Meeting world class standards in air quality, South Africa-based Cobra Projects is producing 14 ventilated operator cabins for a Tier 1 mining company in Australia – fitted with Sy-Klone filtration systems supplied by local HVAC specialist Booyco Engineering.

The cabins allow operators to remotely operate heavy mining equipment in their line of sight, providing a cool and dust-free environment to enhance their concentration and performance. Adhering to tight lead times, two of the units have already been shipped and the remainder will be on site in Australia in the last quarter of 2024.

“One of the critical aspects of a sealed cab is allowing the entry and recirculation of fresh air, to provide a safe and conducive environment for the operator,” says Neal Forman, Business Development Manager at Cobra Projects. “We achieved this through our collaboration with Booyco Engineering who supplied the Sy-Klone fresh air pre-cleaner as well as the recirculation component and monitor.”

Sy-Klone’s patented RESPA® air quality products reduce respirable dust and debris, providing clean air to HVAC systems and keeping recycled air safe and breathable. The system also includes specialised filters for the recirculated air inside the cab.

Two treatment plants for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) near Johannesburg have received a boost to their efficiency, thanks to IPR’s innovative SlurrySucker dredging unit.

The problem of AMD has beset historic mining areas around Johannesburg, where water in deep underground mining areas has become contaminated through its contact with broken rock containing sulphur-bearing minerals. As it rises and decants on surface, it poses a serious health risk– and contaminates other water resources.

As part of the treatment process, this highly acidic water is treated with lime and flows through two reactors at the AMD plant, where sediment settles and gradually fills up the concrete channels of each reactor. According to Ruaan Venter, Business Development Manager at IPR, this was causing extensive downtime for the plant, as each reactor had to be emptied of water before the acidic silt could be excavated.

“To allow one reactor to be cleaned, it had to be closed off – reducing plant throughput and placing extra strain on the other reactor,” Venter explains. “The customer needed a solution that would allow them to gain more uptime from the plant, as digging out the silt was disruptive and time consuming.”

A private sector collaboration among residents, companies, Nama Koi Municipality, and KSB Pumps and Valves (PTY) LTD to restore water supply to parts of the Nama Koi municipality brings desperate relief to the affected residents.

South Africa’s water infrastructure faces increasing pressure from ageing infrastructure climate challenges and budget constraints the Northern Cape municipality was experiencing challenges with regards to the pump repair. This is when local pump supplier, KSB Pumps and Valves, a major supplier of pumps and equipment for water infrastructure, played a pivotal role to alleviate the problem by donating an Etanorm pump to the Nama Khoi Municipality.

According to KSB Pumps and Valves’ Upington branch manager, Andre Jonker, the donation was part of a collaborative project to restore the Overberg potable water pump station after a pump failure and other issues caused the station to nearly grind to a halt. The remaining pump had been struggling to operate at full capacity, leading to water shortages across the community.

Benefits

The pump donated, a KSB Etanorm pump, the flagship of the local pump manufacturer, is renowned for its efficiency, reliability and ability to handle a wide range of applications, including drinking water supply. The pumps designed for longevity and energy-saving due to their high efficiency and have proven to be a versatile solution for municipalities across the country.

• An event next week in the House of Lords will examine the toxic legacy of Anglo American in Kabwe, Zambia, where hundreds of thousands continue to be harmed by lead pollution left behind from historic mining operations.
• The panel will include Barry Mulimba, resident of Kabwe and a community leader, who is visiting the UK and can explain from first-hand experience the “devastation” this has caused.
• Regional, health and legal experts will discuss the tremendous public health impacts and implications arising from the environmental lead contamination, particularly on children and during pregnancy.
• Attendees will be invited to add their name to an open letter, already signed by a range of national and international organisations, calling on Anglo American to address these harms.
• This event follows International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week from 20-26 October 2024.

London – Next week, on Tuesday 29 October, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) and Lord Peter Hain will host an event in the House of Lords, in which a panel of regional, health, and legal experts will discuss the impacts of lead pollution in Kabwe, one of the world’s most toxic towns, where Anglo American operated one of the world’s most productive lead mines for almost 50 years.

A class action suit has been filed in South Africa against Anglo American South Africa on behalf of around 140,000 women and children in Kabwe who are alleging harm from lead poisoning caused by Anglo American’s historic mining operations (more information on the court case in the notes).

The panel will include discussion about the serious health impacts and implications of lead poisoning, especially on children, Anglo American’s role in contributing to the lead contamination in Kabwe, what everyday life is like in one of the world’s most polluted towns, and the legal case itself –including Anglo’s defence of acting within the ‘standards of the time’. The discussions will also cover the gap between the lack of accountability and responsibility being taken by Anglo American and the commitments it has made to international human rights guidelines on remediation for adverse impacts on human rights and the environment.

Attendees including MPs, Peers, analysts, investors and civil society organisations will be given the opportunity to sign an open letter addressed to Anglo American CEO Duncan Wanblad, calling for Anglo to take immediate action to address this historic wrongdoing. The open letter has already been signed by a number of national and international charities and organisations working on human rights, children’s rights, health and corporate accountability, and will be issued to Duncan Wanblad and released after the event.

The Hot Dip Galvanizers Association of Southern Africa (HDGASA) plays an important role in supporting the energy value chain – which spans clean, renewable and green energy – as it powers towards key sustainability targets, according to Executive Director, Robin Clarke.

After a nine year ‘teething period’, during which key energy sector stakeholders and local galvanizers found common ground, he says hot dip galvanizing is now the preferred corrosion control mechanism for this sector, enabling substantial return on investment for energy infrastructure projects and the industry as a whole.

