First Mining Drc-Zambia Jan/Feb 2019 by Mailing Times Media

IN THIS ISSUE

EVENT

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IN THIS ISSUE

CONTENTS NEWS

EVENTS

FEATURES

Konkola Copper Mines stops operations in Zambia

Local Mining LED Lighting Manufacturer

CRUSHING BASALT IN DJIBOUTI WITH MB

Africa Mining Indaba 2019 at 25

1115

ISÂ³ - Industry Software, Solutions and Support

Multotec spirals help upgrade Africa copper concentrates

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Editor Bertha M. editor@fmdrc-zambia.com

Happy New 2019! 2019 brings a new dawn in the mining industry

Contributing Writer Oscar Nkala Mfuneko Jack Lindani Mkhize Caroline Thomas

there is no doubt that this year will see a somewhat staggering

Sales and Marketing Victor Ndlovu victorn@fmdrc-zambia.com +27 11 044 8986 Isabel Isiziwe isabelsiziwe@gmail.com zambia@fmdrc-zambi.com +260 96 187 4888 Victor Ndlovu victorn@fmdrc-zambia.com Cleopas M. cleopasm@fmdrc-zambia.com Mandla M. mandlam@fmdrc-zambia Kholwani Dube kholwani@fmdrc-zambia.com

with big expectations across the mining sector. From the promise carried by the copper belt to new projects across Africa, growth in mining revenues. That being said, this issue’s spotlight shines brightly at the African Mining Indaba. The international conference is celebrating their silver anniversary since its inception. This year’s conference will be held in Cape Town from the 4-7th of next month. It will be centered on investing in Africa’s mining industry. In September last year, Guinea was appointed host of the headquarters of the African Minerals Development Center. Look out for a feature detailing what exactly this appointment will mean for Guinea, not just as a country, but also industry headquarters. Another noteworthy feature is how Zambian Copper Mines are embracing CYBERMINE Simulator Technology. Keep an eye out for the local and international news as well, not forgetting some of the new machinery launched in the industry. Let’s fold our sleeves and start mining revenue this 2019!

Graphic Design and Layout Irene Faith Omudho Art Director Augustine Ombwa Arobia Creative Consultancy austin@arobia.co.ke Published By Mailing Times Media sales@fmdrc-zambia.com www.fmdrc-zambia.com Circulation/Sales info@fmdrc-zambia.com +27 11 044 8986 sales@fmdrc-zambia.com +27 11 044 8986

Nita Karume

www.fmdrc-zambia.com Mailing Times Media (Pty) Ltd makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of its publications, but no warranty is made as to such accuracy and no responsibility will be borne by the publisher for the consequences of actions based on information so published. Further, opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by Mailing Times Media (Pty) Ltd

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NEWS

Konkola Copper Mines stops operations in Zambia’s Nchanga mine

onkola Copper Mines (KCM), a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources, has stopped operations at its Nchanga mine in Zambia due to import duties on copper concentrates. Informing its employees, KCM stopped operations from 4 January due to a drop in the availability of acid. The imported concentrates are required for smelter and blending operations. According to the company, market access to the concentrates has become limited with the introduction of an import duty on them, reported Reuters. In September 2018, Zambia, which is struggling with mounting debt, included in its annual budget a plan to increase mineral royalty rates by 1.5% from the beginning of 2019.

The budget also featured a fourth tier rate at 10% if the copper price touches more than $7,500 per tonne, and made minerals royalties nondeductible for tax purposes. It also plans to replace value-added tax with sales tax by April. The company was quoted stating: “The introduction of 5% import duty on concentrates has made the smelting of imported concentrates commercially unviable.” In December 2018, the country’s Chamber of Mines stated that mining firms may make over 21,000 workers redundant in response to higher taxation.

would undermine their profits, despite the industry’s continued objections to the new tax framework. Citing Chanda’s comments, Reuters reported that the mining ministry had asked companies to indicate how the new taxes would impact their production and profitability by end of last week, but none had so far indicated any. Chanda told the news agency: “Two mining companies have written to us asking us to give them more time but we haven’t heard anything from the others.” Zambia is a leading copper producer in Africa

Zambian permanent secretary for mines Paul Chanda said that the company’s mining firms have been unable to justify how higher taxation

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NEWS

Ghananian President to discuss plans on small-scale mining As the second largest producer of gold in Africa, this news will no doubt bring lucrative opportunities for mining companies and investors alike.

is Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo will take to the stage at the Mining Indaba to discuss his plans to open up smallscale mining in Ghana. The 2019 Investing in African Mining Indaba, which will be taking over the Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa, from 4 to 7 February 2019. Delegates will be provided with an opportunity to hear about the future of Mining in Ghana and the intention of President Akufo-Addo to ensure that the government is fully committed to promoting the expansion of local and international value chains that would benefit small producers and entrepreneurs from Ghana and the rest of the African continent. Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, Lands and Natural Resources Minister, in Ghana announce that the mining sub-sector presents an extraordinary opportunity for Ghana’s rapid transformation because of the significant contribution to Government’s revenue, as well as the potential for the development of linkage opportunities including value addition to minerals being exploited. In 2017, the mining subsector contributed GH¢ 2.2 billion to Government revenue, representing 16.3 per cent of total domestic tax revenue collected by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

According to director of content Harry Chapman, attendees can expect more interactive discussions, interviews and Q&A with the world’s best known mining experts. Another highlight on the agenda is the Sustainable Development Day used to discuss the role of diversity, inclusion and local communities in the mining sector and discover the newest sustainability-driven innovations. There will also be a focus on Mining 2050 and how big data, automation, artificial intelligence and digitalisation can increase efficiency and visibility.

“The show will be packed with networking opportunities matched by an agenda that features heads of states, mining ministers and the most influential people in African mining. “No other mining event provides this level of expertise and access to the entire value chain,” says Chapman. He adds that the show is also dedicated to supporting education, career development, sustainable development, and other important causes in Africa. WHATS NEW IN 2019 • Enhanced business matchmaking portal with easy filtering and search functions provide you with targeted matches so you can spend more time having focused conversations • Investment Pavilion combines the VIP Investor Lounge and Junior Mining Showcase to provide even easier interaction and deal-making between investors and junior miners

During this year’s extended Mining 2050 programme, attendees can discover the best technologies available in order to visualise how they can be implemented into production processes.

• A whole day dedicated to battery metals. Is this an area you can grow your revenue? Hear from the countries holding the resources, the battery manufacturers buying them and risks to future growth due to changing battery technology

Chapman comments that the digital revolution may have hit the mining industry slower than others but now it’s certainly well on its transformation journey. The industry is embracing the move to a digital world.

• An increased focus on Resource Nationalism. Develop strategies on how to restore stability and protect your investment when there’s political and economic upheaval

In addition the agenda will also include the opportunity to meet with young talent eager to start a career in mining. Mining executives are more eager than ever to meet and attract young talent to their companies. The Young Leaders programme is a platform that connects the two. It’s an opportunities for students and young people interested in a career in mining to meet with and learn from some of the top executives at the world’s most successful mining companies.

