African Mining Brief Jan/March 2023

Leap Forward with Eriez

Eriez Flotation technologies are rapidly changing mineral processors’ separation and recovery operations to deliver unprecedented economic and environmental impact.

Eriez invented the revolutionary equipment enabling Coarse Particle Recovery. Eriez HydroFloat® Separator can float base metal sulphide and industrial mineral particles beyond the 150 micron norm to as much as 850 microns with very high recovery.

Now is the time to act, leap forward into new technologies for unprecedented economic and environmental impact.

>600µm particles recovered using HydroFloat CPF

Incremental thinking leads to incremental results.

EDITOR

Dennis Ayemba

EAST AFRICA EDITOR

Francis Makari

GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGN

Augustine Ombwa austin@arobia.co.ke

COUNTRY WRITER:

Lindsay Wagner

WRITERS:

Delilah Aisu, Matimu Mahundla

COUNTRY LIAISON

Thuthukile Klaas

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

South Africa:

Shepherd Mthethwa, Rachel Molapo

Jacqui Nyangabyaki, Tshegofatso

Mokonyama

Nigeria:

Seni Bello

East Africa:

William Mutama

Published by Mining & Construction News Network (Pty) Ltd (MCN Network)

African Mining Brief is published 4(four) times a year and is circulated to members of relevant associations, governmental bodies and other personnel in the mining industry as well as suppliers of equipment, materials and services in Africa, the Middle and Far East. The editor welcomes articles and photographs for consideration. Material may not be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher.

The publisher does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or authenticity of advertisements or contributions contained in the journal. Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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The mining sector was not only struggling to revive itself from the effects of the pandemic in 2022, but also faced a number of setbacks and obstacles within various African countries. These included electricity issues, drawnout employee strikes, and disruptions to the worldwide supply chain, to name but a few.

The global supply chain was strained and disrupted last year for many reasons, from the war in Ukraine to power supply issues and the post-Covid stagnation.

However, things could turn around for the mining industry this year. This is thanks to factors like the growing demand for minerals and metals key to the green transition, such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and more. Africa has the potential to produce green hydrogen and export the fuel. Demand for the clean-burning fuel is surging globally as the world seeks alternatives to climate-warming fossil fuels with Europe needing to lessen its dependence on Russian natural gas.

Additionally, countries are finding ways to work through supply chain disruptions in unconventional ways with alternative solutions and will continue to do so.

Furthermore, it is likely that the world will be looking to Africa to assist with closing the gap in global fuel supplies that has plagued countries since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The continent has potential to help meet global fuel demands, with high capacity to produce resources. It is therefore likely to gain both more international trading partners and to gain market shares, becoming a bigger competitor in the international extractives market.

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Several positive headwinds in the mining sector promises better days ahead

Technology

The new Boomer E10 and E20 from Epiroc offer great flexibility and coverage thanks to their small footprint and powerful, multi-purpose BUT 45-booms. As part of Epiroc’s Smart series, the drill rigs are equipped with automation features that increase operator safety and productivity and come with an optional battery-electric driveline for reduced environmental impact and healthier underground conditions.

Suitable for both mining and construction

Besides being compact enough for mine development, both drill rigs feature BUT 45-booms with telescopic feed beams. These powerful booms fit a wide range of applications and can tackle the requirements of heavy-duty construction work with ease.

“This is yet another automation break-through for face drilling where Epiroc leads the way to safer and more productive mining and construction operations”, says Sami Niiranen, President at Epiroc’s Underground division.

Safe productivity with outstanding operator assistance features With features like teleremote drilling, auto level and setup assist, Boomer E10 and E20 strengthen productivity and safety for operators. The optional teleremote drilling feature lets the operator work at a safe distance from the face and enables drilling during shift changes.

“Thanks to teleremote drilling the operator can drill a full face from a control room. Naturally, this is a safer workplace. In addition, you can reach up to 25% increased productivity by drilling during shift changes and lunch breaks”, says Camilla Spångberg, Global Product Manager at Epiroc’s Underground division.

Immersive Technologies and EPSA have partnered in a number of community workforce development projects. For a phosphate project in Saudi Arabia, EPSA has implemented a Komatsu HD785-7 Simulator training program with a focus to enhance operational readiness and support EPSA’s strategy to train a growing Saudi Arabian workforce.

For the majority of operators, the simulator training program represented the first opportunity to get behind the controls and gain hands-on equipment operating experience. Simulation provides a safe and risk-free environment to not only build basic machine operation skills, but also specific techniques related to safety, machine care and production optimization. One of the main project objectives was to streamline the training process at EPSA mining operations to ensure long term operator productivity and reduced risks associated with newly developed workforces. Deploying simulation technology has aided in EPSA maintaining a level of zero % of lost time injuries from the project’s start and has also helped EPSA reach Saudization milestones with over 80%+ of the current haulage operators being Saudi Arabian.

“EPSA aim to deliver a high degree of equipment availability and production levels for our mines. We also have an on-going focus on improving safety. Our partnership with Immersive Technologies has helps us prepare workforces to meet these goals and to support a culture of safety and benefit to all workers” says Mahfoud Snacel, Training Manager of EPSA.

New Product Energy Aquisition

Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) and the University of Kolwezi (UNIKOL) have partnered to launch the ERG Mining Academy, with its first student intake in January 2023. The collaboration will see UNIKOL partnering with global teaching institutions, such as the University of Mons, and ERG as an industry partner, to develop a post-graduate engineering curriculum with a focus on exploration, geology, metallurgy, mining and crosscutting subjects, including ESG.

Benedikt Sobotka, ERG’s Chief Executive Officer said: “In addition to producing the critical resources needed for a sustainable future, mining plays a vital role in the social and economicupliftment of its host communities. As an established and growing operator in the DRC, we want to ensure that the communities near us benefit from our operations and evolve alongside our business. We are honoured to work with UNIKOL to equip local engineers with industry relevant skills that will help them seize opportunities within the sector as it continues to scale.”

Stockholm, Sweden: Epiroc, a leading productivity and sustainability partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, has agreed to acquire Mernok Elektronik (Pty) Ltd, a South African company that provides advanced collision avoidance systems for mining companies. With this acquisition, Epiroc will strengthen its position as a world-leading provider of automation and safety solutions for mining operations.

