A patented hinged door on Atlas Copco’s diesel driven dewatering pump sets saves users time and trouble, ensuring there is no longer any excuse to avoid regular inspection and maintenance.
“The simple but brilliant hinged door concept has meant a massive improvement in ease of maintenance for users of these end-suction dewatering units,” says Steve du Toit, IPR Product Manager for Atlas Copco. “It reduces the downtime required for inspection and servicing of Atlas Copco’s PAS and PAC pumps, as it requires none of the traditional equipment that was normally involved to safely lift and move large pump covers.”
An individual technician can now conduct inspections and maintenance on their own – a job that previously required a team with appropriate heavy lifting equipment to open and handle the end- suction cover. Depending on the size of the pump, it would also have required certain certified rigging equipment and a mobile crane or forklift.
“With the hinged door, you need none of these items,” explains Du Toit. “The technician simply loosens the bolts on the cover, and swings it open on the hinge – gaining access to the impeller within as little as three minutes.”
TOMRA Mining invests in its operations in Australia to meet the rising demand for sensor-based sorting and be close to customers on the West Coast – the heart of the country’s mining sector – with the opening of a second office in Perth, the appointment of Jordan Rutledge as new Sales Manager based at the new location, and the extension of its local support and service team. The company also supports its Australian customers with its well-established office and Test Center in Sydney.
TOMRA Mining has a well-established presence in Australia with installations operating in a variety of applications including lithium, industrial minerals, polymetallics and gemstones. It has operated in the country since the 1990s when Ultrasort entered the market, before being acquired by TOMRA in 2009. Over the years, its business has grown in response to the evolution in the industry: “The diamond, lithium, tin, tungsten, battery and strategic minerals sectors, as well as other progressive sectors that are open to new technology, have driven sensor-based sorting into the main mining process flow and design,” explains Gavin Rech, Technical Manager at TOMRA. “The focus on Environmental, Social and Governance and on reducing energy consumption has further contributed to this trend.”
Jordan Rutledge is appointed TOMRA Mining Area Sales Manager Australia
In order to meet the rising demand for its industry-leading technology, TOMRA has decided to invest further in its operation in the country. It has strengthened its team with the appointment of Jordan Rutledge as Area Sales Manager for Australia, who brings to the team her extensive experience and know-how. Having completed a BS and MS in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, as well as programs in Europe and China, she has spent her career in the mining industry focusing on mineral processing. She has worked on projects in North and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia. In the last 4 years, she has focused on North American projects for TOMRA Mining.
A new TOMRA base in the heart of Australia’s mining industry
Jordan Rutledge has led the opening of the new TOMRA Mining office in Perth. “Western Australia is the heart of the mining industry in Australia, and with the uptake of sensor-based sorting in the sector we are seeing a fast-growing demand for our technology,” says Jordan.
Dry-type transformer specialist Trafo Power Solutions has broadened its offerings to include modular substations – leveraging the company’s depth of experience in designing and providing custom engineered electrical solutions.
“Since our entry into the market supplying dry-type transformers, we noticed an increasing demand for complementary systems related to their application,” says David Claassen, Managing Director of Trafo Power Solutions. “Our evolution began with customer recognition of the level of our in-house expertise, and requests for packaged solutions which included our dry-type transformers.”
Customers needed a reliable supply partner with the competence and experience to understand the specific demands of each project and application, says Claassen. Trafo Power Solutions has proven itself in this role, right from the concept and design stage of a project through to facilitating the manufacture, delivery and on-site commissioning.
He notes that modular substations, often referred to as E-house, are prefabricated or modular structures that house electrical equipment and systems. They are designed to provide a centralised and secure environment for critical electrical components and infrastructure. Often used in industrial settings, power plants, mining operations, oil and gas facilities and other applications where reliable and efficient electrical power is essential, an E-house would house a variety of electrical equipment such as switchgear, transformers, motor control centers, distribution panels, and other power distribution and control devices.
AfriSam, leading construction materials group, places safety at the forefront of its operations, acknowledging the importance of safeguarding its people and the communities within which it operates. As both a responsible employer and corporate citizen, the company’s unwavering commitment to safety extends beyond its own operations and into the realm of rail safety, particularly at level crossings, where road and rail networks intersect.
