prompts an alert that

forces the conveyor to stop and in turn prevents the overheated coal from being loaded.

According to OBA it chose the FLIR A310f as it is a highly sensitive, highspeed camera that comes in an environmental housing .

The housing increased

the camera’s environmental specification to IP66, without negatively affecting its operating capability.

“After thorough consultation and testing with FLIR distributor Rato, we chose the FLIR A310f because it gave us very accurate and consistent results,”” Meijer said.

Along with monitoring coal on the conveyor belt as it’s loaded, large stockpiles are also inspected at least once per week.

For this task OBA uses a combined method of temperature probes and a FLIR E6 handheld thermal imaging camera.

“The big difference between both technologies is that a probe will measure pin-point temperature, while the E6 and A310f infrared cameras show temperature patterns and provide measurements for a larger area,” he said.

“To put it simply, these thermal images are a good solution we’ve found to help keep resources and lives safe.”

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

The trays increase each payload by between 10 and 15 per cent each.

Surface and underground truck trays Has a soilds handling capacity of up to 76 millimetres.

Dewatering pumps ATLAS Copco has unveiled new diesel powered portable dewatering pumps. The move is a major expansion of its existing dewatering pump range, and include new four, six, and eight inch dry-prime units. This PAS diesel driven range is designed for harsh working environments where ready access to power is not available. According to Atlas Copco, the PAS dry-prime pumps “are best suited for transporting or lifting water with abrasive solids in suspension” such as those found in the mining industry. Applications include dewatering at mine sites, floodwater or stream diversions and sewage bypass for industries.

“The PAS combines high performance with minimum operating expense. For rental companies and dewatering contractors, this is extremely important as it enables them to get a faster return on equipment acquisition costs, which is exactly what they require to stay competitive,” Atlas Copco’s product marketing manager pumps, Abet Cantuba, said.

The PAS 4, PAS 6, and PAS 8 pumps have an operating flow range of between 50 to 600 cubic metres per hour, with a maximum head of up to 37 metres. Their solids handling capacity reaches up to 76 millimetres.

• Atlas Copco www.atlascopco.com.au

DT Australia is showcasing its surface and underground mining truck trays. Established in 2003, DT Australia is an Australian company specialising in the design and manufacture of the “Hercules” dump truck tray, the “Bullant” underground truck tray and the supply of Barracuda Buckets. It manufacture and supply haul trays and mining buckets with significant cost savings and production advantages to mine sites and contractors globally.

DT Australia believes mine sites should be looking at their equipment and the bodies on their haulage fleet to squeeze out economic benefits through haulage cost reductions. The ability to increase payload by 10-15 per cent is significant in the production scheme. As an example, in a fleet of ten trucks, companies could choose to increase their production by 10 per cent or reduce their fleet size by one truck. Based on a site running ten trucks for 20 hours per day with three cycles an hour, the H ercules body would add nearly 14 000 additional tonnes per day. With payload in mind, this is substantial. The payback period on an investment like this is very short, sometimes several months and usually less than a year.

According to DT Australia, its competitive advantage is in its trays light weight designs that allow for increased payloads; the fact its trays are heavy duty and durable which reduce wear while providing a longer life and less maintenance downtime; have a unique Wear Management Program that maintains tray strength without extra weight; provide improved dumping quality and outstanding load retention; which in turn provides advantages in fuel savings per tonne of ore moved.

• DT Australia www.dthiload.com

Provides instant access to your vehicle’s operating data and location.

Remote monitoring iPhone app Focused on payload design.

New dump truck body AUSTIN Engineering have officially launched its new off-highway dump truck body design.

Dubbed the Westech Optima, it was unveiled at the company’s Perth office. Mark Richards, Austin Engineering’s Perth operations manager, said “it was great to see such a high level of interest at the recent launch as we feel that many mine sites can benefit from the Optima’s ability to enhance haul truck performance”. The Westech Optima body is optimised to provide greater productivity by maximising payload,” he said. “Because we design each body to suit mine specific operating conditions, the Optima is a low maintenance body.”

Austin Engineering stated the body is a low maintenance, high strength piece of equipment, and has been engineered to suit specific material conditions and loading tools.

• Austin Engineering www.austineng.com.au

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KOMATSU has developed an iPhone app for its KOMTRAX remote machine monitoring system. According to Komatsu the free app “gives instant access to vital information on every KOMTRAX equipped Komatsu machine in the user’s fleet”.

“Our new KOMTRAX app gives Komatsu customers the ability to monitor critical machine operating parameters, along with usage, performance and location, as well as overall fleet management,” Todd Connolly, Komatsu Australia’s head of fleet management and ICT, said.

“By providing customers with valuable information regarding their Komatsu machines, it helps get a quick overview of what machines in their fleet have been up to – all via their iPhone.”

The app provides a number of different features for users which include the standard identification of each machine’s location (including driving directions based on the phone’s location); the machine’s hours of use; idle time identification; fuel usage monitoring; whether any machine cautions have been triggered; and an ability to identify any machines that have not been used through a ‘no usage’ feature’.