Mernok Elektronik is headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa. The company designs and produces proximity detection technologies and collision avoidance systems of the highest level (EMESRT Level 9) applicable for either a single machine or an entire mixed fleet of machines regardless of manufacturer or type of equipment. Mernok Elektronik’s customers are primarily in Africa. The systems significantly reduce the risk of vehicle accidents, strengthening operator safety as well as productivity.

Mernok Elektronik has about 45 employees and had revenues in the fiscal year ending February 28, 2022, of approximately MZAR 80 (MSEK 50).

200 Congolese nationals holding a civil engineering, or a geology and mines degree from UNIKOL, will be eligible to apply for the programme. This study path will culminate in a recognised Professional Master’s degree, endorsed by the Ministry of Higher and UniversityEducation, providing graduates the opportunity to secure highly sought-after positions within the rapidlygrowing mining industry in the DRC. Under the collaboration, colloquially referred to as Project Kesho (meaning future), UNIKOL will ensure the delivery of the programme.

Epiroc releases new Boomer E10 and E20 drill rigs

Eurasian Resources Group develop curriculum to meet mining skills demand in the DRC

Epiroc to acquire leading provider of collision avoidance systems for mines

EPSA and Immersive Technologies Partner in Global Mining Workforce Development

Airborne electromagnetic geophysical surveying for mineral exploration

Airborne geophysical surveys utilise several different sensors to measure certain fields which can be related to physical properties of rocks such as density, magnetism and electrical conductivity. This in turn is translated into geological information that will guide exploration programs, assist in solving geotechnical issues or monitor environment problems. The fact that the measurements are done in the air results in more rapid coverage of ground, which in turn results in faster decision making, relatively cheap cost of acquisition and is totally non-intrusive by nature. Current survey aircrafts such as SPECTREM AIR offer a fully integrated multi-sensor platform.

Airborne geophysics, specifically airborne electromagnetic (AEM) technology, is one is one of the main tools used in in mineral exploration. The right application of airborne geophysics can reduce the footprint on the ground by focussing activities for follow up. This has important safety and environmental benefits to an exploration programme, whilst also speeding up the exploration process.

SPECTREM AIR has a competitive edge in the provision of airborne electromagnetic geophysical surveying solutions in Africa. The company provides a complete service, from project feasibility to detailed threedimensional geological modelling. In addition, the patented technology offers a unique mapping tool. Being a South

African based and developed technology, the company’s focus is very much on the African Continent, with its expertise in operating in this region also providing it with a strategic advantage.

Making use of the large capacity of its aircraft to increase the power that is transmitted by the sensors, SPECTREM AIR is the most powerful airborne system currently commercially available. Directly, this results in an increased depth of penetration and enhanced geological resolution, while still maintaining the high level of detail in the near-surface geology. The system is well suited to exploring and mapping geology under cover which is typical of most African environments, be that weathered regolith or thick sand covered regions.

In addition to many surveys in West Africa for gold exploration, SPECTREM AIR has deployed its proprietary SPECTREMPLUS airborne EM and magnetic system in Zambia and the DRC, on behalf of mining companies exploring for copper in the Central African Copperbelt. Further, Spectrem has a depth of experience in Botswana, Namibia and Angola, exploring for many commodities, including diamonds. Noticeably, the results of these surveys have been useful in geological and structural mapping, and particularly vectoring into areas of possible mineralization.

Spectrem has proven to generate useful information in the geohydrology realm,

from mapping paleo-channels to providing essential additional information to map environmental impacts in the coal mining activities.

SPECTREM AIR maintains a high safety standard by ensuring that a strict approach to safety and environment are adhered to all times. All aspects of the survey, from data collection, processing and interpretation are governed by an in-house quality system which conforms to ISO standards, which together with our experience and knowledge ensures that data of the highest quality is collected, and that interpretation undertaken addresses client’s needs.

New technology is continuously being developed and the focus at the moment is on data processing and geological interpretation. In the coming years, a continuous improvement in hardware technology and better control on geometric information of the platforms will result in significantly better data interpretation, while the increase in computer power and software development will also result in better processing of the airborne geophysical data and the generation of 3D models that are now starting to closely resemble the true geology on the ground. These developments encompass no only the electromagnetic domain, but include improved processing and interpretation of tensor potential field data.

“..most powerful system in the world”

“..mapping shallow and deeper features with a very high level of resolution”

Complying with Tough Workplace Dust Exposure Standards

Airborne dust particles produced by the processing, production, transfer, or movement of materials are becoming a growing global concern. Fugitive dust particles adversely affect workforce health, and machinery efficiency, and can interfere with production quality. Dust pollution wastes man-hours on clean-up and poses tricky problems when dealing with neighbouring companies and communities. Airborne dust particles can be difficult to remove due to their microscopic size (2 to 10 microns), and these particles drift everywhere, which can be a significant health hazard.

Dust control in mines has been, and continues to be, a major problem. Some mining companies still have trouble when it comes to maintaining respirable and compliant dust levels. This is mainly due to the vast amount of dust emitted in the various processing stages in mines. When left

unattended, inadequate dust management is not just an air pollutant, it also causes healthrelated problems for people working in the mines and those living near them.

As the mining industry strives to resolve this, environmental standards continue to change, and mines need to comply with these standards to avoid costly penalties.

Efficient dust management

Suppressing dust involves the use of highpressure sprays and chemical dosing to atomise water into fine particles in order to attach to the dust. It increases visibility and reduces the possibility of accidents, prevents the risk of dust explosion or fire, and reduces equipment wear. In addition, continual inhalation of dust is very harmful.

The dust suppression industry has evolved, from when the dust suppression processes involved expensive equipment and complicated systems (such as extraction fans,

bag houses, and electrostatic precipitators), to current methods.

These include mechanical dust suppression, haul road and surface treatments, water, surfactants, non-bond forming and bond forming.

The most commonly used solution is water. This is because it is economical, easy to install, and provides consistent performance if used on a routine basis. Typically, dust suppression methods involve a surface-active agent that is added to water, which is then applied to the bulk material through spray or foaming systems to help lift the dust extinction moisture levels.