In collaboration with Traxtion, Africa’s largest private freight rail operator, and the Rail Safety Regulator (RSR), AfriSam was actively involved in promoting International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) campaign in June 2023. This global initiative, championed by the International Union of Railways (UIC), unites railway communities from 28 countries raising awareness of level crossing safety.
Zero Harm
AfriSam’s commitment to “Zero Harm” reflects its strong belief in prioritising the safety and well-being of its employees and the community. This informed the company’s contribution to ILCAD with its focus on recognising the potential risks and hazards associated with level crossings on a day dedicated to saving lives and preventing accidents.
Nathi Shoba, AfriSam’s Quality Assurance Manager, expresses the company’s resolute commitment to safety, stating, “This is all about saving lives, and for this reason, we were extremely proud to play our part in International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD).” AfriSam’s involvement in the campaign reflects its dedication to proactive engagement, education and fostering a culture of responsible behaviour at level crossings.
Madelein Williams, Executive: Media and Communications and spokesperson for the RSR in South Africa, emphasises their primary objective of enhancing rail safety, a goal that often faces challenges when motorists and pedestrians fail to adhere to level crossing regulations. Williams expresses concern over the recorded 47 injuries between 2020/21 and 2021/22, as this undermines the RSR’s efforts to raise awareness and promote rail safety at level crossings.
To commemorate ILCAD, Traxtion, RSR and AfriSam collaborated on a private siding line connecting to the Transnet line, specifically selecting the bustling Ulco crossing in Northern Cape. This crossing serves both pedestrians, including school children, and motorists, posing potential risks and making it a vital location to address level crossing incidents.
“We call upon all rail operators to join us following this awareness campaign to ensure compliance with safety regulations for the sake of the public and railway operators at level crossings.” Urges Thando Makoyi, SHEQ Compliance Manager at Traxtion and a former train driver.
AfriSam, together with its partners, remains dedicated to promoting rail safety, saving lives and fostering a culture of responsible behaviour at level crossings. By actively engaging stakeholders, raising awareness and advocating for adherence to safety measures, they aim to make a significant and lasting impact on rail safety in South Africa and beyond.
The African water sector’s growing need for integrated solutions from multi-disciplinary teams has led to the creation of a Water and Environmental Technology (WET) unit at SRK Consulting, streamlining the company’s capabilities in vital sectors.
Underpinning this move is the growing complexity of water management in South Africa and beyond, a field in which SRK has developed considerable expertise over many decades, according to Manda Hinsch, partner and principal scientist at SRK Consulting. The new unit now leverages the experience of the company’s water scientists with the related skills base of its Pretoria strategic business unit (SBU).
“While SRK’s wide range of professional disciplines continue to be relevant in their own right, the market today requires a more integrated approach,” said Hinsch. “For instance, our water management expertise is applied in areas from tailings storage facilities (TSFs) to disaster management – and our WET unit reflects that shift.”
James Lake, WET SBU partner and principal scientist at SRK Consulting, highlighted that water supply has become a critical issue in Southern Africa – with many clients becoming more proactive about their water management strategies.
“The configuration of our new WET unit allows closer collaboration among our professionals with their respective skill sets,” said Lake. He highlighted the value of such teamwork in addressing mine closure, especially in the light of the recent Global Industry Standards on Tailings Management (GISTM).
Hydrology and environmental engineering
“In our mine closure planning for TSFs, we are guided by the strong GISTM focus on water management of the facility at closure,” he explained. “This requires a range of inputs from the hydrologists in the WET unit.”
This work includes the development of simulated rainfall data to inform the probable maximum flood (PMF) event and to undertake routing of the flood events. They would also develop management plans to limit upgradient runoff flowing onto the facility, as well as develop plans to safely discharge rainfall from the facility.
“Future erosion activity over a design life of 300 years also requires geotechnical consideration, with landform evolution modelling by one of our environmental engineers,” he said. “We also provide geochemical inputs to couple with unsaturated flow modelling, to understand the risk of salts leaching from the TSF into groundwater.”
He added that information from the WET unit was used in conjunction with stability data developed by other SRK experts – allowing the company’s engineering geology (ENGEO) unit to develop conceptual closure plans.
Disaster management
The GISTM has also placed added responsibility on stakeholders to develop emergency preparedness and response plans, according to SRK Consulting senior technologist Andries Fourie. The WET unit works with SRK’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) and ENGEO teams to help clients achieve compliance with these disaster management aspects of the GISTM, said Fourie.