“All these features can be customised so users can view set time periods, from one day up to a month,” Connolly said .“In addition, a fleet can be filtered by model, customer management number or serial number. Komatsu’s KOMTRAX remote monitoring system was one of the first OEM-specific systems on the market, and has proven itself an invaluable tool in fleet and machine management,” he said.

• Komatsu www.komatsu.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Sandvik has launched new safe core barrel systems.

New loaders are cutting dumping times.

A new side to loading

Multifunctional core barrel

ATLAS Copco has released a new side dump bucket as an option for its Scooptram loaders.

According to Atlas Copco, the side dump bucket option allows the loader to be used in a wider range of applications from tunnel projects to rail and road tunnels, as well as rapid tunnel development in mining.

“Depending on the application, the side dump bucket can also speed up the work cycle,” the machinery manufacturer said.

Loaders equipped with a standard front loading conventional bucket typically travel between 100 and 300 metres from loading to dumping point.

With a side dump bucket this distance is reduced, resulting in shorter and gradually faster cycle times between rounds.

“Filling the bucket in the muck pile, reversing and positioning parallel to a truck, lifting the boom to prepare, and then dumping the material in a truck can all be done in one motion.

Furthermore, lowering of the bucket and boom as well as going forward to fill the next bucket-load can also be done in one go,” Atlas Copco product manager Ben Thompson explained.

The side dump bucket also means fewer loaders are needed to serve multiple trucks, eliminating the need for loading bays of cutouts. On top of this both tyre wear and fuel consumption is reduced, further reducing running costs.

The bucket is available for Scooptram ST17, ST1030, and ST14.

This new development comes just months after Atlas Copco released a new 18 tonne underground loader, the Scooptram ST18.

• Atlas Copco 02 9621 9999 www.atlascopco.com.au

SANDVIK has launched a new multifunctional surface and underground (NSU) core barrel system for core drilling. According to the manufacturer this system is the first of its kind to have interchangeable components, as well as a standard and pump-in applications, in a single system. The company added that as the parts are interchangeable it reduces networking capital and spare parts inventory.

“Our iQ-FCV valve provides and maintains a constant alert via sustained high water pressure, assuring the operator that the inner tube assembly has positively latched into the core barrel, eliminating mislatches and ensuring valuable time is not lost,” Sandvik Mining’s core drilling product line manager Chris Daws said. “For better water efficiency, the iQ-FCV has been designed to always retain the volume of water in the drill string even in broken ground or dry holes – an important benefit in core drilling.”

The overshot attachment to the wireline also no longer requires cable eyes or cable splicing, allowing easier maintenance and field repairs.

A logic tip on the overshot allows for in-hole dry releasing of the inner tube assembly once the water level has been reached, shortening release times. The pump-in overshot also features a ball valve indicator that alerts the operator of positive latching onto the core barrel’s back end. This means a reduced potential of hand injuries for drilling crews.

“Our ‘intelligent’ overshot design is automatically latch-locking, while latches can be released without operators having to use fingers in potentially high-risk areas,” Daws said.

For the more confined underground mining sector, a knuckle joint on the overshot ensures easier handling, while load rated breakaway safety pins also allow for a safer way to release the overshot from stuck inner tubes.

• Sandvik www.sandvik.com

Executive safety boots FOR those who don’t necessarily have to trudge through the dust and mud every day, but still need to step out on site fairly regularly, Blundstone have released a new style of executive safety boot. Where the last model featured elastic sides and visible seams to the toe, the new Executive Style 783 improves on their dress safety boot with a molded leather toe, and inside ankle zippers. It’s a great looking boot, very simple in style and perfect for maintaining polish with no seams over the toe, which is steel-capped to ensure that whenever you step on site you are covered for personal protective footwear.

The best thing about these boots is the comfort factor. Many types of men’s dress shoes have a very thin sole, which is murder on your feet if you have to spend much time walking around. People who have spent years wearing work boots around site get used to the comfort, especially with the way boots are designed these days. But people who get off the tools and wind up at a desk in office attire can find that ordinary dress shoes have nowhere near the level of support and comfort afforded by regular steel capped boots. Even if you don’t need the safety toe, the 783 is one of the most comfortable dress shoes available. Like all www.miningaustralia.com.au

good work boots these days, there’s no breaking-in time, so there’s no problem with getting a comfortable wear from day one.

To illustrate the point, one of our Australian Mining journalists has whinged relentlessly about having sore feet since changing from work boots to office wear, so it was with no small degree of scepticism that he road-tested a pair. However, after only 24 hours of wear he’s already remarked that his feet aren’t nearly as sore as they were after a hard day at the office in dress shoes, slaving away at the keyboard to bash out the news, or trudging through the city to the next heart-attack inducing business lunch. This kind of orthopaedic protection comes down to the Shock Protection System (SPS) Max, dual density sole, with Poron XRD for up to 90 per cent step impact protection in the heel strike area. This reduces shock impact through the legs, which means they’re not so tired at the end of the day, and cushions the lower back from hard impact on heel strike.