Introducing CDC Dust Control

CDC Dust Control is a proudly South African level one (1) B-BBEE company with over 30-year history of specialising in the design, manufacture, supply, and research and development of integrated dust

suppression systems and services. We offer practical and powerful dust suppression solutions for conveyors and transfer points in mining and many industrial plants across Africa. In the mining sector, our expertise and solutions extend to both above- and underground applications.

Our investment in, and contribution to, the dust management industry is borne out by the fact that we worked with the Department of Minerals & Energy (DME), the Council for Scientific & Industrial

Research (CSIR), and recognised South African higher learning institutions to establish the dust suppression requirements for South African mines, and to develop our range of dust suppression solutions. The equipment used in our solutions consists of wet and dry scrubber units, booster pumps, spray fan systems, air movers, water filters, and transfer point assemblies.

In addition to offering mining and industrial dust management solutions, we are currently the only company in

Africa that has the specialised ability to ensure effective dust management for both continuous miners and road headers used in mining. OEMs Sandvik, JAE, Komatsu, and Eickhoff all trust CDC Dust Control for dust suppression solutions used on their continuous miners and road headers.

Our origins

CDC’s origins stem back to the late 1980s when the founder, Erol Ribbink, began experimenting with methods of capturing dust in collieries in his spare time. These dust-capturing initiatives began bearing fruit in the early 1990s, and Ribbink was joined by current CDC operations director, Bob Johnstone. Increasing production levels at coal mines and dust loads in the early 1990s led to heightened awareness of health and safety issues and Colliery Dust Control Services was launched on 5 November 1995.

The company’s original focus was colliery dust control, hence its founding name, which was shortened to CDC for brevity. However, the company’s solutions are designed to be used for dust suppression and control, and gas and dust scrubbing, in the majority of mined minerals and across numerous industries. To this end, in 2020 a decision was made to rebrand the organisation and omit the word ‘colliery’ from the name. However, it was important to maintain the company’s existing recognition and the decision was taken to use the former acronym, CDC, as the company’s official trading name. We are now known as CDC Dust Control.

Whatever your dust suppression challenges, CDC Dust Control engineers will collaborate with you to improve your operational performance.

Importance of Containment in Abrasive Blasting

Uncontained emissions and debris from surface preparation operations, such as paint, coatings, paint chips and primers, can be toxic and lethal to aquatic life, can leach into the soil and be taken up by plants, bioaccumulate up the food chain and ultimately effect humans. The goal of containment is to prevent blast emissions and debris from leaving the worksite, where they can be effectively collected for disposal.

The most important consideration regarding particulate dust is its level of toxicity, which depends upon three interdependent factors: the substrate being blasted, the contaminants being removed, and the type of blast media used. Substrates such as concrete and sandstone masonry, for instance, are partially comprised of toxic materials; the more abrasive the blast media, the more toxic substrate is forced into the air in the form of dust during blasting. The same holds true for the toxic contaminants being removed, such as paint chips and many types of coatings.

One of the chief advantages of wet abrasive blasting over dry blasting is the reduced requirement for containment. Because the emissions and debris are encapsulated and weighed down by water,

they can be effectively contained with fewer preventative measures.

Ground containment is the most basic form, consisting of overlapping, anchored tarps overlaid with geo-textile material. Geo-textile material is particularly valuable to the wet abrasive blaster: this light-weight material, with a texture similar to cheese cloth, allows water to pass through while filtering abrasive and debris. At the end of the job, the geo-textile fabric is simply wrapped up and deposited in drums or other suitable containers for disposal.

When hazardous runoff is a consideration, the blaster can construct a berm to catch spills from heavy machinery, storage tanks and drums. Depending on the type of contaminants to be contained, the berm can be constructed at heights ranging from inches to several feet, with metal, wood or foam and an outer layer of rubberized or polyurea coating, and lined with geo-textile fabric. A submersible pump can be placed inside the berm to transfer waste water into a collection container or drum barrel.

When the blast site is located near open water, residences, urban environments and other high-traffic areas, stationary structured containment is required. In these settings, traditional dry blasting requires

full containment – or “hoarding” – where the blast area is hermetically sealed to prevent non-filtered air, emissions and debris from escaping. For vapor abrasive blasting, partial containment is usually sufficient, and can be achieved by enclosing the area with tarps supported by a rigid or flexible structure, or a plywood barricade. Due to the inherent dust-suppression of vapor abrasive blasting, ventilation and exhaust fitration are not required in most cases.

On large projects, often the most cost-effective containment is a portable structure. For example, blasting operations on an overpass can be contained with tarps suspended from trusses by cables over ground containment. As work progresses, the rigging can be moved to contain the next section. A bridge over an open body of water might require a sophisticated, engineered structure that not only contains and collects emissions and debris, but provides a platform for workers to stand on.

In most cases, it is up to the blaster to recommend, design and construct containment that satisfies the project requirements.

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Rolled Sectional Steel TanksRobust Water Storage Solutions

In today’s world, access to clean and safe water is more important than ever. With increasing population growth and urbanization, the demand for water storage solutions is on the rise. Rolled sectional steel tanks have emerged as a popular choice for water storage solutions, due to their robustness, reliability, and costeffectiveness. Rolled sectional steel tanks are also regularly used for the storage of gases, making them an important part of many industrial processes.

Unlike traditional concrete or masonry tanks, rolled sectional steel tanks are easy to install and maintain. They can be easily assembled on-site using simple tools and equipment, and they are easy to disassemble and move when necessary. This makes them an ideal choice for remote or hard-to-reach areas, as well as mining operations that require frequent relocation. The modular design of these tanks also allows for easy expansion or modification if the water storage needs change in the future.

Rolled sectional steel tanks are also cost-effective – they are typically less expensive to purchase and install than other types of tanks, and they require minimal

maintenance and repair costs. The steel construction of these tanks is also highly resistant to damage, which means they are less likely to require costly repairs or replacements.