“This included site visits and dam break analysis to understand the affected area and determine the vulnerabilities of communities close to TSFs,” he said. “The work aims to ensure a shared state of readiness among stakeholders, and to even identify alternative rescue services where public sector capacity in an area is low.”
Water supply
The consolidation of the WET team has also built the capacity necessary to tackle a recent fast tracked assessment of stormwater management measures at key infrastructure points for a client, according to partner and principal hydrologist Peter Shepherd.
“This project required numerous site visits, flood assessments, additional technical drawing and GIS skills,” said Shepherd. “The size and composition of the integrated team allowed us to bring the relevant expertise to bear and meet the demanding timeframe.”
In another water supply project, SRK Consulting’s WET unit worked with the company’s Eastern Cape Business Unit on a water resources study for a dam in that province. “We conducted detailed hydrological and hydraulic investigations of the dam to determine its supply potential, and to help inform decisions on abstracting water to supply nearby towns,” said Joyce Mathole, senior water scientist at SRK Consulting. “Our team determined the streamflow into the dam, which as input into the yield model so that the available water for sustainable abstraction could be ascertained.”
Climate change and green technologies
SRK’s WET unit has also been involved in the green energy sector in southern Africa, recently assisting clients to apply for environmental clearance to proceed with a green hydrogen project. The work included both an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and a public participation process, according to Laetitia Coetser, principal scientist at SRK Consulting.
“Globally, green hydrogen is seen as imperative for the transition to cleaner economies and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, especially within the transport industry,” said Coetser. “The transition to green hydrogen production is in its infancy, and economies of scale will drive growth in this market.”
reen is the colour of passion for Chop-em Tree Fellers in Benoni who recently purchased an all-new Sumitomo excavator from its supplier and promptly had it painted in a distinctive bright green coat of paint.
Rather than the ordinary yellow paint scheme of most other excavators, owner, David Kretzschmar, wants his equipment to be easily recognisable in the field as belonging to the company and being a specialist arborist machine or, in other words, a tree fellers’ dream machine.
Having grown up in a tree felling and bush clearing family, David’s first recollections are of riding and sleeping in various types of plant equipment and trucks while his father and other family members went about their business. As a result, there is little that he does not know about plant equipment and along with his brothers Malcolm and Karl, can operate any type of machine with their eyes closed.
Green machine
According to David it is also the reason why he chose a Sumitomo excavator from one of the country’s largest equipment suppliers, ELB Equipment. “We know how important it is to have equipment that won’t let you down when you in the field and far from home. Just like the other
Tanzania has signed agreements worth a total of $667m with three Australian companies for the development of rare earth minerals and graphite projects, reported Reuters.
Signed with Evolution Energy Minerals, Ecograf and Peak Rare Earths, the agreements form part of Tanzania’s efforts to advance negotiations on long-delayed mining and energy projects.
Under the deals, the country will have a 16% stake in each of the jointly established companies to operate the rare earth and graphite projects, reported Reuters, citing Palamagamba Kabudi, the chairman of the Tanzanian Government’s negotiating team.
While ISO 10121 parts 1 and 2 provided testing methods for filters and the media used in them, the newly introduced part 3 provides a means of comparison and parameters for classification.
Evolution managing director Phil Hoskins said: “Completion of the agreements is a key milestone as we continue to progress towards the development of our Chilalo project.
“Financiers require certainty on the operation of the Tanzanian government’s free-carried interest and the completion of these agreements provides the certainty to support further investment from Evolution and debt and equity financiers.”
EcoGraf has signed an agreement with the Tanzanian government for the development and operation of the Epanko Graphite Project.
According to the deal, the new Duma TanzGraphite joint venture has been incorporated to develop and operate the Epanko project.
EcoGraf holds an 84% stake in Duma TanzGraphite while the government owns a 16% free-carried interest.
Peak executive chair Russell Scrimshaw said: “Development of the Ngualla Project will deliver direct foreign investment of more than $320m into the Tanzanian economy, generate hundreds of direct and thousands of indirect jobs for Tanzanians and position Tanzania as one of the major rare earth producers outside of China.”