• Women in mining – Mining Indaba pledge to increase diversity starts with more women on this year’s agenda In 2018, the African Mining Indaba played a key role as a deal-making forum, with a 15% increase in overall attendance and 47% more mining executives

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NEWS

KATANGA MINING ANNOUNCES APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT TO SETTLE ONTARIO SECURITIES COMMISSION MATTERS

atanga Mining Limited announced that the Ontario Securities Commission (the “Commission”) has approved a global settlement agreement between Staff of the Commission and the Company, certain of its former directors and officers and its Chief Executive Officer relating to the previously disclosed investigation by Staff into certain of the Company’s historical disclosures. In the settlement, the Company agrees that it (i) misstated its financial position and the results of its operations; (ii) failed to maintain adequate disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting; and (iii) failed to disclose material weaknesses in its internal controls. The settlement agreement also states that certain of its former directors and officers and its Chief Executive Officer authorized, permitted or acquiesced in such non-compliance with Ontario securities laws by Katanga and acted in a manner contrary to the public interest in their roles as directors and officers of Katanga. Separately, the Company (and not its directors and officers) agrees in the settlement agreement that the Company failed to adequately describe the heightened risks associated with: (i) its operating environment, specifically the elevated risk of public sector corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and (ii) its reliance on individuals and entities associated with Dan Gertler, including the risk that a cessation or deterioration in Katanga’s business relationships with such individuals and entities could have an adverse impact on Katanga’s business. Under the terms of the settlement,

Katanga will make a voluntary payment in the amount of C$28,500,000 and reimburse Commission costs in the amount of C$1,500,000 and submit to a review by an independent consultant of its metal accounting with respect to reporting of production and its financial accounting with respect to the integration of production statistics. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Johnny Blizzard, who has served in such role since February 2015, will resign as a director and officer of the Company, subject to a short transition period until his replacement is appointed. Full details of the settlement, including the settlement agreement, will be available on the OSC website: www.osc.gov.on.ca. Following the completion of the Company’s previously announced internal review by its independent directors and resulting restatement of its financial statements in November 2017, the board of directors and management of the Company have been working diligently to implement and test remediation measures to strengthen the Company’s corporate governance, compliance and control processes. Following the internal review, the composition of its Board of Directors was changed to include three new directors, including two directors with significant finance and 2. Accounting expertise. In addition, as previously disclosed in the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis for the third quarter of 2018, the Company has restructured certain of its corporate governance reporting structures to reflect recommendations made by the advisors to the independent directors in connection with the review; implemented a new metal accounting system; conducted an

independent review of the control environment relating to the newly implemented metal accounting system; enhanced training for management and directors, including securities and corporate law training for new directors and management and ongoing periodic training for all directors and senior management; and completed an assessment of significant accounts and business processes to identify associated risks and related controls. The Company also intends to enter into a management agreement in early 2019 with its majority shareholder, Glencore International AG. Katanga believes that the management agreement will allow operations to be managed more effectively and enhance the implementation of appropriate governance and controls. Hugh Stoyell, Chairman of the Board of Directors, stated “This settlement enables the Company to continue to move forward with improved governance, compliance and control procedures and to focus on the completion of operational enhancements to its 75% owned copper and cobalt mine in the DRC with enhanced value for all our stakeholders. The Company takes full responsibility for failing to meet its disclosure obligations and to maintain effective internal controls as described in the settlement agreement. We believe the actions taken by Katanga’s board of directors and management since the conclusion of the Company’s internal review and restatement of certain financial statements in November 2017 have helped strengthen the Company.” Katanga will not be making any further statements on this matter. All dollar amounts referred to in this press release are in Canadian dollars. www.fmdrc-Zambia.com

NEWS

Kwatani registers global mining demand for vibrating equipment

watani’s vibrating screens and feeders are continuing to find a market in the mining industry, with a number of orders recently secured from diamond, coal, zinc and platinum operations. The company’s custom engineered products are now in some of the world’s largest mines, and many customers have standardised on their screens to ensure lowest cost of ownership and high performance, according to General Manager, Sales and Service, Jan Schoepflin. “While our base and core market are in Africa, the global demand for Kwatani products has grown rapidly. A leading diamond mining company in Russia is very pleased with Kwatani screens at their newest operation and specified Kwatani for future projects,” Schoepflin says. In another order from a large diamond operation, this time in South Africa, the customer replaced the last of its competitor screens with a Kwatani unit. Schoepflin says this is because it has enjoyed years without unplanned stoppages by

using Kwatani screens. At a local brownfield diamond expansion project, the company’s multi-slope banana screens were matched to the available plant footprint, raising throughput from 250 t/h to 500 t/h and, later, breaking the mine’s tonnage record. “While screening in heavy minerals is Kwatani’s stronghold, the company has moved extensively into coal, supplying the country’s (South Africa’s) leading coal producer with no fewer than 45 items of large screening equipment, including out-sized 4.3-m-wide units,” the company said. Other recent coal-related orders included run-of-mine screens for a medium-sized coal mine in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Again, competitor equipment was replaced by custom designed screens with optimised deck angles, which significantly increased tonnage, according to the company. “The positive results achieved with the Kwatani equipment also led to additional orders for the mine’s expansion,” Kwatani said.

For world largest zinc mine, Kwatani was contracted to supply all the screens, while, at Africa’s largest iron ore mine, the company recently completed two projects, renewing existing equipment with updated solutions and replacing 24 items of competitor equipment. “The platinum sector is also keeping Kwatani busy, not just in South Africa but over the border in Zimbabwe too,” Kwatani says. A recent turnkey solution focused on platinum by-product chromite, where the company supplied a complete solution which included feeder, dryer and screen to treat chromite of 45 micron size at 15 t/h. Schoepflin said: “Our screens have been a popular choice for modular gold plants going to West Africa as well as Central and South America. We also supplied to two of Africa’s largest copper producers in Zambia, to a tanzanite producer in Tanzania, and repeat orders to a manganese mine in Ghana.”

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NEWS

Local Politician Peter Sinkamba blames Zambiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water woes to poor management

reen Party President and local politician Peter Sinkamba has attributed Zambiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water woes to poor management. According to him, the provision of poor quality of water by water utilities countrywide is as a result of poor regulatory and institutional framework. Mr. Sinkamba has also called out the government for failing to enact drinking water quality guidelines and standards. Reacting to recent reports of poor water quality supplied by water utility companies in Lusaka, Copperbelt and Midlands, Mr. Sinkamba complained about continued absence of drinking water quality guidelines and standards in Zambia. This, he said, is to be blamed for the recent endemic cases of water borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery in the country. Mr. Sinkamba said that at the

moment, there are two pieces of legislation which were enacted in the 1990s but neither addresses drinking water quality guidelines and standards as well as sanitation. The Waste Water Regulations of 1994 are enforced through ZEMA. The focus for these regulations is to control pollution of surface and groundwater systems. As such, ZEMA provides permits for discharge of effluents and wastewater in accordance with these regulations. However, Mr. Sinkamba was quick to assert that these are not drinking water quality standards but pollution standards. On the other hand, the Water Supply and Sanitation Act of 1997 which establishes NWASCO. Mr. Sinkamba points out that although the Act empowers NWASCO to establish and enforce water supply and sanitation services, the institution has failed to do so in the last 10 years or so.

And Mr. Sinkamba says the current institutional and legal framework for provision of water and sanitation services in Zambia is archaic and requires a complete overhaul to safeguard lives of the people. As a solution, the green party president asserts that the Government needs to overhaul the current institutional and regulatory framework for water supply and sanitations. This move, he says, will go a long way towards sanitizing the entire system. He further added that bodies such as NWASCO, ZEMA, and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission should all be overhauled. This, he explained, will help protect consumers against unhealthy and unfair trade practices in the provision of water and sanitation services.