Durability is a key characteristic of rolled sectional steel tanks. The steel used in the construction of these tanks is highly resistant to corrosion and rust, ensuring that they can withstand the elements for many years. The tanks are also designed to be strong and sturdy, able to withstand heavy loads and resist damage from impacts. This makes them an ideal choice for outdoor water storage, as they can withstand natural elements such as rain and extreme temperatures.

Due to their flexibility, rolled sectional steel tanks can be designed to meet the specific needs of any application, whether it be for residential, commercial, or industrial use. They can be customized to fit any size or shape and can be equipped with a range of features such as lids, outlets, and inlets. This feature makes them a versatile option for water storage. They can be used in a wide range of mining applications such as dust suppression, dust control, and fire protection.

Common Uses of Rolled Sectional Steel Tanks

Rolled sectional steel tanks are commonly used in the mining industry for the storage of water and other liquids, including fuel. These tanks are often used to store process water, potable water, and fire suppression water. They are designed to be able to withstand the high pressures and temperatures associated with mining operations. These tanks are designed to safely store and dispense fuel for mining equipment and vehicles. They are often equipped with secondary containment structures, dispensing systems and safety features to prevent spills and leaks.

Rolled sectional steel tanks are also used in mining operations for the storage of chemicals and other hazardous materials.

Additionally, rolled sectional steel tanks are used in mining operations for the storage of waste materials. These tanks are designed to safely store and contain waste materials until they can be properly disposed of.

Overall, rolled sectional steel tanks are a versatile and durable solution for the storage of various liquids and materials in the mining industry.

International Standards – what you need to know

In the mining industry, the harsh and demanding conditions require high-quality water storage solutions that meet industry standards and regulations. It is therefore important to ensure that the tanks meet international standards and regulations for materials, design, construction, testing, and inspection. The ISO 28765:2011 and EN 12285-2:2007 standards are recognized worldwide, and there are also specific regulations in different countries and regions for sectional steel tanks used for water storage.

The ISO 28765:2011 standard, also known as ISO TC 275/SC 2, provides guidelines for the design, construction, testing, and inspection of sectional steel tanks used for water storage. It covers the materials, design, manufacturing, and inspection requirements for sectional steel tanks, and it specifies the requirements for the quality control and documentation of the tanks.

Both standards are designed to ensure that the tanks are safe and fit for the designated purpose.

It is important to note that the standards are only applicable to sectional tanks and not to the entire system. Thereby, it is important to ensure that the tanks meet these standards and regulations for materials, design, construction, testing, and inspection to be considered robust and reliable water storage solutions.

Your one-stop partner

As a leading industrial player, Structa produces rolled sectional steel tanks. With over 50 years of experience in manufacturing and supplying highquality tanks, they offer a wide range of standard sizes and custom-build tanks to meet specific requirements. Additionally, Structa provides expert advice and support, including site visits, design and engineering, installation, and ongoing maintenance and repair services.

However, the production and use of

these tanks can have a significant impact on the environment if proper precaution is not taken. Overall, Structa recognizes this and has committed to using eco-friendly materials and technology in the production of their tanks, thereby minimising their impact on the environment.

This includes the use of recycled steel and eco-friendly paint and coatings which reduce the number of harmful chemicals released into the environment. They also use energy-efficient production methods and implement waste reduction and recycling programs. This not only reduces the company’s environmental footprint, but also improves its competitive position and promotes sustainable practices in the industrial sector.

If you are in need of custom-built tanks or water storage solutions, Structa’s rolled sectional steel tanks are an excellent choice.

Testing for cannabis in the workplace - just as crucial as testing for alcohol

necessitates an extensive disciplinary inquiry into surrounding circumstances, examining whether the person appeared intoxicated and whether they operated heavy machinery and caused damage or harm.

Today, however, technology for substance testing has matured to enable a level of convenience not previously there. Saliva testing is an important advancement as it’s non-invasive, easy to administer and it is faster and more accurate than was possible before. Saliva testing makes it possible to test for the primary drug compound which is the actual substance which causes intoxication. Testing for the compound that causes intoxication can give us a better indication of recent usage and current impairment. Saliva testing for Dagga has a particularly short window of detection giving a good indication of recent usage.

The cost of safety

By Rhys Evans, MD at ALCO-Safe

Since its decriminalisation, the use of cannabis has become more socially acceptable over the years. No longer a crime to use cannabis in the privacy of one’s home, it becomes a tricky situation when an employee has used before starting their workday. Cannabis causes functional impairment, which compromises the quality of work and on-the-job performance. Just as with alcohol testing, testing for cannabis needs to become more prominent and consistent in the workplace. This starts with a clear, company policy on intoxicating substances in the workplace.

Functional impairment

Cannabis can affect an employee’s capacity to do their job in various ways. This can manifest as performing tasks more slowly, or performing poorly when handling routine, monotonous tasks. It can also create difficulty in multi-tasking, taking instruction, making critical decisions (particularly in high-risk situations) as well as difficulty in driving or operating machinery. It is these difficulties

that an employer will need to assess when an employee tests positive for cannabis use.

Occupational health and safety

In the case of an employee that uses cannabis in the morning before work, despite using it in their private time, where the result is intoxication in the workplace, the employer has grounds for instituting disciplinary action, starting with a substance test. This is because occupational health and safety legislation clearly states that no person under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs may be permitted into the workplace.

Testing challenges

Because testing methods for recent consumption of cannabis was not commonly available, enforcing a workplace substance policy isn’t easy. While its presence could be detected in a person for in excess of 14 days after use by standard urine test, this doesn’t help pinpoint the time of use in order to link the substance with the individual being intoxicated in the workplace. This

While substance test kits can seem a costly operational expense, it’s important to consider the cost of damaged equipment and employee downtime, alongside legal ramifications of a workplace accident where an employee is intoxicated. It’s also important to bear in mind that while not every employee will need to be tested, since testing can be random or done under suspicion of use, testing should be done on a consistent basis in order to create a strong deterrent effect. Furthermore, kits that test for multiple drugs at once can also be useful. For example, there are six-panel saliva tests that cover the most popular substances. Although an employee might not be using the substance they are suspected of, there could be something else picked up through multi-panel testing.