Ivanhoe Mines, a diversified miner with a 26-year history in the African mining sector, is aiming to enhance the sustainability goals of the group and its flagship Kamoa-Kakula copper complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The company plans to utilize hydropower potential and abundant sunshine to decarbonize the mining industry, while also exploring various options to increase alternative power solutions. Ivanhoe has obtained approval for environmental and social impact assessment amendments for Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 3, while it awaits the same for its Platreef project in South Africa. The latter is expecting to receive power from a 5 MVA solar power plant before year-end, and evaluating other power options.
The company has also completed a greenhouse gas alternatives analysis for Kamoa-Kakula and implemented GHG emissions programs to reduce emissions. Additionally, the company has established a biodiversity project nursery and an apiary as sanctuaries for pollinators, promoting natural habitation and plant diversity.
To meet local procurement obligations, Ivanhoe has implemented targeted enterprise and supplier development programs, which have supported seven informal enterprises and 41 formal enterprises. Additionally, eight opportunities have been exclusively earmarked for local community suppliers.
The company is also building the Kamoa Centre of Excellence to create a sustainable and community-focused higher learning environment.
The community development initiatives of Ivanhoe have provided communities with valuable infrastructure, as well as supported local businesses and established value chains in the areas around the mining complexes. These initiatives also include investments in sustainable agriculture and farming, early childhood education, and gender equality.
The global diamond industry received a boost as Hon’ble Lefoko Maxwell Moagi, Minister of Minerals & Energy, Republic of Botswana; De Beers Group’s CEO Al Cook; and Bruce Cleaver, Co-Chairman of De Beers Group met with the leadership of the GJEPC and the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) in Mumbai on 18th April 2023.
Along with Feriel Zerouki, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs at De Beers Group and Vice President, World Diamond Council, the delegation met the Indian diamond industry leaders for discussions on mutual cooperation and development.
The delegates were welcomed by a group of dignitaries including Vipul Shah, Chairman of the GJEPC; Anoop Mehta, President of the BDB; Kirit Bhansali, Vice Chairman of the GJEPC; Mehul Shah, Vice President of the BDB; Ajesh Mehta, Convener, Diamond Panel, GJEPC; and Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director of the GJEPC, along with several other notable individuals.
The association with De Beers has played a pivotal role in the growth of the Indian industry, which today processes 14 out of 15 diamonds set in jewellery worldwide. India has invested billions of dollars in building the infrastructure required for processing diamonds, including modern factories, the Bharat Diamond Bourse, Surat Diamond Bourse, and jewellery factories in SEEPZ. The country has also democratised the diamond pipeline by giving 52 facets to diamonds lesser than 200th of a carat by weight, making them affordable to millions who aspire to own one.
The visit by the De Beers delegation provided a platform for the Indian diamond industry to have a discussion with the mining major on the generic promotion of diamonds and diamond jewellery. GJEPC has been working closely with the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) to promote diamond and diamond jewellery in the USA, China, and India.
Speaking at the event, GJEPC Chairman Vipul Shah said, “I would request De Beers to enhance the contribution for generic promotion of diamonds and diamond jewellery in this challenging geopolitical scenario till things achieve normalcy. We look forward to a productive and inspiring discussion about the future of the diamond industry. I hope that this visit marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration and success for our industry.”
BDB President Anoop Mehta noted, “One of the goals that we wanted to achieve, from the perspective of diamonds, is that most governments all over the world look at diamonds not only through a loupe but a microscope. And the Indian government and authorities who legislate would also do the same. However, in these last 10 years, we’ve been able to change that perception a bit. About a month ago, we were chosen to host the delegates of the G20 by the Government to showcase the sector’s achievements.”
The visit by De Beers and the Botswana Minerals & Energy Minister is a significant development for the global diamond industry, with India’s leadership in diamond processing and De Beers’ position as one of the largest diamond producers globally, the partnership is set to have a positive impact on the industry.
Africa is home to some 30% of the world’s mineral deposits; yet 70% of mined materials are exported to Europe or Asia to be further refined and turned into marketable products.
Namibia is a springboard into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade block, with a market access of 330 million people. With a wealth of natural resources, the country’s mines are a…
African countries hold some of the largest deposits of particular minerals on Earth, including Namibia, which is the second-largest producer of uranium in the world. The country is also home to massive deposits of tin and lithium – two materials needed to enable the green transition away from fossil fuels towards more sustainable energy sources.