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NEWS

Vector takes major interest in DRC gold project

old developer, Vector Resources is hoping to complete a definitive feasibility study (DFS) on the Adidi Kanga gold project in the Democratic Republic of Congo during this year, after settling the acquisition of a 60% interest in the project. The ASX-listed Vector in July last year struck a deal with Mongbwula Goldfields Investments to acquire the majority share in the project in exchange for a number of milestone payments. The company said that the first tranche payment was now proceeding, consisting of $5-million in cash and a further $5-million in Vector shares, priced at 2.2c a share. The share issue will be subject to ASX approval, as shareholder approval was granted more then three months ago. If the ASX does not approve the share issue, the company will be required to seek shareholder approval as soon as practical. A second tranche payment of a

further $5-million in cash and $5-million in either cash or Vector shares will also become due to Mongbwula on a positive decision to mine, while a third tranche payment of a further $5-million in cash and $5-million in either Vector shares or cash, will become payable on the start of commercial gold sales. Vector has previously secured debt of up to $35-million fromDubaibased FT General Trading to fund the acquisition, DFS and development associated with the Adidi-Kanga project. The first tranche cash payment will be made from this loan amount, with Vector also submitting a loan utilization request for a further $5-million from the available $10-million from the Tranche 2 funding. The Tranche 3 funding, consisting of a further $20-million, will become available on the completion of the DFS and a positive decision to mine. Vector CFO Andrew Steers said that the DFS would take some

nine months to complete, and will be based on an initial 80 000 t/m operation, as considered by previous owners AngloGold Ashanti. Between 2005 and 2013, AngloGold Ashanti spent some $520-million on exploration and development activities at Adidi-Kanga, completing a feasibility study and starting initial mine construction and activities, which included the purchase and installation of some 70% of the mechanical equipment proposed to be installed under the feasibility study. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of work has already been done by AngloGold Ashanti, especially on the processing side, so our focus for the DFS will be on the mining side of the operation, and optimising that,â&#x20AC;? Steers said. The Adidi-Kanga mine has a Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant resource of 15-million tonnes, grading 6.6 g/t goldfor 3.2-million ounces of gold

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NEWS

Zambia to construct second largest dam at an estimated US $12m Z

ambia is set to carry out the construction of what will be the second largest dam at an estimated US $12m. A group of six commercial farmers in Serenje District of Central Province have come together under the umbrella name Luombwa Irrigation Company to construct a dam in Muchinda Chiefdom. The dam will have a capacity of 83m cubic metres of water when filled to the brim and back flow of 6.1 km. The country has been wholly dependent on rain-fed agriculture for the past 54 year. Following

the unreliability of rainfall over the past few years, the provincial administration in Central Province has since decided to use other Godgiven natural resources such as rivers to drive the agricultural sector. According to Central Province Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kabwe, the provisional administration is in support of the second largest dam’s construction in order to grow the agricultural sector for the province. He further added that the government understands and values that with the increase in population

till 2025, around 40% of that number will reside in Africa. That being said, the demand for agricultural produce, in terms of food will be on the increase and as such the country will need to position itself as Central Province not only to feed its population but alsothe continent at large. Hence, the dam to be constructed will support irrigation and livestock as well as fish caging throughout the year. He stressed that the dam would create jobs for the local people also.

Vedanta lobbies for court case to be heard in Zambia

awyers for Vedanta Resources made an appeal to England’s Supreme Court that the case raised against them be heard in Zambia instead of London earlier on this week. India-listed Vedanta is appealing a lower court ruling that a case in which nearly 2,000 villagers alleged their land was polluted by a Vedanta unit could be heard in England. According to media reports, the two-day hearing will be watched by other multinational companies with a base in London and facing legal challenges about their operations abroad from local residents. Furthermore, according to court officials, England’s highest court is not expected to deliver a judgment for several weeks. Vendanta, which delisted from London last year still maintains a legal base in Britain. The lawyers argued that Zambia was the “natural forum” for the case. They also maintained that the parent company did not control operations in Zambia,

which were governed by Zambian law. Water pollution In 2017, London’s Court of Appeal had found that nearly 2,000 Zambian citizens from Zambia’s Copperbelt had the right to sue Vedanta in the English courts. Vedanta is challenging this. The villagers allege their land and livelihood have been destroyed by water pollution caused by the Nchanga Copper Mine, owned by Vedanta through its subsidiary Konkola Copper Mines.

in London. The case is in relation to oil spills in Nigeria’s Delta region. Outside the court, action group Foil Vedanta was among those protesting against what they allege is pollution by Vedanta. In an emailed statement, Foil Vedanta campaigner Samarendra Das said that while the financial and material gains from copper have been allowed to flow seamlessly out of the country, justice risks being restricted by economic and institutional barriers of territoriality.

On the other hand, London law firm Leigh Day has argued that the English courts were the only route for the villagers to achieve justice. In another case, Leigh Day is seeking the right to appeal to the Supreme Court after a lower court found Nigerians could not pursue a claim against Royal Dutch Shell

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EVENT

Mining Indaba to celebrate

Anniversary in 2019

25 T

he Investing in African Mining Indaba will be celebrating 25 years of its existence this year.

Mining Indaba provides the opportunity for key players in the resources sector, including investors, miners, service companies and governments to come together in one area and promote opportunities and learnings. Since its inception in 1994, Mining Indaba has grown from a small conference to one of the most highly anticipated events in the industry, welcoming mining professionals from all over the world each year. From connecting African mining companies with leading investors to providing a platform for important industry discussions, Mining Indaba has supported the long-term growth of mining across the continent. In 2018 a fresh revamp of branding

and direction brought the focus back to Mining Indaba’s role as a dealmaking forum, with a 15% increase in overall attendance and 47% more mining executives. New elements of the event such as the Junior Mining Showcase and redeveloped Sustainable Development day created platforms designed to explore unique aspects of the mining industry, which was well-received by attending delegates. Renewed positivity around commodity prices and the mining industry also added to an atmosphere of excitement at the event, which went on to win ‘Best large scale event’ at the 2018 Conference Awards this summer. The 25th anniversary in 2019 will build on the hype of last year’s success and is expected to feature a host of exciting initiatives to

celebrate 25 years of progress in African mining including a themed afterparty, historical timeline wall of past Indabas and a publicly nominated ‘Top 25 at 25’ competition to showcase the 25 most influential people in mining over the last 25 years. This year’s conference is expected to gather thousands of delegates representing nearly 2,100 international companies. They will interact with 400 sponsors and an anticipated 45 African and NonAfrican government delegations. The participants will represent nearly all the critical players in the African mining value chain. Investors, mining corporates, government ministers, international press, and other industry stakeholders should not miss this opportunity to network with the global mining industry.

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EVENT

INVESTING IN

AFRICAN MINING INDABA

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EVENT

Africa Mining Indaba 2019 at 25

TE Group plc, the owners of Mining Indaba recently attended the 25th world leading conference in the London Stock Exchange to open trading. The ceremony was attended by some of the firm’s partners. Africa Mining indaba is a fully focused investment conference that provides high quality content in a span of four days. It also provides a platform for deal-making as well as networking for the entire value chain and the most influential players in African mining.

CEO ITE Group Mark Shashoua further added that their vision is to create the world’s leading portfolio of content-driven, must-attend events. He also added that they hope to deliver an outstanding experience and return of investments to their customers. Mining Indaba boasts of bringing together well over 6000 delegates including mining company CEOs, international investors and over 34

government ministers as well as heads of state. It therefore comes as no surprise that it is recognized as the place to meet everybody who’s anybody in the African and global mining industry. This year’s Africa mining Indaba will take place from the 4-7th February in Cape Town South Africa. This year’s edition is also expected to be the largest on to date.