Workplace culture of sobriety

The goal is not to create a punitive culture in which testing is used to enforce disciplinary measures. Starting with a clearly communicated workplace intoxication policy, alongside ongoing educational initiatives on the dangers of substance abuse, the goal is to establish a culture of safety and sobriety by breaking the culture of alcoholism and substance abuse that can quickly take root in an organisation.

FOR PRODUCERS, INVESTORS AND USERS OF PLATINUM GROUP METALS

PGMs Industry Day | 28 March 2023

Country Club Johannesburg, Auckland Park & online

Resources for Africa is pleased to announce its sixth annual PGMs Industry Day taking place on Tuesday 28 March 2023 in Johannesburg. Key stakeholders including PGMs producers, users and investors will take an open, honest and frank approach to tackling the key issues facing the PGMs sector in the coming years. Early confirmed speakers include:

Nico Muller, CEO, Impala Platinum

Natascha Viljoen, CEO, Anglo American Platinum

Phoevos Pouroulis, CEO, Tharisa Minerals

Bernhard Fuchs, Senior Vice President Precious Metals Management, Umicore AG

Timothy Ingle, Senior Vice President, Precious Metal Services & Recycling, BASF

Henk de Hoop, CEO, SFA Oxford

Roger Baxter, CEO, Minerals Council South Africa

And many more…

Key topics to be discussed include:

• Trends in the PGMs sector and strategies of producers

• Current geo-political and economic realities and impacts

• The role of PGMs in the energy transition and the road to net zero carbon emissions

• PGMs and the transformation of the automotive industry - combustion engines vs fuel cell EVs vs battery EVs

• Supply, demand and future projections

• Market development and applications for the future

• Investors and funders – the latest views

• Recycling, recovery and reprocessing

• Beneficiation opportunities

• The role of PGMs in the hydrogen economy

• And much more…

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Fatigue Management within the mining industry

Fatigue hampers an individual’s ability to function. Couple this with the fact that it is difficult to self-identify fatigue levels and the health and safety risk increases even more - particularly within the mining industry.

“The emphasis placed on fatigue management has vastly increased, due to legislative and other compliance requirements (HSEQ & global operation standards) as well as learnings from industry best practices,” explains Henry Smith, Fleets Sales Director at MiX Telematics Africa, a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions.

Smith says as technology develops and becomes more accessible and affordable, the industry is realising the value of fatigue monitoring solutions.

Impact on the mining industry

Mining has a high demand for strenuous work activities, and when fatigue becomes

a factor there are many risks and hazards at play. Standard causes of fatigue include; long periods of shift work, issues with sleep as well as physically demanding fast-moving work.

Being fatigued significantly increases the risk of incidents. Tiredness can impair the ability to respond quickly and safely when a dangerous situation arises, and the results can be disastrous. The severity of incidents in a mining environment can quickly escalate from injury to fatality if not managed correctly.

Mines need to focus on HSEQ 24/7 due to the high-risk environment, the size of their operations and the specialised equipment used.

From a human resource perspective, the results of fatigue often lead to high stress or anxiety levels, underperformance, absenteeism, impulsiveness, poor decisionmaking, and reduced reaction times amongst other effects. The commercial impact as a

result then becomes unplanned downtime in operations or equipment, increased incident rates and reputational damage.

Fatigue management, therefore, becomes key in the mining industry and service providers such as MiX Telematics specialise in providing technology that benefits multiple verticals in terms of compliance, efficiency, security, safety, and sustainability.

Employee Wellness & Staff retention

Staff retention and employee wellness are factors which are rapidly becoming codependent. Employees who work in highstress environments and industries with no concerted efforts on part of the employer to remedy poor working conditions, tend to be harder to retain.

Employees who feel they need to be more empowered with the relevant tools and resources tend to disengage from their employers/working environments which can be dangerous in several industries, especially mining.

“Thanks to the availability of data proving the impact of fatigue, work/life balance and employee wellness have become a global focus,” says explains Smith.

Current technology on the market

From a MiX Telematics perspective, the solutions offered are refined and developed continuously to meet customer demand. “As technology develops and becomes more accessible and affordable,; the industry is realising the value of fatigue monitoring solutions,” says Smith.

Advancements in AI-powered technology have improved fatigue detection. The MiX Vision AI dashcam solution uses advanced machine learning to monitor risky driving behaviours that could lead to fatal accidents. MiX Vision AI cameras are enabled with Advanced Driving Assistance (ADAS) giving the driver real-time coaching feedback on the trip, and the ability to review performance after the trip.

The in-cab and road-facing cameras help prevent collisions, alert drivers to risky driving behaviour and save on insurance costs from wrongful claims against drivers with the power of video footage available of incidents. The Driver Coach unit provides in-cab feedback on every trip which helps improve driver behaviour. AI video cameras alert on risky driving behaviours such as fatigue, distracted driving (including mobile phone use), seat belt usage, unintended lane departure, unsafe following distance and imminent forward collisions which are often precursors to the onset of fatigue.

Added onto the camera solution is the MiX Vision Bureau Gold service which offers an eyes-on-screen bureau service with key features such as the Driver Coaching Module, Driver Scorecard and Risk Profile which offer a view of driver trends to see improvements and/or declines in driver behaviour. Coaching that a driver needs to undergo for repeated offences to be avoided in the future is identified. The service also has a Health Service which ensures uptime of all MiX Vision AI cameras with regards to hardware failure and driver tampering.

MiX Track and React is a 24/7 bureau service that assists in proactively managing drivers and fleets in real-time. Critical event notifications, such as fatigue or the onset of fatigue, are brought to a driver’s attention, resulting in increased safety and fewer road accidents. A driver can immediately be notified through a solution like MiX Talk, a hands-free in-vehicle communication device that can be used to give real-time in-cab audio or verbal feedback to drivers when driving events occur.

MiX Hours of Service (HOS) is a driver fatigue management solution that facilitates the recording of driving and “not driving”

states, without any driver input. This data from the vehicle is then made available to managers via MiX’s secure software platform for alerting, viewing, and auditing driver hours and rest stops.