• Blundstone 1800 258 669 www.blundstone.com

The seamless steel-toe enables easier polishing, and a clean, crisp look.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Developed in four different power modes to alllow for job matching.

Wheel loaders CASE Construction has released a range of wheel loaders with all the horsepower and torque needed to provide superior productivity and performance for every application.

Starting from the popular 106kW 521F all the way up to the mighty 239kW 1121F, the entire range of Case Construction Wheel Loaders are made to be tough and reliable as well as providing industry leading safety and comfort for the operator.

The Case Construction Wheel Loader family comes standard with four power modes allowing operators match to available engine power to the job while at the same time, saving fuel. At the heart of every Case Construction Wheel Loader is a Case engine.

The patented mid-mounted cooling system also provides significant maintenance savings and maximum uptime. Case Wheel Loaders provide breakthrough productivity thanks to their stronger and faster hydraulics that deliver superior productivity and performance.

All Case Construction Wheel Loaders come with optional two-lever hydraulic control systems that meet the needs of high-production operators.

With a longer wheelbase and lower center of gravity for optimal stability, Case Construction Wheel Loaders come standard with idle-management controls to maximise fuel economy and adhere to environmental regulations. Full raise-up hood, environmentally safe fluid drains, sight gauges and ground level checkpoints ensure that maintenance is easy on the entire family Case Construction Wheel Loaders.

According to Case Construction ANZ Brand Leader Nathan Everett, regardless of what model you choose, all Case Construction Wheel Loaders are built to work in any conditions.

“The 521F has been designed to provide fast and efficient cycle times while our biggest wheel loader, the 1121F has got the power to move more material at the lowest possible cost per tonne,” Everett said.

• Case Construction www.casece.com

The buttons have been upgraded to comply with the new standards.

Updated emergency buttons SCHNEIDER Electric has updated its Harmony range of push buttons. The updates come after recent changes to the governing industry standards.

The use of standards-compliant emergency push buttons is now a mandatory requirements for all machine installations to protect personnel and equipment from mechanical and electrical hazards in accordance with industry standards AS/NS 3947/IEC 60947; AS/NZS/ IEC 60204; and ISO 13850. Due to these changes a trigger action head is now prescribed for both emergency stop and emergency switch-off functions.

The new Harmony XB5R push buttons allow for wireless operation of a relay (receiver) through a push button (transmitter) enabling the control of machines for distances of up to 25 metres.

Equipment operators have the added option to send a one-time radio message to one or multiple receivers, or synchronise up to 32 push buttons with just one receiver and can provide a significant 20 per cent saving in installation time and costs.

New features of the buttons include metall or plastic bezels; push/pull functionality with a turn to release or key release operation; and a range of enclosures, legend plates, and accessories.

• Schneider Electric www.schneider-electric.com

D-Sub connectors CLARKE & Severn Electronics presents an extended range of harsh environment connectors, introduced by Switchcraft to its Data Con-X series. Switchcraft’s new sealed D-Sub connectors are waterproof, with their IP67 rating allowing use in any application exposed to moisture, dust and dirt such as remote or temporary data control centres, instrumentation for field data collection, medical field data collection, manufacturing control equipment and marine.

Key features of Switchcraft’s new RoHS compliant connectors include: male and female versions; gold plated contacts as standard; operating temperature of -55°C to +85°C; panel mount connector

supplied with two mounting screws; and solder cup contacts accepting wire measuring 22-26 AWG. The current rating is 9 A for standard D-Sub connectors, and 2 A for the High Density D-Sub connectors.

Backshell kits are available for cable diameters 0.138-0.276 in (3.51-7.01 mm); the rear mounting panel connectors fit into standard D-Sub holes.

• Clarke and Severn 02 9482 1944 www.clarke.com.au Designed for harsh environments.

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MAR3835_Ad_Update

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With 30 years experience, 160,000 postal contacts and 115,000 email contacts, Mardev can can provide you a list for your next direct marketing campaign.

FOR A FREE QUOTE CONTACT TONY CARTER on 02 8484 0719 or email tony.carter@cirrusmedia.com.au

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Explosive area safe transducers ADM Instrument Engineering announces the availability of a low cost range of IECEx pressure transducers from ESI. Companies may find it difficult to get a cost-effective pressure sensor built for use in hazardous areas. There are several options that are marketed as being suitable for use in applications where there is a risk of explosion from explosive gases, liquids or dust. However, these pressure sensors are likely to be only ATEX certified, which is not suitable for Australian industry. Pressure transducers with IECEx certification can be extremely expensive and also over specified for the application.

• ADM Instrument Engineering 1300 187 865 www.admtech.com.au A safer pressure sensor.

Worker learning and development programs.

Online training programs NEW learning and development software packages have been developed for the Australian resources industry.

According to its developer, the Flynn Group, the system called Atone that has a “reporting capability that synergises all an operator’s learning and development requirements, controlled by a ‘simple to use’ operating platform”.