The Managing Director Alex Grose said that investing in the African Mining Indaba is being held at a pivotal moment for investing in South Africa. He further added that the recent mining charter and regulatory improvements made through President Ramaphosa’s investment policies are providing investors with greater certainty than in recent years.

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FEATURE NEWS

A look inside the African Minerals Development Centre In September 2018, Guinea was appointed as host of the headquarters of the African Minerals Development Centre by member states of the African Union, a body dedicated to harnessing the continent’s mineral wealth for the betterment of all African nations. What does the center hope to achieve, and why was Guinea chosen for the location?

n September 2018, Guinea was appointed as host of the headquarters of the African Minerals Development Centre by member states of the African Union, a body dedicated to harnessing the continent’s mineral wealth for the betterment of all African nations. What does the center hope to achieve, and why was Guinea chosen for the location? In 2009, the member states of the

African Union announced the African Mining Vision (AMV), a continental framework for the development of minerals. The AMV envisioned the “transparent, equitable and optimal exploitation of mineral resources [that could] underpin broad based sustainable growth and socioeconomic development”. In order to accelerate this vision, the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) was set up in 2018.

“In order to achieve the transformation envisaged in the AMV, Africa needs effective institutions and highly skilled people,” explained AMDC coordinator Kojo Busia. “There are significant skills gaps across Africa to be addressed, and much to do if African nations are to successfully transform existing institutions in order to meet present and future demands. “AMDC’s human and institutional

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capacities work stream plays a vital role, working with member states to help them identify and plan for these changing needs, and helping to improve regional integration. AMDC’s capacity building work reaches a wide range of stakeholders, including mining-affected local communities and civil society.” Africa has abundant natural resources, including the world’s largest reserves of platinum, gold, diamonds, chromite, manganese, phosphates and vanadium, and already employs millions of workers in more than 1,800 mining projects, as well as artisanal works. In the past however, it has struggled to fully benefit from this wealth. The AMDC announced in September that it has chosen Guinea as its headquarters, from which it will help nations to navigate the mining sector, ensuring maximum social benefits from mining operation. The AMDC: a project with a broad scope The AMDC is creating a human and institutional capacities work stream to strengthen the African minerals skills base to make it stronger, more

competitive and better aligned to AMV outcomes. “For this work stream, this means a value chain approach, designing innovative systems to build the human and institutional capabilities needed to drive industrialization,” the AMDC’s brochure. “It involves creating platforms for sectoral cluster development, and bringing together research, innovation, and skills to support and sustain greater local participation.” The AMDC hopes that by addressing the skills gaps in Africa and helping to improve institutional capacities it will be able to increase high-value employment opportunities across the continent. Much of this work is regional, taking into account the varied mining potentials and existing sectors to tailor its advice and educational schemes. This includes working with stakeholders to encourage skills transfer, mobility and vocational training. It aims to establish domestic resource mobilization schemes to ensure sustainable funding of skills development programmes.

“We’re excited about our targeted and comprehensive engagements at country-level, to help domesticate the AMV in member states, building on their priorities and interests,” Busia explained in a recent interview. The AMDC’s scope is broad, and includes environmental studies and programmes such as the Green Growth Initiative alongside its training focus. As part of this, it encourages the enhanced use of geological and geospatial information to help African nations make decisions on mining projects that takes into account the long-term effects. In doing so, those nations can ensure that sustainable mining operations are encouraged. Its initiatives stretch to improving women’s participation in the industry, and building capacity for better, fairer contracts. The AMDC has already created a capacity building programme on contract negotiations in five African countries: Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Malawi and Niger. It has partnered with a number of organizations, including the United

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FEATURE

Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Minerals and Energy for Development Alliance (formerly IM4DC) and the International Senior Lawyers Project. Guinea: a mining country on the up Of the five countries that bid to host the AMDC headquarters – Zambia, Kenya, Mali and Sudan and Guinea – Guinea has emerged successful. “There are encouraging signs of a growing mining industry in Guinea,” said the Royal Mint’s director of precious metals Chris Howard. “The impoverished country has huge potential to profit from its enormous mineral reserves, which have largely been left untapped and include large gold reserves. Currently, mining constitutes 15% of the country’s GDP. “In July this year, Guinea was appointed as host of the headquarters of the African Minerals Development Centre by member states of the African Union. This signals not only Guinea’s growing reputation in the mining industry throughout Africa but also the

country’s potential to profit from a booming mining industry.” The mining industry is critical to Guinea, accounting for 97.84 % of exports and 25.11% of national revenues. Already, it has more than $7bn in investments, predominantly from bauxite and gold projects. As a nation, Guinea possesses a host of natural resources. It has the largest known reserves of bauxite with an estimated 40 billion tonnes, and one of the largest untapped iron ore deposits. The country also has volumes of precious minerals, with over 700 tonnes of known gold reserves and 30 million carats of diamond reserves. Guinea also has a diversity of base metals, but few are developed. These include nickel, copper and cobalt, all of which have seen demand grow in recent years thanks to a boom in batteries.

been a number of reasons behind this struggle, including the Ebola outbreak, falling commodity prices and a legacy of corruption and poor governance creating an unstable policy environment, which has deterred investors. Things have been changing, however. In 2011, a new mining code was adopted and then revised in 2013, designed to optimize the benefits the minerals industry can provide for the Guinean people, as well as improve investor appeal. Moreover, after joining the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2007, the country became compliant with its standards in 2014, which promote the open and accountable management of extractive resources, according to the EITI’s website. These recent efforts to improve the sector made it an attractive choice for the AMDC headquarters.

Despite its wide ranging mineral resources however, Guinea hasn’t previously been a large player in the mining sector. There have

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• TEAR SHEET

FEATURE

AMSI

AFRICAN MINING SERVICES INC

FUEL MANAGEMENT IN REAL-TIME You’ll always know where your fuel is burning to deliver optimum ef�ciency. African Mining Services is a leading supplier of cutting edge fuel management hardware and software for some of the largest mining operations on the continent. Our latest generation solution is Jigsaw - a world-class cloudbased Fuel Management System that delivers real-time, reliable and accurate data which is further optimised by our onsite support team. A true real-time and robust web-based solution that is simple and intuitive to use. Adding value to impact pro�tability.

www.ams.sc • wdixon@ams.sc • Of�ce +260 96 9877303 (Zambia) PO Box 21378 • Anchris House • 2nd Floor • Room 77/78 • Kitwe • Zambia 17

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FEATURE

AUSSIES DO IT THEIR WAY

ustralia is a unique country. It is the driest continent and the most underpopulated on the planet. In spite of that our vast resources enables us even with a small population of only 25 million to build what amounts to be a very vibrant and innovative pump industry. Australian Pump Industries currently are enjoying their 25th Anniversary since the inception of the Company in Sydney in 1993 is proud of the innovative way they present products to the market. Aussie Pumps, as they are colloquially known in the industry, are the country’s leaders in the development of self-driving centrifugal pumps for a wide range of applications. The main focus in recent years has been the development of mine spec machines. Built for reliability and enhanced performance in some of the roughest conditions on earth, the range is designed to handle cowboy treatment on site. “Nobody ever heard the words “Go easy on that trash pump, Kevin” on a mine or construction site” said Aussie Pumps Chief Engineer John Hales. Seeing the way equipment is being treated on site led to the evolution of the Aussie mine boss range. The trash pumps are available in sizes from 2”, 3”, 4” and 6”. What Hales