All these solutions are supported by the MiX Fleet Manager Premium online platform, comprising a sophisticated onboard computer which collects and transmits valuable vehicle and driver data. Driving events such as harsh braking, speeding, excessive idling, over-revving, harsh cornering, and an impact sensor –give insight into driver behaviour which can indicate symptoms of fatigue.

The MyMiX App focuses on driver management and app-based tracking. It offers numerous modules including a driver scoring module for driver behaviour modification and risk reduction. The app scores drivers in relation to colleagues and aggregates trip data so that drivers and operators can view violations which can often be impacted by factors such as fatigue. This empowers drivers to view their own driving score. This is also a great tool to use for an employee rewards program based on driving data, rewarding good behaviour, and providing coaching to correct poor behaviour.

The launch of the new MiX KPI Manager is built to leverage MiX’s powerful embedded fleet data. MiX KPI Manager provides self-service analytics that is fully customisable by customers - allowing them to visually track their performance on specific issues impacting their fleet’s risk, safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

These solutions are data-driven and connect vehicles/assets, protect the operator/

driver, and offer actionable insights for managers or owners.

Strategies to manage fatigue within the mining industry

Awareness, engagement, and driver training strategies are key to identifying how significantly certain elements (such as fatigue) can affect the business. The more educated drivers (and organisations as a whole) are on the effects of fatigue and aware of the management systems in place to combat fatigue, the easier it becomes to keep drivers engaged and invested in the tools available to empower them and the business.

The future of fatigue management within the mining industry

Safety and compliance issues require technological solutions for proper fatigue management. “Five years ago, fatigue management systems monitored fatigue by only monitoring yawning. Today, telematics technology and AI have evolved so that additional indicators of fatigue, including the frequency of yawning, heart rate, breathing rates, eye closure, the position of a driver’s head (when it is not facing forward), drooping eyelids, and microsleeps can be monitored and recorded, “Smith explains. “Using technology to facilitate the management of human assets has a trickling-down effect on the vehicle assets of a business,” concludes Smith.

Visit www.mixtelematics.com/za for more information.

See an increased 10:1 return on investment when you use the combination of AI dashcams with vehicle telematics benefits +15% -20% -96% -25% +25%

Fuel savings: Typical rands per litre improvement

Maintenance cost: Typical maintenance reduction

Accident reduction: Typical collision reduction

Insurance reduction: Typical insurance cost reduction

Productivity Improvement: Utilisation productivity cost improvement

Pipes and Pumps Solutions

“For know-how, ingenuity, advanced fabrication equipment and highly trained staff to help you master current and future challenges – on time, within budget and compliant with international industry standards, CHHPS are

Röhrenwerk Kupferdreh Carl Hamm GmbH (RKCH) is a 4th Generation family-run business – Carl Hamm PPS (CHPPS) in South Africa has been in existence since 2016, but its product has been used in Acid Mine Drainage in Southern Africa since 2009.

Carl Hamm PPS focuses on water abstraction, and well development with Blue Chip Supplier - Stuwa as well as open-pit and underground mining. ICHPPS is a competent partner in ensuring added value for specific customer needs - from conceptual planning to professional production and delivery.

CHPPS provides differentiated products, advisory expertise and best-ofbreed training to plan, install and assure the efficient running of client dewatering operations. It also offers competitively priced virtual project planning assistance - with everything from large bulk water

flow systems to closed, and even flooded mine dewatering. Its modern production equipment, vast knowledge of deep well and flooded mine dewatering applications, competent personnel, extensive training and advanced support technologies has positioned CHPPS time and again as the preferred piping partner for leading industries worldwide.

Top among CHPPS’s specialist services to the ever-growing market are dewatering and water abstraction from deep wells. Without a doubt, CHPPS has a vertical free-hanging flangeless high-pressure pipe system and expertise in dewatering flooded mines. The piping can also be used for batching of shotcrete and emulsions. CHPPS also has Turnkey Project Office Managers in full control and accountability for site safety files, offering a one-stop-shop and cost savings for specialist services such

as acid mine drainage, pumps, drilling and pipelines, well construction, borehole sinking and geotechnics divisions. Key among the benefits of this system is that it is free hanging, so it can be installed from the surface at reasonable lead times.

However, premature failure of systems can be encountered if proper quality systems are not adhered to and applied to every portion of the installation.

Advanced centrifugal pumps

Carl Hamm PPS continues to collaborate with top industry players like - Düchting Pumpen - specialists in the field of advanced centrifugal pumps for use in multiple applications such as in the desalination reverse osmosis industry, flue gas desulphurization industry, mining industry, and the chemical pigment industry – producing single-stage and multi-stage centrifugal pumps ideal for almost every application where the transportation of water plays a role – with Carl Hamm PPS serving as the local distributor.

The multistage centrifugal pump is in ring-section design. Its flanges are positioned at 90 degrees increments; and the shaft sealing is supported by a stuffing box or mechanical seal, with an axial thrust compensation driven by individually balanced impellers. Enticingly, its design is tailored for a 4-pole speed, with reduced life-cycle costs. It also hosts oil-lubricated bearings, with a closed impeller and threedimensionally curved blades with the option of having it fixed with the fitting key.

Available tailor-made solutions include: adaptable pump dimensions; single or double inlet suction casing; discharge flanges –available on intermediate stage castings; and

the partners to turn to.”

options to drive from one or both shaft ends.

The multistage centrifugal pump bears a pump size of DN 32 to DN 300 (1 14” to 12”); maximum pressure of 40 bar (580 SI); a maximum flow of 2500 m3/h (11000 gpm); a total head of up to 400 m (1300ft); and rotating speed of up to 3600 rpm. With its retrofit design, Düchting pumpen plugand-play solutions help clients to avert problematic or critical pumps in their plants.

Certain products in the Duchting range can be applied in handling contaminated, chemically neutral or aggressive liquids with up to 10% solids – including main water drainage in mining, mine weather cooling, pressure boosting systems in industrial processes, water supply and water treatment plants, condensate production, mineral industry, as well as oil and gas applications.

High-quality well-construction technology

Carl Hamm PPS also partners with Stüwa Brunnedfilter Bohrbedarf, a leading manufacturer of high-quality wellconstruction technology. With extensive experience and expertise in the production of well screens in PVC/steel and stainless steel as well as geothermal products and drilling accessories, Stüwa makes for an excellent industry partner - with Carl Hamm PPS serving as the distributor for their products.