The system was developed after carrying out a two year consultation process with the industry, working with mine operators and major contractors.

According to Flynn they found that the existing systems had a number of major problems, such as: An inability to comply with training requirements called up by legislation and accompanying RII Units of Competency.

An inability to secure reliable and accurate information about who was competent and authorised on equipment across the operation.

Records being lost, misplaced or not recorded correctly.

Management unable to clearly demonstrate training compliance across production crews and other departments due to unreliable information and reporting systems.

Difficulty maintaining employee skill profiles leading at times to breaches in legislation and site Safety & Health Management Systems.

An inability to efficiently schedule training across the workforce often resulting in lost revenue and unnecessary tension between the training and production areas.

Excessive time taken to induct and prepare employees for job roles.

High turnover of skilled employees within the organisational structure leading to ‘knowledge management’ breakdown.

After identifying these issues, the Flynn Group carried out a review to determine whether there were online training systems available to solve these problems.

The review uncovered numerous generic Learning Management Systems, however there was no one customised solution that could specifically address the needs of the industry.

According to the Flynn Group, the program they developed, focused on five key points.

It focused on Workforce Planning, such as competency status and authorisations, and five year rolling workforce plans; Training Management & Compliance, which includes the tracking of current and previous skills for individuals and departments, an induction program aligned to the ‘Standard 11’ competencies, and online log-books; Reporting & Records Management, which keeps track of on-site authorisations and certificates, logging training hours (and the training attendees themselves) on a continual basis; Training Packages, with around thirty online RII units of competency assessment, and theory content pre-loaded, with Statements of Attainment provided at no additional costs through Flynn’s RTO Well Grounded; and Electronic Card Access Systems, which is able to interface with the data base and competency register that provides all card holders with an overview of their current competencies and plant authorisations simply by swiping their card.

• Flynn Group www.theflynngroup.com.au

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Redundancy modules CONTROL Logic introduces a new, compact and cost-effective range of MOSFET redundancy modules from PULS, the market leader in DIN rail mount power supplies.

The extremely compact PULS redundancy modules are used for building N+1 and 1+1 redundant power supply systems, where the control circuit needs to remain powered even during a power failure.

Key features and benefits of PULS’ MOSFET redundancy modules include low power losses and voltage drop due to MOSFET technology; short circuit output protection; reverse polarity protected inputs; and 160% overload capability for five seconds.

A plug connector on the output of the YR40.245 model means that the module can be hot swapped without the need to turn off power to the load.

The MOSFET redundancy modules range includes modules with 2 x 20A inputs and 1 x 40A output, 1 x 40A input and output as well as 2 x 40A inputs and 1 x 80A output.

Voltages range from 12 to 56 VDC depending on the model.

• Control Logic 1300 374 073 www.control-logic.com.au

Remote particle counter PARTICLE & Surface Sciences announces the release of their latest range of remote particle counters designed for simple integration into automation systems. One of the most featurepacked remote particle counters available, Particles Plus 5301 can be easily integrated into a building automation system or cleanroom management system via Ethernet or USB. The Particles Plus 5301 remote particle Can be remotely controlled. counters display and report six user-selectable particle size channels, as well as temperature and relative humidity, flow and sensor status, date of last calibration, serial number, laser on-time and date of manufacture for easy maintenance and warranty management.

Key features also include ability to store up to 40,000 time stamped particle count and environmental data records providing data redundancy on every instrument; and allowing control and monitoring remotely via web browser.

• Particle & Surface Sciences www.pss.aus.net www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Modular braking platforms WABCO Holdings announces the launch of its industry-first modular braking system platform (mBSP).

WABCO’s new technology, which has already won contract awards from two global commercial vehicle manufacturers headquartered in Europe, features innovative braking architecture that now enables customers to interchangeably equip their diverse global truck and bus platforms with anti-lock braking (ABS) or electronic braking (EBS) systems based on regional market or regulatory requirements worldwide.

WABCO mBSP reduces the number of ABS components by 50 percent to the same amount of components as in EBS. Built on decades of experience gained from pioneering advanced braking systems for the commercial vehicle industry, WABCO’s next generation braking platform mBSP features the highest degree of standardisation in the industry across both components and system software of its ABS and EBS systems.

• Wabco www.wabco-auto.com

Industrial passive style welding helmets

LINCOLN Electric Australia announces the introduction of a new range of traditional passive-style personal protection welding helmets designed Fixed shade helmets. to provide consistent eye and face protection at an affordable price.

The new Industrial Passive welding helmet is a fixed shade helmet that will provide assured basic and consistent face and eye protection to fabricators working at all levels in any industry.

Supplied in a matte black finish with a fixed Allplastics Engineering introduces Spray-Lock FRP spray adhesives for wall applications in commercial and Shade-11 lens to suit most welding applications, residential environments. Using 60% less adhesive than traditional trowel-on adhesives, Spray-Lock FRP the new protective gear offers an affordable option enhances productivity with a faster application rate, saving time and money. Key benefits of Spray-Lock for students and also comes with an attractive decal FRP spray adhesives include time-saving application, instant grab properties, no offensive odours, watersheet for customising the shell to fit one’s personal based formulation, no requirement for trowelling, and non-flammable substance. style.