realized early in the piece, on Australian sites nobody will pick up a trash pump and carry it. Site OH & S rules are stringently enforced. If a pump needs to be move an excavator will pick it up by the frame, take it to where it needs to go and drop it not too gently, into the new location. The result is conventional trash pumps designed in Europe or the States wind up looking like wrecks! Australian Pumps developed the Mine Boss range to satisfy the requirements for machines suitable for mining demanding applications. 2”, 3” and 4” pumps all offer front opening ports to enable the pump to be cleared without breaking pipework or dismantling hoses. The pumps come with a heavy duty high SG non clog open impeller and silicon carbide mechanical seals. The big advantage over conventional self-priming site pumps is the big front port that can open up the belly of the pump in a matter of seconds. That feature means that in the event of a “choke” the pump can be cleaned out quickly and efficiently without special tools and, most importantly, without disconnecting hoses or pipework. That is a huge advantage on a busy construction or mine site! The 2” to 4” pumps all come with super heavy duty 3/8 ml galvanised steel frame with integrated lifting bar. Fire extinguisher and battery isolation with E Stop are all standard equipment on the Mine Spec version. Trolley mounted configurations for the 4” pump are optional. That version also includes a bunded tray as part of the standard equipment. The Aussie product lines evolved over a period of a few years based on the experiences of the

booming Australian mining and construction industry. With $220B of resource exports every year and an infrastructure drive in the hundreds of billions of dollars, our country will depend on equipment that is designed for those “tough applications”. “Australian mines are the most efficient in the world” said Hales “They deserve products that work.” he said. When it comes to mining and infrastructure, a shortage of engineering experience in the market that hasn’t yet met the boom requirements, and the high costs of labour has led to a relentless drive for cost reduction. The pumps have to work even under the most adverse conditions. “The mining industry has been a big driver of our development programmes. We already offer the best portable lightweight fire pumps. It took our modification of that existing lightweight petrol engine machine into our diesel mine spec version to make them suitable for fire protection on mine sites” said Hales. The Company’s high pressure pumps include pumps in the 2” to 4” range with pressure as high as 130 psi. “These portable pumps are part of our “Quik Prime” program said Hales. We call them Quik Prime because they prime through vertical lifts down to 8.4 meters, but are built like tanks to survive the toughest conditions” he said Aussie Pumps are proud of the Mine Boss range. They claim “a product not duplicated in the USA or Europe and they are now proudly supply markets in Africa, South East Asia, Central Asia and South America” Further information is available from Australian Pump Industries or online at aussiepumps.com.au

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FEATURE

They create sustainable value for customers worldwide through dedicated service, and technology that is superior in energy efficiency and quality.

Local Mining LED Lighting Manufacturer

frison is a Pretoria based SouthAfrican manufacturer of LED lights. They focus mainly on the mining and municipal (high masts and street lighting) industries. They develop their own range and manufacture robust commercial, industrial and mining LED lighting products.

To be competitive and sustainable in global markets, a company’s products needs to be superior in quality, supplemented with a service that adapts to and enhance your customer’s requirements. According to Mr. Van Rooy van den Berg, Afrison managing director, this is exactly the Afrison way: “quality products complimented by service excellence”. Afrison in-house Research & Development Department develops robust products for extreme conditions. Almost all Afrison products are driverless utilizing CCR state-of-the-art technology. “These products are then handmade with care by our production plant in Centurion, Gauteng. All products are subject to frequent quality checks during the manufacturing process,

and is complete product tested for a minimum 24 hours on our test benches before receiving the final Afrison quality approval stamp”. Afrison prefers to manufacture LED lighting for the commercial and industrial/mining industries, but because of our in house development resources we are able to develop and manufacture almost any LED light on demand. Our standard range of lighting consists of a range of High Mast, High Bay, Street Light, Bulkhead & Bulkhead Retrofits, Flood Lights, Low Profiles (Tube Replacements) and Sport Stadium Lighting. According to Mr. Van den Berg Afrison has a definite focus on the broader African Mining markets for 2019 and beyond. “Afrison is in Africa, for Africa. We know the African environment and conditions, and are qualified, equipped and ready to supply & service our clients”. It continues to be major advantage if your supplier knows your challenges, and is available to service guarantees or supply required services.

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FEATURE

XRT sorting in mining application; paving the way forward in diamond alluvial mining

X-ray transmission (XRT) sorting has become the preferred recovery technology option in several parts of diamond-mining across Africa. This, according to research, is due to its high selectivity using atomic number as the main discriminating material property. This is also supported by major advances in the underlying enabling technologies. The latter is inclusive of increased computational speeds, improved algorithm design as well as advances in camera and X-ray source technology. Over the past decade, there have been major advancements in the alluvial diamond mining industry, with particular growth and development in X-Ray Transmission (XRT) technology. Unlike near-infrared (NIR) and X-ray luminescence (XRL), XRT is not dependent on a visible colour difference or clean, reflective particle surfaces. XRT has a significantly

higher detection rate for Type II diamonds compared to traditional XRL sorters that have an orderof-magnitude lower concentrate yield percentage. XRT technology provides a single-stage alternative to traditional recovery techniques used in the diamond mining industry. Imilingo Mineral Processing, who specialize in the integration of sensor-based sorting technology and dredging, has made massive inroads into Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alluvial diamond mining sector. Imilingo showcased their modular iPlant products as well as their iDredge and launched their latest innovation the iDredgeXRT, a world first in alluvial diamond mining at the show. According to media reports, the iDredge has been in operation since May 2018 and is currently producing great success and prospects for Africa Resources in the DRC. Meanwhile, the iDredgeXRT commissioned by Mon

the Real LDA in Angola is currently in the final design stages before fabrication which is expected to start early this year. In a press statement from Imilingo, the iDredgeXRT will consist of a dredge housing two TOMRAXRT sorting machines, a submersible pump with excavators, a clamshell, a sizing screen and two diesel-electric generators to power the system. The iDredgeXRT combines dredging with sensor-based sorting. This, according to MD Jack Prinsloo, will be instrumental in changing the alluvial mining game in Africa and will help unlock its diamond wealth. Imilingo designs and builds bespoke systems supporting XRT technology integration into mining operations such as the fully equipped iPlant, iSamplePlant and iDredgeXRT. The XRT sorting machine forms the www.fmdrc-Zambia.com

heart of their systems. Furthermore, Imilingo develops and builds all technologies supporting the sorting machine to ensure proper and efficient operation of the machines and maximal productivity and profitability of the mining operation. “Ultimately, results continually confirm the major advantages that XRT technology bring to a mining operation,” comments Prinsloo. Some of the projects undertaken thus far include the incorporation of an X-Ray transmission (XRT) circuit into the processing plant at Lucara Diamond Corp.’s Karowe diamond mine in Botswana and the design of an XRT diamond sorting machine and recovery area for Stornoway’s Renard diamond mine in Quebec, Canada. Mr. Prinsloo explains that the opportunity to combine various processing steps into one single step with the use of an XRT sorting machine in order to achieve a hand sortable product has revolutionized diamond processing efficiency. Advantages of XRT technology The benefits of using XRT technology are numerous, for one XRT technology has a smaller overall footprint and the technology delivers a significantly lower percentage yield than traditional dense media separation (DMS) plants, which allows for vastly reduced running costs

relating to consumables and utilities. “The fact that many process-steps in a typical diamond recovery flow sheet are replaced by one sorting machine results in much greater productivity by reducing the losses encountered with each additional step,” states Prinsloo. He adds that “process flows are simplified dramatically and XRT sorting has in many cases been responsible for transforming borderline viable projects into profitable ones. In a process like tungsten mining, for example, XRT technology sorts the waste material out earlier in the process, which results in the material being upgraded very efficiently. Thus, the grade of material fed to the wet circuit is much higher- which maximises cost efficiency during this expensive process.” Another advantage Prinsloo notes, is that “the process is digitised, resulting in a greater requirement for Electrical Controls and Instrumentation (EC&I) skills, which would previously have been done by mechanical resources operating a DMS etc.” During processing operations, XRT technology is also particularly effective in preventing the breakage of large diamonds by recovering the diamonds before they are crushed in a next process step. According to Prinsloo, there are various