These range in size, from DN 50 to DN 250, with lengths up to 6 m. They have wall thickness from 2.0 to 6.0 mm longitudinally and are seam-welded according to EN 10217-7 - with seamless options, available upon request.

They are built with stainless steel1.4301 or 1.4571 S235JR (ST37-2). The plastic-coated steel serves as a basic material (approved for drinking waterrecommendation concerning the levels of polymers in drinking water) as recommended by the German Federal Department of Health. The S235JR (ST37-2) galvanized steel serves as a basic material, only suitable to a limited extent for drinking properties and suitability stainless steel of various qualities depending on the groundwater condition and temperature.

Further to this, this material is characterised by good ductility. It has similar properties as 1.4404 but with guaranteed resistance to intergranular corrosion due to an increased titanium content.

The flexible hose riser is manufactured in the extrusion procedure. It consists of polyurethane (PU) and is provided with

a round woven polyester insert. In order to simplify the mounting of cables and immersion of electrode, a polyurethanereinforced belt has been vulcanized on the hose with loops.

Its benefits include the ability to use little space for storage and transport; plus quick assembly and disassembly, especially in the case of temporarily limited use Trinkwasserzulassung [German drinking water standards] according to KTW (plastics in contact with drinking water). The choice of connections largely depends on technical requirements and installation guidelines for construction sites.

Generally, it is resistant to a pH value up to approximately 4.5 in aggressive substances low in chloride. Its properties are similar to the 1.4301 but with lower carbon content, resulting in increased resistance to intergranular corrosion.

MULTISAFE® double hose-diaphragm pumps

FELUWA Pumps GmbH which only recently partnered with CHPPS – produce unique MULTISAFE® double hosediaphragm pumps which are perfect for handling aggressive and demanding media reliably and with little wear. The linear flow through the hose membrane and the valves ensures that the pumped medium does not come into contact with either the pump head or the hydraulic chamber.

It is a hermetically sealed, leakproof, reciprocating displacement pump that is aptly named a hose-diaphragm piston pump. It is characterised by an extraordinarily high technical and economic value.

With the FELUWA hose diaphragm piston pump, the commonly utilised principle of a flat diaphragm has been extended by the additional provision of a flexible hose-diaphragm. This allows the conveyed fluid to stay in direct contact with the inside of the hose-diaphragm and check valves only. The wet end and drive end of the pump are separated by a flat diaphragm and a hose diaphragm. The second actuation fluid between the flat and hose-diaphragm serves as a hydraulic coupling and safety aid for leak detection - with automatic control and compensation of the actuation fluid volume without an additional oil pump and control unit.

Even in the event of a hose-diaphragm failure, the secondary diaphragm ensures that the slurry will not enter the hydraulic drive end, so that operation can be maintained.

Mines normally service in-house. Unfortunately, this proves to be very costly and a liability, as it is not their core business. To help mining companies free up their resources for better use elsewhere, Carl Hamm is building a small service centre at its new premises to service its HPX pumps range when required by the client. The centre will be fully equipped with all the correct tools and personnel with specialised know-how to ensure that services are done in full and to the highest standard.

If you are looking for reliable equipment with minimal downtime, consider Carl Hamm PPS. While Carl Hamm generally exceeds customer expectations, it is cognisant of the fact that the needs of mining companies are constantly changing. And so, as a forward-thinking entity, Carl Hamm constantly adds new products or services to its range to address those needs.

Application of High Intensity Magnetic Separators in the Mining Sector

Magnetic Separation is a method of waste management where magnets are used to separate metal from refuse. This is most common in single and mixed streams of recycling as the materials are collected together and separated before processing.

Magnetic separation of mineral deposits is based on a three-way competition between magnetic forces, other external forces such as gravitational or inertial forces, and interparticle attractive and repulsive forces. The combination of these forces determines the outcome of any given magnetic separation and is much affected by the nature of the feed such as size distribution, magnetic susceptibility and other physical and chemical characteristics.

There are 3 basic types of magnetism, which are utilised in industrial magnetic separation technology, they include: Paramagnetic which involve minerals that are only slightly affected by an applied magnetic field; they move towards concentration in lines of magnetic flux (e.g. hematite,

ilmenite, and chromite), Ferromagnetism which involve minerals capable of achieving a high degree of magnetic alignment (e.g. magnetite); and a mineral (e.g. silica) that is very weakly repelled by the pole of a strong magnet; when a magnetic field is applied, a diamagnetic mineral will develop a magnetic moment through induction but in the opposite direction and is therefore repelled.

These principles are used in the design and application of 3 types of magnetic separator used for the dry processing of mineral deposits.

Permanent High Intensity Magnetic Roll Separator

High separation efficiencies are generated by the design of the magnetic roll assembly utilising high grade neodymium magnets and the optimum pole spacing to generate high magnetic field strengths and magnetic field gradients to maximise the magnetic force exerted on a paramagnetic particle as it passes over the roll.

As non-magnetic material is discharged forward of the roll in the natural trajectory, any magnetic particles present are influenced by the magnetic force generated by the roll and are discharged down a rear chute as the belt leaves the magnetic field on the underside of the roll. Separation trajectories are set by adjusting the conveyor speed using the inverter control setting on the control panel and adjusting the splitter chutes.

Magnetic rolls are available in 75mm, 150mm and 200mm diameters, up to a width of 1 metre. Multiple configurations of rolls are offered giving the non-magnetic fraction a further pass for improved product purity. The unit can process a wide size range of material ranging from 75 microns up to 15mm. Although, as with all physical separation processes, the narrower the size range the more efficient the separation will be.

Typical Applications include the removal of iron mineral contamination from silica sands, feldspar and other industrial

minerals. Processing of granulated slag, ilmenite upgrading, beach sand processing, and recycling applications such as crushed glass. Typical capacities range from 2-4 tph depending on the specific application.

Induced Roll Separator (IRS)

Induced Roll Separator is used for the continuous extraction of small paramagnetic particles from material to produce mineral purification for a wide range of mineral and ceramic processing industries.