Spray-Lock FRP adhesive adheres approved wall coverings and materials onto properly prepared smooth The welding helmet features ratchet headgear and substrates such as plasterboard, cement sheet, Scyon sheet, timber, MDF, ceramic tiles, metal, FRP, meets ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 standards. concrete and glass among others.

Lincoln Electric is the world leader in the design, Spray-Lock FRP spray adhesives can be used for adhering acrylic sheets, polycarbonate sheets, PETG, development and manufacture of arc welding MDF, timber, metal, Alucobond, rigid or foam styrene, rigid or foam PVC, Rowlux illusion film, and Korogard products, robotic arc welding systems, and plasma high impact wall protection. and oxy-fuel cutting equipment.

• Allplastics Engineering • Lincoln Electric 1300 283 088 1300 728 720 www.allplastics.com.au A M0 7 1 4 _ 0 0 0 _ G R A 1 2 0 1 4 - 0 6 - 1 9 T 1 1 : 1 6 : 3 7 + 1 0 : 0 0 www.lincolnelectric.com.au

Spray lock adhesives

Full Range of Lubrication Equipment for Demanding Workplaces Pumps Metering Devices Controllers Accessories

Come and meet us at

QME 2014 Booth L190

To organise a trial, please contact Stuart Jackway: +61 417 351 250 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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11th 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.

Orica Mining Services

MMD

Orica Mining Services is the world’s leading supplier of commercial explosives and blasting systems and is committed to developing and applying new technologies to achieve productivity, safety, environmental and financial gains for its customers.

Sponsoring the ‘Excellence in Environmental Management Award’ in Australian Mining’s Prospect Awards is one of the ways we contribute to and celebrate the success of this vital aspect of the mining industry, an industry that is not only critically important to the economy of our country but also to our business.

There is no single ‘answer’ to environmental issues, most improvements are incremental and are the result of hard work, close collaboration and sound science.

At Orica we are, however, making real progress.

We have invested heavily in developing mining technologies and processes that can bring about, measurable step changes in environmental performance.

We are proud to sponsor this worthwhile award and consider the Prospect Awards an excellent way to recognise the valuable work undertaken in environmental management.

We thank all participants for taking the time and effort to submit their entries and we look forward to meeting the finalists in November.

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 nonmetallic 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.

Metso Mining & Construction Metso is a leading supplier of technology and process optimisation services to the mining, aggregates and oil & gas industries.

With around 16,000 professionals based in over 50 countries, the company contributes to the sustainability and profitability of its customers worldwide.

In mining, this includes the supply, commissioning and endto-end life cycle services for equipment like crushers, grinding mills, screens, filters, flotation cells, magnetic separators, apron feeders and train unloaders.

The company also provides its customers with a range of services and innovative solutions to help them reduce their energy and water consumption while getting more from their process.

According to Max Wijasuriya – VP Capital Equipment, the Australian mining industry is responsible for around 190,000 jobs, 19% of the country’s total GDP and accounts for 55% of all Australian exports. “Sponsoring the ‘Minerals Processing of the Year’ category in Australian Mining’s Prospect Awards is one of the ways that we contribute to and celebrate the success of an industry that is critically important to the economy of our country and of course to our business,” he said.

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Be a leader in Australia’s mining industry and nominate today

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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DON’T MISS OUT

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO NOMINATE! Nominations are closing soon for the 11th annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards to be held on 24th October 2014.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this prestigious night!

Nominations close on 21st August 2014.

A total of 15 awards will be up for grabs on the night, highlighting company’s innovation and excellence in the mining industry.

The categories include: ✔ Australian Mine of the Year ✔ Coal Mine of the Year ✔ Community Interaction ✔ Contractor of the Year ✔ Contribution to Mining ✔ Excellence in Environmental Management ✔ Excellence in Mine Safety, OH&S ✔ Explorer of the Year

✔ Hard Rock Mine of the Year ✔ Innovative Mining Solution ✔ Mine Manager of the Year ✔ Minerals Processing of the Year ✔ Mining’s Woman of the Year ✔ Peoples’ Choice Award ✔ Young Achiever

All finalists will receive free publicity in Australian Mining Magazine and two free tickets to the gala dinner where the winners will be announced.

For more information visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/awards or contact Cole Latimer on cole.latimer@cirrusmedia.com.au or 02 8484 0652 PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

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MINING JOBS

To see the latest jobs available visit www.miningaustralia.com.au, which is updated daily.

DISPATCH SUPERVISOR Regional QLD – Gladstone & Central QLD We are urgently seeking an experienced Dispatch Supervisor for a role based on an Open Cut Coal Mine located in the lower Bowen Basin.

The successful candidate will have the following: • Current Standard 11 • Current Coal Board Medical • Current Driver License • Experience working on a Coal Mine Site • Current S1, S2, S3 • Experience using Leica Geosystems FMS or Jigsaw systems preferred There is accommodation and meals available. You will be working the Lifestyle roster, doing both day and night shifts.