Voices within Africa argue that those minerals should stay on the continent for greater beneficiation – or the process of improving the economic value of a mined raw substance. Proponents of beneficiation say Africans will benefit from greater income generation, employment opportunities, industrialisation, as well as regional integration.
It is an ambitious goal, but one that may be achieved over the coming decades as African governments coalesce to push for continent-wide development and reform. There is no doubt a long road to travel to get there, and part of that path includes building roads and developing infrastructure. Miners say political risk in some countries is another major hurdle.
While there is a greater impetus for cohesion with endeavours such as the intra-continental African Continental Free Trade Area that recognises the importance of infrastructure development to advance trade, there is still a monumental need for new policies to push development.
“Adequate domestic policies for the development of a beneficial value chain for improved prosperity, and job creation, to support the sustainable development of the continent have not been formulated,” reads a 2021 report from the African Natural Resources Centre.
Beyond policies, foreign direct investment (FDI) is also needed to see these goals realised. Historically, investors have been hesitant to invest in Africa due to its perceived risk.
Voices within Africa argue that valuable minerals such as diamonds should stay on the continent for greater beneficiation, the process of improving the economic value of a mined raw substance. Credit NIPBD.
“Africa gets a pretty bad reputation in terms of being an investment destination,” says Anthony Viljoen, the South African CEO of Andrada Mining, which operates exploration projects across Africa, including in Namibia. “The recent history has been quite volatile, and there are countries where political risk is a life or death situation.”
Over the past decade though, policymakers and government officials on the continent have worked to flip the script on risk. A UN Conference on Trade and Development report found that between 2006 and 2011, Africa boasted the highest rate of return on FDI inflows at 11.4%. In Asia, the rate was 9.1%, and 8.9% in Latin America and the Caribbean. The global figure for that time frame stood at 7.1%.
From policymakers and businesspeople on the continent, the message to investors is a resounding: “Africa is open for business.”
The link between investment and beneficiation
Intrinsically linked to the investment question is the question of beneficiation.
Greater beneficiation can only be achieved through higher investment that will enable the development of road and transport networks, a steadier electricity supply, and water infrastructure – in some cases, this requires desalination plants. Raw minerals can’t undergo beneficiation if they cannot be moved to a processing plant, and they can’t be processed without steady electricity and water.
Then there is the argument that because many minerals are manufactured into goods that support a certain process – such as lithium-ion batteries – they should be manufactured closer to where they will be used, and that is almost always outside Africa, which lacks manufacturing capacity. As supply chains have been thrown into disarray by the Covid-19 pandemic and global geopolitical events, manufacturers increasingly want parts to be made near their end destination.
“Being an African myself, there is a lot more benefit that can be gained from having beneficiation in-country,” Viljoen says. “Investors need to see to what level beneficiation is practically possible, and it should be pushed to the level that host governments can realistically provide.”
However, the question of value addition to African countries’ economies through expanded continent-level value chains remains central for African governments, despite arguments against it.
Government officials across Africa look at these challenges with a determined optimism that they can be surmounted.
Opportunities abound in Namibia
“In terms of Agenda 2063, African leaders have realised that as Africa, we have natural resources, but they are all being exported to other countries,” says Nangula Uaandja, CEO and chairperson of the Namibia Investment Promotion & Development Board (NIPDB).
Proponents of beneficiation say Africans will benefit from greater income generation, employment opportunities, industrialisation, as well as regional integration. Credit: NIPBD.
“There are significant opportunities for refineries in Africa, because if we can refine even a small percentage of the minerals that are mined on the continent, then there is definitely significant advantages for people who take up the first-mover advantages in that space.”
From exploration to extraction and refining, Uaandja says there are many opportunities for companies. Namibia is also investing in vocational training in recognition that skilled labour is essential to develop the country’s nascent manufacturing sector. By 2050, according to the UN, Africa is projected to have the largest working age population in the world, with birth rates falling in other regions globally.
“Namibia is the best destination in Africa to invest in,” Andrada’s Viljoen says. “It is not perfect, but it is as close as you can get.”
Viljoen adds that within Namibia, and especially within the NIPDB, there is a recognition that the country’s officials and economic development board must work with miners and other investors to find policies, incentives and tax regimes that are suitable for all parties.
“There is a pragmatic, rational way of thinking,” Viljoen says.