“As an Association, we support the move to renewable energy. We are pleased that the sector has embraced hot dip galvanizing. What we do prolongs the life of the most essential element – steel,” Clarke points out.

Part of the transition

According to the International Trade Administration, 85 percent – or 42,000MW – of South Africa’s electricity is generated via coal-fired power stations. Coal will continue to provide most of the country’s power for the next decade, although the share from renewables is expected to develop faster than the market

Omnia Holdings (Omnia) is pleased to announce the rebranding of Protea Mining Chemicals (PMC) under its Mining segment, BME. This strategic move consolidates Omnia’s global mining offering under a unified brand, delivering a comprehensive range of solutions spanning from mining to metal processing.

The rebrand closer aligns PMC with BME’s existing operations, enhancing Omnia’s ability to offer a broad value proposition that combines mine blasting and chemical processing solutions. This shift reflects Omnia’s commitment to an integrated, cohesive approach across its business units, further strengthening its support for customers’ sustainability, quality, and supply security needs.

Transition strategy

As part of this transition, Omnia’s mining business will focus on two refreshed client value offerings: BME Blasting Solutions, providing explosives and initiation systems, and BME Metallurgy, dedicated to mining chemicals and metallurgical solutions.

“Omnia is a global company with a unique customer value proposition, coupled with best-in-class infrastructure. This rebranding and focus on two distinct client value propositions will enhance our ability to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions that meet our customers’ needs across the entire mining value chain,” says Seelan Gobalsamy, CEO of Omnia.

Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine (SMM), one of the world’s highest grade rare earths mines, has announced it is moving out of care-and-maintenance to gear up for production following approval by South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) to proceed with the refurbishment of the mine’s infrastructure and reclamation of monazite material.

“The approval allows the mine to proceed with the re-equipping of the existing head gear infrastructure and decline shaft. The reclamation process will involve the removal of underground stockpiled blasted and ballast material brought to the surface for placement onto the existing feed to plant stockpile,” explained Graham Soden, SMM CEO and Mine Manager.

Upgrading of the infrastructure will involve building new ablution blocks and offices, as well as surface water runoff controls and retention dams. In addition, security facilities will be upgraded to comply with the NNR’s regulatory requirements.

Strategy

“In line with this we will shortly commence with a recruitment drive to employ staff, mostly from feeder villages in the area as part of our strategy to create local employment and generate local economic development,” he said.

To improve its local manufacturing processes, WEG has taken delivery of two laser cutting machines and three bending machines. Deployed at the sheet metal cutting operation at the company’s manufacturing facility in Robertsham, Johannesburg, the state-of-the-art machines have significantly increased productivity and efficiency, reducing internal delivery times and ultimately customer lead times.

In recent years, WEG has continuously bolstered its capacity across its various manufacturing facilities in South Africa. The Robertsham factory – a facility that largely specialises in the production of medium voltage switchgear, Motor Control Centres (MCCs), medium voltage softstarters, low voltage Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) and softstarter enclosures – is the latest to benefit from a significant capital investment in new manufacturing technology.

Previously, explains Anderson Kohler, General Manager at WEG Africa, the facility operated two conventional punching machines, which have been replaced by two fibre laser cutting machines – 3kW and 4 kW units. “The decision was made to replace the old punching machines, addressing previous challenges such as breakdowns and quality issues. Previously, we experienced less than 50% availability, leading to production downtime,” says Kohler.

Revolutionized industry

With their unmatched precision accuracy, the new fibre laser cutting machines have revolutionized manufacturing processes. The speed at which these machines cut metal is about 50% faster than punching, while the precise slitting ensures that cut surfaces have no rough edges, increasing product quality and reducing waste based on the best use of raw materials.

The modest size of Zimbabwe’s mining sector has not prevented Sandvik’s operation in the country from rolling out world class partnerships – including the pioneering deployment of autonomous trucks in a room-and-pillar mining environment.

“The automation project has been particularly exciting for us, as this has demonstrated how we can push boundaries with Sandvik’s leading edge digital technology,” says Brian Chitenderu, Sandvik Territory Manager for Zimbabwe. “At the heart of technological progress like this are the strong relationships of trust that we have built with customers over many years.”

This collaboration allowed an ambitious project to begin a few years ago, in which a progressive mining customer partnered with Sandvik to introduce automation into a low profile, room-and-pillar environment. The trials focused on testing the 45 tonne Toro TH545i underground dump trucks in certain main haulages of the mine. According to Chitenderu, an important milestone was achieved in early 2024 – with a fully automated loop that includes an underground crusher.

“The years leading up to this point saw a great deal of R&D work from our Finland factory, especially regarding the traffic management system,” he says. “This complex system manages five of our TH545i trucks, to which another five may still be added.”

Dekra Industrial and its training division, the Dekra Institute of Learning (IOL) are pleased to announce their move into impressive new premises in Naledi industrial park outside Sasolburg – and the expansion of their existing premises in Secunda – with a dynamic ‘one-stop’ shop offering encompassing non-destructive testing (NDT), inspection, lifting inspections, vendor certification and adult-based occupational training.

As such, the new and upgraded premises reflect Dekra Industrial’s focus on growth, as well as the company’s ongoing commitment to enhancing client relationships, operational efficiency and community engagement.

The expanded premises also mark a strategic shift away from DEKRA Industrial and the IOL operating as two separate entities, says Johan Gerber, Managing Director of Dekra Industrial.

“By co-locating under one roof and consolidating NDT, inspection services and training, the company can now offer a holistic, safe and seamless service to clients, as the ‘heroes of safety’ which we strive to be – in line with our parent company Dekra’s commitment to be a global partner for a safe and sustainable world by 2025,” Gerber explains.