If you meet the above criteria, please call Kristy in the Biloela WorkPac Office on 48003740 or APPLY ONLINE! WAREHOUSE LABOURERS Our client, a global leader in Mining is currently seeking the services of a ‘Warehouse labourer for an immediate start at a large open cut Mine located approximately 20 minutes drive from Dysart.

The successful candidate: • Has prior warehousing experience in Mining • Will be committed to zero harm • Has accommodation in Dysart or surrounding districts • Works effectively autonomously and as part of a team Interested? Please hit apply now attaching a copy of your resume listing at least two work related referees and then send a copy of the following documentation to miningqld@chandlermacleod. com • Standard 11 (must be the statement of attainment) • Drivers license and birth certificate or Passport • Coal Board Medical (must be less then 24 months old) Reference Number: 88580b Contact details: Donna Swinbourne, 02 9269 8666.

HV FIELD MAINTENANCE ELECTRICIAN Regional QLD – Mackay & Coalfields Our client are looking for experienced HV field maintenance electricians for ongoing mine site work.

The successful applicant will hold: • Standard 11 • Coal Board Medical • LVR/CPR Certificate • Experience working on mobile plant • Digger/Dozer Operator The roster will be 7/7.

Contact WorkPac Industrial on 1300 967 572 to find out more about the job.

LUBRICATION TECHNICIAN Chandler Macleod requires a specialised Lubrication Technician for our client, a top producer of Iron Ore located in the Pilbara region of WA. This position is for an ASAP start for the ‘Best Fit’ candidate working an 8 & 6 roster day shift only. This is a great opportunity for a skilled and experienced Mechanical Fitter with exceptional Lubrication skills or a specialised lubrication technician to work with one of the leaders in the mining industry and work for a company at the forefront of recruitment.

Requirements for this role are as follows:• Lubrication technician experience • Strong fixed plant knowledge • Oil Sampling • General lubrication • Bulk grease fills • Inspection of grease levels on gearboxes To be considered for this role your resume must clearly address the above criteria in you work history and skillset.

Please send your application to us now via the ‘apply’ button.

Reference Number: 83986a Contact details: Scott Harrison 08 9228 5727 DOZER PUSH OPERATOR Opportunities exist for skilled and experienced Mobile Plant Operators who will form part of and contribute to the Mine Operations Department of a Bowen Basin Mine.

An absolute commitment to working safely, complying with all site safety standards and ensuring a safe and environmentally healthy workplace is essential. It is imperative that you possess the ability and aptitude to maintain high standards of safety, equipment serviceability, housekeeping and compliance with mine working procedures.

Prerequisites for this position include Black Coal Competencies in Haul Truck Operations, Dozer Operations; a minimum 6 months mobile plant operating experience; current BMA/ SGS Induction; current Generic Induction; current Coal Board Medical; current Driver’s Licence; negative Drug & Alcohol Test within 5 days of induction; and a willingness to work rotating rosters This position is offered as a 3 month contract with view to extension for the right person.

To find out more about the role visit workpace.com.

Reference number 718J201431125

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SHOT FIRERS WorkPac Regional NSW – Tamworth & North West NSW Our client is a leading coal producer in the Gunnedah basin, with several mines throughout and a growing work force. We are currently looking for open cut Shot Firers for residential roles within the Boggabri to Werris Creek areas.

You must have the following qualifications and experience in: • Open Cut Shotfirers licence • Unsupervised Handling licence • Manage blast site preparation • Mark out blasts • Mentor Trainee shot firers.

A current coal board medical is required for these positions and inductions to be completed before commencing. Candidates must be available to start within 1-2 weeks.

If you have a positive attitude towards safety, punctual and reliable plus have these skills and qualifications we would love to hear from you. Call on 1300 967 572.

UNDERGROUND – SERVICE CREW OPERATOR Regional WA – Broome & Kimberley Our Client is a leading mining contractor seeking experienced Underground Operators for positions at their remote mine site in the Kimberley.

They currently have vacancies for Underground Truck Operators with Service Crew experience on a 2:2 FIFO roster from Perth.

The duties will involve operating a Sandvik Toro Truck, Integrated Toll Carrier, IT Loader and carrying out Service Crew works.

Applicants will need to be able to demonstrate and prove their previous Operating and Service Crew experience, as well as their commitment and leadership towards health and safety on site. Must hold Working at Heights, Integrated Toll Carrier, IT Loader and Underground Dump Truck Recognition of Prior Learning to be considered and you must be able to present these on application for the role. These are 6 month positions with the opportunity to become permanent for the right candidates. Must be available to start ASAP. Subject to full pre employment medical, DAS and police clearance.

Call 1300 967 572 to find out more about the job.

DIGGER/DOZER OPERATOR Regional QLD – Mackay & Coalfields The job is for a worker on a 7on 7off roster. It requires an immediate start.

Camp and accommodation provided, with BIBO exit Mackay.