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FEATURE

BECKER-ICAS-SURFACE-COLLISIONAVOIDANCE-SAFETY-SYSTEM

ecker Mining South Africa’s advanced safety device – the Intelligent Collision Avoidance System (ICAS) – provides situational awareness for operators to ensure optimum safety on construction sites, open-pit mines and for surface operations. This surface collision avoidance safety system also enhances productivity and operational continuity and reduces operating costs through the elimination or reduction of damage to assets. “ICAS is a critical safety system, which encompasses the latest

industrial technology, to provide reliable real time, 360° situation awareness for vehicle operators working in potentially dangerous and congested site applications, from coal pits to the ports,” says Andrew Trentelman, senior general manager: electronics, Becker Mining South Africa. “Blind spots, poor visibility and driver distraction are common causes for unwanted vehicle interactions on mine and construction sites, processing plants, rail and road networks and ports. By creating awareness and eliminating blind spots, these hazards are reduced, which means fewer collisions and a lower risk of injury.

Operators have improved reaction time to make decisions that will avoid near misses and collisions.” “This robust IP 67 marine grade device, which consists of three components – the display unit, GPS antenna and radio antenna – ensures equipped vehicles and fixed infrastructure are always visible and identifiable to operators, even in harsh, dusty environments.” Applications for ICAS include heavy vehicle (HV) to heavy vehicle, heavy vehicle to light vehicle (LV), medium vehicle (MV) to LV and HV, vehicle to personnel, fixed and mobile plant, advanced train and rail track worker

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warning and rail level crossing activation. The flexibility of the system enables configurable guard zones to suit each vehicle and specific site regulations and also facilitates accurate ranging with speed adaptive zoning. The 50 channel GPS receiver provides a high level of GPS coverage and reliable 3D positioning. If there is existing infrastructure, it can be incorporated into the ICAS system to increase system range, minimising the need for surface based repeaters. ICAS equipped vehicles and machines within the configured guard and alert zones (up to 2 km) are represented via an intuitive graphical HMI display. Once detected, the system uses a secure radio wireless network to activate surrounding ICAS systems. The presence of vehicles and obstacles, within critical guard zones, is automatically advised to operators via visual and audible alerts. ICAS can filter out non-priority targets and only displays the vehicles

and infrastructure that may be on a collision course, thus removing the risk, uncertainty and stress related to working and interacting with vehicles in highly dangerous, congested, low visibility and isolated environments. An ICAS portable worker unit has been designed for use by short term contractors or visitors to a plant. This system, with magnetic mounts, is quickly installed in a vehicle. The antennae can be positioned on the vehicle’s roof and power is obtained from the cigarette lighter output. The ICAS remote worker unit is used to quickly identify hazards or fixed plant issues, until a permanent solution is installed. This mobile unit, which is housed in a carry case, is usually battery powered, or supports 12/24 VDC input. This system contains all necessary ICAS components, including the display, GPS antenna and radio antenna. Although information is data logged by each machine, ICAS and data can also be retrieved remotely via the ICAS radio network. An optional

centralised PC based vehicle tracking and event reporting system is available with data collection via the peer to peer ICAS in vehicle radio systems. This fully scalable system, with plug and play connectivity, requires minimal downtime for installation in all vehicle types. Other design features include easy screen navigation, low power consumption, no licensing requirements and regular firmware upgrades. ICAS is also suitable for fixed plant, hazard awareness, data logging or access control at boom gates. Becker Mining South Africa’s collision avoidance safety systems have all been designed to facilitate future upgrades. These modular systems, which range from a simple, lowcost single technology device, to an integrated multi-technological system, encompass all aspects of the most advanced communications and technology.

UNDERGROUND

DEWATERING PUMPS

Helical Rotor Pumps

Heli-Flo™ APPLICATIONS • Highlift underground dewatering • Decline development pumping • Mobile contractor pumps • Permanent dewatering pumping stations

Call us today +61 2 6333 4500

www.truflopumps.com.au

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FEATURE

IS³ - Industry Software, Solutions and Support extends portfolio to AVEVA Engineering Software Solutions

S³ has recently signed an additional contract with AVEVA, which now extends its portfolio to include AVEVA’s Engineering Software. AVEVA’s Engineering Software, tools and solutions improves engineering efficiencies for any industrial process. The Engineering portfolio offers integrated Process Engineering and Simulation, Engineering Design, Project Execution Solutions and Operator Training. This will enable customers to reduce capital costs and overall risks, have an efficient and reliable engineering design software, improve operations and

project management, and rise above the challenges faced by today’s workforce to drive safety and profitability. IS³ is currently the only distributor in the world which offers the

complete AVEVA software portfolio to its customers, which includes; Asset Performance Management, Monitoring and Control, Engineering Software, Planning and Scheduling, and Operate and Optimize Solutions.

President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed to attend Mining Indaba’s 25th Anniversary

outh Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is confirmed to attend Investing in African Mining Indaba, the landmark event for the mining industry taking place every year in Cape Town. President Ramaphosa will be joined by the President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo and is set to bring his investment and reform agenda to the largest mining investment gathering occurring next week. President Ramaphosa, who became the leader of South Africa in February last year, is famous for being an anti-apartheid activist, trade union leader and successful businessman. Since coming to power, he has made a radical overhaul of South Africa’s economy a priority for his leadership, with a focus on growth, youth employment, land reform and tackling social inequality. To achieve this, he announced last year a drive to secure $100 billion of foreign investment for South

Africa and has conducted several successful trade missions.

diversity in mining and sustainable development.

As one of the driving forces behind South Africa’s historic economic development, the mining sector will inevitably play a large part in President Ramaphosa’s future plans. He is expected to address mining industry stakeholders from across the world at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and take part in Mining Indaba’s 25th anniversary, a special event which will celebrate twenty-five years of progress in African mining.

Harry Chapman, Director of Content, commented on the exciting news saying: “As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mining Indaba, we are very honoured to be joined by President Cyril Ramaphosa. We see ourselves as having an important role to play in the market and in helping drive investment into African mining, but also to champion sustainability and economic development. This ties into continental wide themes, particularly in South Africa with President Ramaphosa’s investment drive so we couldn’t be more excited to be welcoming him to Mining Indaba next week. This will be a fantastic opportunity for delegates to hear about the President’s plans for driving growth and investment in the mining sector in South Africa.

Following a dynamic rebrand in 2018 that took Mining Indaba back to its roots of being a dealfocused investment conference, the 2019 event is set to make an even bigger splash with two heads of state and thirty-five ministers confirmed to speak already, with more expected. Themes include resource nationalism, innovations in technology, battery metals,

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FEATURE

BMG’s extensive range of SAFi valves, strainers and flow control equipment, form an important part of BMG’s fluid technology components, designed to cope efficiently in arduous conditions, including the mining sector.