A splitter plate is interposed between the two product streams. The machine can also be set up to give a middlings stream by the addition of a second splitter plate. Two rolls can be mounted in series on the same unit to give a double pass machine for improved efficiency and process performance.

The roll also tends to generate very little static charge on the surface which means that there is minimal carryover of fine particles into the magnetics fraction; giving good grades and recoveries of valuable mineral.

Disc Magnetic Separator

The Disc Separator has a very lengthy history, with its original designs dating back to the early 1900s. Although manufacturing techniques have significantly changed and more advanced machines have now been incorporated, the basic design still remains virtually the same.

Typically, a Disc Separator will feature up to three high-intensity electromagnetic

discs, each set at a different height from a feed conveyor. The first disc will be set the furthest from the feed material, in order to extract only the most magnetically susceptible particles. The second and third discs are set at lower gaps, increasing the magnetic force at each disc and therefore separating different grades of magnetic material. Magnetic intensity can also be further adjusted by varying the current of each coil to suit each client’s specific mineral separation requirements.

Feed material is discharged from a hopper onto a vibratory feeder tray. A mono layer of material is continuously fed between the rotating high-intensity magnetic discs, where

magnetic particles are attracted to the highgradient zones on the discs. These captured particles are then carried by the rotating discs to the discharge chutes where they are released. Scrapers that are mounted on each of the chutes ensure the total discharge of the extracted magnetic particles. Any feed material that is non-magnetic will pass under each of the three discs and discharge at the end of the conveyor

Typical applications for the disc magnetic separator include the removal of weakly magnetic minerals from high quality quartz sand, processing of ilmenite beach sands, monazite/zircon separation, garnet concentration and wolframite/ cassiterite separation.

A large number of these units are operating on columbite/ tantalite processing plants on the African continent.

Key process advantages of these units include a high magnetic field strength and gradient with variable magnetic field control at each the edge of disc (giving 6 different magnetic fractions). This gives highly selective mineral separations. It also offers flexible processing for complex mineral mixtures (e.g. rutile, zircon ilmenite, monazite, garnet, silica).

The unit has also variable disc rotation speed and belt speed optimum separation efficiency.

Multidisciplinary Approach to Water Usage Efficiency in Mines

on, maximising re-use and recycle and extending the lifecycle of mine water. These solutions require environmental planning.

Water makes up a small but vital part of a mine’s operations. Adding more water helps create substantially more lucrative output than the additional water’s cost. According to Chetan Mistry, Strategy and Marketing Manager at Xylem Africa, water is ever present in mines. Mines are either removing water or using water to manage the site such as reduce dust, combat fires or move slurry or tailings.

Water consumption and planning don’t command as much attention as other parts of a mine’s complicated operations. However, this scenario is fast changing, strained resources are making it harder for mines to secure more water sources. With water being a scarce commodity all industries especially the mining sector must look at how to conserve and optimally use this resource.

It is thus essential to improve the current level of water use efficiency and to implement Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WC/WDM) measures as a vital aspect of norms and codes of good practice in water management by all sectors.’

Several initiatives, driven mostly by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), such as the raw water savings targets, have been designed to focus on understanding the fundamentals of water. For instance, what makes clean water, what is dirty water, and where the water usage is highest. At the core of these

is the need to have a proper inside-out monitoring programme in place. This must be capable of drawing data and highlighting the engineering of the right solutions to accomplish these goals. Solutions such as the building of new pumps and dams or improving targeted water treatment for reuse in the optimal application.

Furthermore, much of the process of effective water stewardship links to the lifecycle of water within the mine. The development of any mine is dependent on having access to water resources. Part of this is permitting extraction and discharges from the facility into the surrounding environment.

Water Recycling and Re-use

Of course, water has an intrinsic value to it, and every person has the right to access clean water as well. This is where catchment studies come into play, by looking at the broader picture of society, water needs, and water access. Innovative solutions around water stewardship therefore must focus

Other innovative solutions include building treatment plants. Key plant processes within the water and wastewater operations can now be digitised, which can generate 20-40% in cost savings. This is good news, especially for an industry under pressure to both lower operating expenditure (OpEx) and manage an aging workforce. Unfortunately, active treatment plans are expensive and energy intensive, giving rise to other concerns. This has seen preference given to passive and semipassive treatments, as these reduce the load discharged into the rivers. Passive and semi-passive treatments are defined as treatments that use no or few chemicals and mechanical equipment, making the process more economical and less environmentally harmful.

The use of passive or semi passive treatments, particularly for mine closing, fits well with the lifecycle of mine water approach to water stewardship as it allows water to become a functional resource in another sector.

The benefits of becoming water stewards include greater operational sustainability and efficiency, and better relationships with communities and governments. They become more attractive to investors who link water stewardship with future-minded mining operations.

By leveraging AI, mines can reuse water intelligently for specific processes such as minimising water intake, tailing storage, and effluent discharge volumes; thus hugely reducing overall consumption. Improvements in using water to transport waste, extracting water from tailings ponds, and capturing water at seepage spots, also deliver significant savings.

By using modern modular water treatment systems, mines can recycle and reintroduce clean water for various objectives. Recycled water can support on-site personnel, supply local communities, be safely reintroduced into the environment, or store for later use.

Many of these interventions are not new. But modern improvements in engineering, materials and technologies provide mines with more choice.

Hon. Gwede Mantashe Minister of Mineral Resources & Energy Republic of South Africa

Duncan Wanblad Chief Executive Anglo American Group Mark Bristow CEO Barrick Gold

Hon. Lefoko Maxwell Moagi Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Tech & Energy Security Republic of Botswana

Andre de Ruyter CEO Eskom

Benedikt Sobotka CEO ERG Resources

Hon. Paul Chanda C. Kabuswe, MP Minister of Mines & Minerals Development Republic of Zambia

Sinead Kaufman Chief Executive – Minerals Rio Tinto Rohitesh Dhawan CEO ICMM

Hon. Dr Abdirizak Omar Mohamed Minister of Petroleum & Mining Somalia

Tom Palmer President & CEO Newmont Corporation Roger Baxter CEO Minerals Council South Africa