Workpac currently has a vacancy for an experienced production Digger/Dozer Operator with coal mining experience. This position is offering an immediate start and ongoing work.

To be successful in this role you will have the following: • Minimum 2 years+ experience working as a Digger/Dozer Operator in a production coal mining environment (Hitachi 5500/D10-11 dozer or equivalent) • Current Standard 11 Statement or Attainment (or BMA induction) • Current coal board medical • Current drivers licence • RIIs in hydraulic excavator/shovel and dozer operations • Be able to submit a clear drug and alcohol test Camp and accommodation are provided. BIBO exit Mackay may be considered for the right applicant.

Alternatively you will need to reside within 100 kms of Clermont.

PLEASE NOTE: These roles are for experienced mine site operators with proven experience operating production diggers and dozers. There are no entry level applications and only applicants matching the above criteria will be considered.

For further information please contact Nicole Gray, phone 53901322, email nicole.gray@ workpac.com SUPERVISOR ACCOMMODATION MAINTENANCE One of the industry’s leading coal producers is looking for an experienced Supervisor Accommodation Maintenance to join the team at one of their major open cut coal operations in central Queensland.

This is a long-term contract position until April 2015 and operates on a Monday to Friday roster, with all meals and Village accommodation provided.

Key responsibilities: In the Infrastructure and Asset Management department, the key responsibilities of this position are to: • Lead a team of tradespeople to conduct the general maintenance and emergency repairs on the housing portfolio to the highest level of safety whilst ensuring the works schedule is adhered to.

• Participate in weekly planning meetings.

To be considered for this role you must have: • Experience as a Supervisor leading work crews, and leading by example and demanding a very high safety standard.

• Facility maintenance experience • Trade background.

• 1SAP Literacy – Strategy development and deployment • S 1,2,3 • “Permit to Work” training issuer You will need to supply current: • Coal board medical (completed within 24 months) • Standard 11 • Passport or Birth certificate and drivers licence • 2 x work referees • Licences and RII qualifications www.miningaustralia.com.au

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To advertise a new job contact Hussein Azzan at 02 8484 0852

If you feel you possess the required attributes and wish to be considered for the role, and you have a strong focus on safety then please apply.

For further information, contact Donna on (07) 3291 5407 or email donna.swinbourne@ chandlermacleod.com Reference Number: 88673a Contact details: Donna Swinbourne, 02 9269 8666.

PROJECT ENGINEER In partnership with a market leader and blue-chip mining client we are now seeking an experienced Project Engineer for a residential role in Central QLD. You will be joining a team of experienced mechanical engineers overseeing key projects in an underground environment.

You will: • Exercise judgement based on practice and precedence to evaluate situations not covered by procedures.

• Provide reports and/or technical advice for project evaluation.

• Establish and implement appropriate technical, reconciliation and reporting systems which are clear and appropriate for auditing.

• Optimise the use of existing business systems, processes, practices and equipment to ensure sustainable, efficient and effective outcomes.

• Utilise project management systems and tools.

To be considered for this role you will: • Have previous experience in the delivery of mechanical projects in an underground mining environment.

• Demonstrated success in project planning and execution.

• Be uncompromising in your desire to adhere to strict safety standards.

• Mechanical Engineering Qualification.

To be considered for this role you must also have an: • Standard 11 • S4 Medical • Australian Working Rights Documentation If you possess the required attributes, and you have a strong desire to be a part of a company that wants you to succeed, supply you with a competitive remuneration and looking for an immediate start please apply now!

Reference Number: 86382b Number: 02 9269 8666 EXPERIENCED DRILLER – LNG Opportunity to join a Australian-owned drilling contractor that is continuing to grow and offer a innovative drilling solutions to their clients.

We are looking for an experienced Driller to work on a conventional Triple. As the Driller you will be responsible for running the crew, drilling operations and supporting the Rig Manager.

You will have: • Certificate IV in Oil & Gas • Current IWCF Certificate • 3 years drilling experience • Drilled on a double or a triple • Positive attitude towards safety What’s on offer: • Great day rate • Travel from any location in Australia • Work/Life balance on a 3 /3 roster • Further training • Career progression How to apply: To submit your resume click on Apply Now! For a confidential discussion call Desari on 07 3343 6777.

Reference Number: BBBH1757_1405924181 ARTICULATED DUMP TRUCK OPERATOR Our Client is a leading Mining and Civil contractor based in Tuncurry NSW. They have recently won a contract for a major civil component of the new Maules Creek Coal Mine.

Immediate start for suitable candidates with multiple positions available, with a fantastic 14/7 roster & excellent pay rates. For these position you will reside within 100km to Boggabri or be willing to supply your own accommodation.

At present we are currently looking for articulated dump truck operators with minimum 12 months experience.

If you have any of the following Plant compentencies it would be highly regarded: • Dozer – D6 through to D11 • Excavator – 20 tonne through to 120 tonne • Grader – 140M, 14 H & 16M • Scraper – 631 & 637 • Compactor – 815 & 825 • Roller – smooth drum, pad foot and multi tyre • Articulated dump truck – 40 tonne • Dump truck – 775 • Water trucks – 740 & 775 You will also require a currently drivers licence, reliable vehicle and white card. Multi skilled operators highly regarded.