BMG’s SAFi thermoplastic lightweight valves ensure efficient performance and extended service life in mining

AFi valves, strainers and flow control equipment, form an important part of BMG’s extensive range of fluid technology components, and are designed to cope efficiently in arduous conditions, including the mining sector. “What’s distinctive about the SAFi range, is that all SAFi products are manufactured from the finest thermoplastic materials, combining quality, safety and product suitability, for specific applications,” says Willie Lamprecht, BMG’s national product manager, Industrial Valves. “Since BMG was appointed exclusive distributors by SAFi Thermoplastic Valve Solutions in sub-Saharan Africa a year ago, we have seen a growing demand for thermoplastic materials over conventional alloy metals. “Critical advantages of lightweight thermoplastic materials are

resistance to aggressive chemical products, corrosion and abrasion resistance and easy maintenance.”

offers long-term stability at temperatures from -20˚C to +120˚C.

BMG’s SAFi range incorporates ball, butterfly, diaphragm and check valves, as well as flow control equipment, strainers and accessories - all manufactured from noncorrosive thermoplastic materials. SAFI’s most used material - Glass Reinforced Polypropylene (GRPP) has excellent mechanical, chemical and UV resistance, good dimensional stability and can be easily machined and welded. This material can withstand operation in temperatures from -10˚C to +100˚C. Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) is a highly resistant thermoplastic, with a smooth surface, which prevents the development of micro-organisms. This material, with excellent UV, chemical and abrasive resistance,

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FEATURE

SAFi’s lightweight thermoplastic materials are integrated with a robust valve design for reliable performance, easy installation and low maintenance, reduced operational costs and extended service life

Polypropylene (PPH) materials have good chemical properties, in particular with salts, acids, alkalis and organic solvents. Other features include excellent mechanical and shock resistance and thermal stability from 0˚C to +90˚C. Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (C-PVC) and PPH thermoplastic with carbon fibres (PP-ATEX materials) are semi-conductive and compliant with ATEX specifications for safe use in hazardous environments and potentially explosive atmospheres. This is particularly important in the mining sector. The trend in the mining sector, to choose thermoplastic industrial valves over standard components, is evident in process applications that include heap and in-situ leaching (ISL), electrowinning, solvent extraction and acid plants. BMG specialists recommend SAFi thermoplastic ball valves for use

in on/off regulation applications in mining. These thermoplastic ball valves are maintenance-free and have the ability to close faster, also ensuring extended service life. SAFi DN400 butterfly valves, with LUG type flanges, are also well suited for the mining sector.

components for fluid technology systems and general industrial applications, includes valves, hydraulic hoses and fittings, accumulators, cylinders, heat exchangers, hydraulic motors and hydraulic plumbing, as well as pumps and reservoir accessories.

These robust valves are lightweight and have been designed for easy maintenance and reduced costs. The quality of the thermoplastic used makes this a premier valve, offering optimum performance and extended service life. Different sealing arrangements adds to the versatility of this range.

The company’s fluid technology services also cover project engineering and consulting, cylinder design and manufacture, training, repair and testing, as well as onsite container services. BMG also offers total process and lubrication management solutions throughout the African continent.

BMG’s extensive range of SAFi thermoplastic industrial valves is designed to handle corrosive and abrasive materials in demanding industries, including chemical and petrochemical plants, mining, water treatment, transport and logistics, marine, food production, energy and agriculture. BMG’s extensive range of

For further information Willie Lamprecht, National Product Manager, Industrial Valves, BMG Mobile: +27 72 326 4832 Tel: +27 11 620 1581 or +27 11 955 1119 Email: williaml@bmgworld.net www.fmdrc-Zambia.com

FEATURE

Crushing Basalt in

Djibouti with MB crushing equipments

jibouti is located at the junction of the three rifts – the East African, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea rifts. It plays a crucial junction role for import and export, representing a major gateway connection.

752km track linking Ethiopia’s capital with the Port of Djibouti.

This is one of the reasons that motivated the Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority to begin construction of a $3.5 billion dollar free trade zone, which extends over 4,800 hectares.

At the beginning Mr. Yangkai, the Chinese General Manager responsible for the DIFTZ project, was impressed by the power of MB Crushers, simply by watching it working. Quality and quantity of recycled material daily obtained by the MB Crusher BF120.4, was one of the main aspects that the Company took in consideration when decided to buy it.

The initiative is expected to create 200,000 new jobs, and cement Djibouti’s role as the strategic link between global maritime trade routes within the Belt and Road Initiative. The Djibouti International Free Trade Zone (DIFTZ) will transform trade in the region and provide a strategic base for global businesses to access the rapidly growing African market. Construction of DIFTZ began a week after the completion of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, a new

MB Crusher technology is playing a key role in the development of this crucial project.

Once Mr. Yangkai had the BF120.4 working at the Djibouti project, and verified first-hand the MB Crusher bucket performance and the benefits gained from it, he simply wouldn’t consider any other options.

construction purposes. By increasing the volume of material that Yangkai Company recycles directly on site, they have been able to produce the sub-base for the DIFTZ road connections. Reducing, at the same time, the amount of waste that could have ended up in landfill sites. The BF120.4 crusher bucket, suitable for operating machines over 30 tons, has been designed to satisfy specific requirements of crushing in quarries, landfills and for all operations regarding the recycling of aggregates. It is a versatile and powerful machine which established a strong presence in the sector of crushing in large-scale urban and road-construction sites.

The MB Crusher Bucket BF120.4, mounted on a Volvo EC3800L Excavator, will crush over 1 million of cubic meters of basalt for roads

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FEATURE

Multotec spirals help upgrade Africa copper concentrates

ultotec Process Equipment’s spiral technology has recently enjoyed success at copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the company says. The South Africa-based company says its equipment is upgrading product from 1-3% Cu run-of-mine to 20%-plus Cu concentrate. “These mines can achieve an upgraded product which can be sold as copper concentrate,” Graeme Smith, application engineer at Multotec Process Equipment, says. “Spirals can also be applied as a bulk reduction strategy to achieve a higher-grade material for more efficient leaching.” Smith says this is a fraction of the mining companies benefitting from such technology. “A number of customers mining minerals such as copper, lithium, tin and

tantalite are already benefiting from using spirals to upgrade the value of their concentrate, either replacing their conventional processing technique or augmenting it,” said Smith. He says spirals are proving their worth in helping producers become more efficient, potentially raising output levels while holding down the cost involved in downstream processing. “This upgrading of the value of mined material also contributes to lower transportation costs and higher revenues earned,” the company added. Working with tin producers in countries including Morocco, the DRC and Spain, Multotec spirals have been able to raise initial head grades of 1-3% Sn to levels of over 50% Sn in concentrate, according to the company. Treating tantalite from a tailings operation in the DRC, spiral technology has also performed massive bulk reduction

and upgrading, while shaking tables clean the final product. “This allows existing downstream processes to become more productive, and to ramp up production by maximizing recoveries and reducing rand per tonne costs,” Smith says. In test work in its extensive Spartan manufacturing and research facility near Johannesburg, Multotec has also succeeded in separating elements of lithium using spiral technology, aiming for 80% concentration of the element petalite, it says. Smith highlights the value of the company’s experience in modular plants, allowing spiral applications to be conveniently containerized for transport to and commissioning at remote sites. “Our mobile plants – capable of treating 20 t/h – can be moved in two standard containers – one of 12 m in length and the other of 6 m,” he says.

