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

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 editor accepts letters and manuscripts for publication from readers all over the world. Include your name and address as a sign of good faith although you may request your name to be withheld from publication. We reserve the right to edit any material submitted.

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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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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.