Our client has a strong safety focus and are looking for team ordinated people for this project. Inductions, medicals and drug and alcohol testing will be a requirement before commencing.

Contact WorkPac Industrial on 1300 967 572 to find out more about the job.

Reference Number 7212J20144330 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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EVENTS

Conferences, seminars & workshops Event submissions can be emailed to editor@miningaustralia.com.au Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 18-20 August Adelaide, SA

geologists are the key professionals who interact right across the value chain: hence our theme Mining Geology through the value chain.

Many believe we are on the cusp of innovations and technology changes that will accelerate this trend.

• AusIMM 03 9658 6126 www.ausimm.com.au

What to expect: Meet the leading mining professionals, mine operators, mine service providers, contractors, and key delegates from across Australia. Case studies, keynote presentations, panel sessions and interactive workshops led by the Australian resource industry’s most highly respected speakers and captains of industry Relax with fellow delegates and make new contacts by attending the NT Resources Week networking events Large NT Resources Week Trade Exhibition.

• Informa 02 9080 4030 www.miningnt.com.au

sector. Bringing together all the major stakeholders from mining, engineering firms, government, and service providers to share case study examples of driving technology and skills advancements within mining projects from across the Asia Pacific region.

• Mining IQ 02 9229 1000 registration@iqpc.com.au www.ausasia-mintech.com

The International Mining Geology Conference will be held in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. This will be the ninth in a proud tradition reaching back to the inaugural event, held in Mount Isa, Queensland Mining the Territory 2014 in 1990. The International Mining 19-21 August Geology Conference series, jointly 12th AusIMM Mill convened by the Australian Institute Darwin, NT Operators’ Conference of Geoscientists (AIG) and The Mining the Territory, one half of 2014 Australasian Institute of Mining NT Resources Week, is an annual 1-3 September and Metallurgy (The AusIMM), has event that brings together key developed into the premier event in Townsville, QLD industry leaders, opinion leaders the world of mining geology. and experts to provide you with The AusIMM Mill Operators’ Series AusAsia-MinTech The role of mining geologists has up to date information on the returns to Queensland where it all 26-27 August increased in importance in recent current exploration, investment and began! years. They are now involved in Perth, WA development opportunities in the top The 12th AusIMM Mill Operators’ many business-critical steps in end’s resource industry.

In 2014 an exciting new mining Conference will be hosted in the value chain, from interaction As a leading professional involved event will make its way into the Townsville, north Queensland, which with exploration, mine planning with the mining industry, Mining the biennial calendar: AusAsia MinTech. follows the highly successful Hobart and blasting through to mineral Territory is the Top End’s leading This event will be the biggest event event which attracted over 400 processing and marketing. There is educational, networking and meeting for the APAC region focused on industry professionals. Inaugurated nowArecognition technological, M 0 8 1 that, 4 _ because 0 0 0 _theR E E place - for1the Territory’s 2 0 1 4 mining - 0 7 - 1 5 T 1 6 : 4 1infrastructure : 5 0 + 1 and 0 : 0 0 in Mt Isa in 1978, the biennial mining industry is built on minerals, community. investment successes in the mining conference aims to promote the

sharing of knowledge in operating practices for mineral processing plants, including extractive metallurgy, process control and environmental issues.

Based on feedback from previous Mill Operators’ events we are requesting papers to have a greater emphasis on practical experiences and learnings in operating plants, rather than purely academic research. This does not, however, deter from presenting successes (or failures) from the application of next generation technologies and cutting edge innovations.

Much of the recent minerals boom was due to very high commodity prices, to the detriment of processing plants having to focus on lower production costs and improving their recoveries. With the current boom drawing to an end, processing plants need to consider how they will maintain productivity and profitability in coming years.

• AusIMM www.milloperators2014.ausimm. com.au

PRESENTS

OPERATIONAL SOLUTIONS FOR

NSW MINING 8-10 OCTOBER 2014 | NEWCASTLE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE YOUR BUSINESS CASE FOR VISITING… DEVELOP

GAIN

knowledge of how to improve efficiency & boost productivity

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cost-effective & sustainable optimisation strategies

CONNECT

with industry peers during numerous on-site events

PROCURE

the latest mining innovations and technologies

EVENT SUPPORTER www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Drive up productivity with Tait Voice and Data Be heard, stay safe, remain connected, improve productivity.

Reliable radio communications are critical for the safety and productivity required for continuous mining operations. Tait DMR Tier 3 offers incredible value, capable of transmitting both voice and data in a cost-effective and highly reliable way, including personal location services and workforce management.

Together with our Tait Solution Partners and Resellers across the globe, we are experienced and focussed on best practice, local support, open standards multivendor compatibility, and minimum impact migration plans. We have a range of radio communications systems to fit any situation, including P25 and analogue systems.

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