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FEATURE

Zambian Copper Mines Embrace CYBERMINE Simulator Technology

horoughTec Simulation, the world’s leading supplier of hi-fidelity, heavy equipment operator training simulators, is on a roll in Zambia, with a number of recent sales to surface and underground mines in the country. The South African company has a proud track record of simulating the most complex surface and underground mining equipment with their CYBERMINE high-fidelity training simulator systems, and now offers the widest range of operator training simulators in the world. An underground copper mine near Chambishi has purchased two CYBERMINE Full-Mission Simulator (FMS) Systems along with six interchangeable simulator cabs, representing their entire fleet of Sandvik underground mining equipment. “It’s great to see a mine investing in the training and development of their workforce,” says ThoroughTec CEO, Justin Collins. Models being simulated include the Sandvik TH430 underground truck, DD422i drill rig, LH514 LHD, DS411 rock support bolter and a DL430 longhole drill rig. “We’ve worked exceptionally hard to become

the world’s leading producer of mining equipment simulators,” says Regional Vice President of EMEA, Adam Smallman. “Factor in our attentiveness in supporting customers, willingness to develop customised solutions for them and exceptionally low through-life cost of ownership, and it’s easy to see why so many new clients, and more notably existing simulation users, are selecting and switching to ThoroughTec.” Elsewhere, a surface mine located in the country’s Copperbelt, has chosen ThoroughTec to supply them with two CYBERMINE FMS, along with five interchangeable simulator cabs. The mine operates Komatsu and Hitachi equipment and, “is looking to our products in order to boost the productivity and safety levels of their operators,’’ says Collins, who adds, “these latest generation simulators remain the cornerstone of ThoroughTec’s integrated training system. They allow for highly-realistic, ‘practical’ training in a safe, costeffective and controlled environment.” Models being produced for this project are earmarked for the training of operators of: Komatsu 785-7 haul

trucks, PC8000 excavators, Hitachi EH4500 and EH5000 haul trucks, and EX5500 excavators. Crowning their recent achievements in Zambia, the largest copper mine in Africa, located around 10km from the town of Solwezi, has just recently selected ThoroughTec to rejuvenate their simulator training centre, replacing their legacy, third-party systems with two latest generation CYBERMINE FMS Systems and three simulator cabs, representing the Hitachi EH3500 haul truck, Caterpillar 785-C haul truck and a Liebherr 9350 excavator. ‘’These sales show how more and more major mining clients are recognising our ability to provide ‘best-in-class’ solutions for all classes of machinery, across all OEMs, whether surface or underground,’’ notes Smallman. About ThoroughTec Simulation: The team at ThoroughTec Simulation has been designing simulator based training systems for over twentyfive years. During this time the company has grown into one of the world’s leading training simulation organisations, supplying the mining, construction and military sectors.

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FEATURE

Providing Operator Training Systems and Tactical Training Systems for a range of vehicles and applications, ThoroughTec is the de facto supplier of simulator systems to the South African Military as well as supplying a number of European militaries. This military engineering has been utilised in the development of CYBERMINE mining equipment simulator systems, elevating them above competitors through military grade quality, reliability and low cost of ownership. ThoroughTec’s range of CYBERMINE mining simulators is the broadest in the industry, encompassing all aspects of both surface and underground mining operations for hard and soft rock and capable of replicating a mine’s entire working fleet from load and haul through to the most complex production and ancillary equipment. CYBERMINE

mining simulator systems are designed and engineered to make mines safer, more productive and more cost effective.

platform will for the first time allow mine decision makers to scientifically analyse and continuously improve heavy equipment operator performance.

ThoroughTec’s R&D efforts have been focussed in recent years on providing complete heavy equipment workforce optimisation solutions.

ThoroughTec’s headquarters and R&D and production facility are in Durban, South Africa, with global sales and support subsidiary offices in Perth, Australia; Santiago, Chile; Toronto, Canada; Salt Lake City, USA; Shanghai, China, Moscow, Russia and Lusaka, Zambia.

They have added Operator Familiarisation Trainers and E-Learning to their CYBERMINE product range, complementing the CYBERMINE Full Mission Simulators and answering the call from the mining industry for optimised heavy equipment workforces who reduce costs per tonne and improve overall mine safety. This R&D push has recently resulted in the advanced new CYBERMINE Workforce Excellence (WX) platform. Pronounced “WeX”, this revolutionary

For further information, contact: Andre Mendes | General Manager: North America ThoroughTec Simulation Tel: +1 289-291-3955 andrem@thoroughtec.com www.thoroughtec.com

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FEATURE FEATURE NEWS

Mine air conditioning systems for underground mines

ith the increase of the coal mine exploitation depth and improvement in the coal mining mechanization, the coal mine of heat and mechanical processing equipment also significantly increased the amount of heat. Heat injury in hot and humid and other problems have become more and more prominent. Practice shows that refrigerant air conditioning systems operating in the coal mine the mine effectively reduce the use of the temperature of coal face, miners working environment has improved and made better cooling effect. One of the earliest methods of temperature control in underground mines was the importation of naturally produced ice from the surface. Air cooling techniques in mining gained further recognition in the 1930s. This is including their utilization in the gold mines of South Africa and in the Kolar Goldfields of India. Large centralized refrigeration plant, located underground, became popular in the South African gold mines in the 1960s. Moreover, factors such as limitations on the heat rejection capacity of return air, combined with the development of energy recovery devices for water pipelines in shafts and improved â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;coolthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; distribution systems have since led to a renewed preference for surface plant. Although the traditional role of mine cooling has been to combat geothermal heat and the effects of auto compression in deep metal mines, an additional influence has been the escalating amount of mechanized power employed underground. This is particularly the case in long wall coal mines. This has since resulted in smaller scale and more localized use of air cooling units in such mines at depths where, prior to intensive mechanization, heat had not been a limiting

environmental problem. Examples of these installations can be found in the United Kingdom and Germany. Wichary Technologies Some of the devices used in the air-conditioning systems for underground mines include but are not limited to; refrigerating units that produce ice water, air coolers that remove heat from heading and re-coolers that are designed to collect heat of condensation from the units. There are also electrical/ hydraulic or pneumatic fans for providing forced air circulation in the coolers. Other electrical devices used are power supply, control system, monitoring system, air quality control system. The complete set of these cooperating devices is referred to as the group or central air-conditioning system. Depending on the system configuration. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assumed that the cooling capacity of a complete air-conditioning system is from 1 to 5 MW for circuit or more. Wichary Technologies offer different devices for the air-conditioning systems in underground mines. Special features Low flow resistances allow to install air cooler with axial fan or directly into lute ventilation. 100% stainless steel heat exchangers are long life / resistance to underground environment. There is heat exchanger modular design in case of damage cooler can be used at incomplete power. Presence of an automatic selfcleaning spray system and control devices which guarantee long life with high power efficient. Originally patented chillers are also designed by company construction department.

are designed such that they are able to cooperate with dedicated air fans or be installed directly with air-duct fans. Each cooler is special reinforced housing so heat exchanger is high pressure proof. Their cooling capacity ranges are 200, 250, 300 and 400 kW. Re-coolers The re-coolers are designed for operation in the closed circuit of the cooling water of the refrigerating unit condenser. The coolers collect the heat of condensation and transfer it to the stream of used air from the mine. Their cooling capacity ranges between 450 and 650 kW (or batteries with cooling capacity of 900 kW or more). Coal face coolers These are compact heat exchangers that can be installed directly in the heading. The external diameter of the smallest cooler is only 250mm. Forced air circulation can be alternatively achieved by means of such devices as, for example: hydraulic fans or air movers. Their cooling capacity ranges are from 15, 25, 35, and 50 to 95 kW. Water chillers These are not only fitted with semihermetic screws, but are also hightechnology machines which have very little energy consumption. When compared to traditional devices, electrical power energy consumption is about half level. As such use of machines for a few years would save quite a lot of money. One major advantage of Wichary Technologies is the small sized devices. This makes for easy portability. Moreover, they also require less refrigerant and oil compared to the conventional machines. This thus makes them more ecologic and much less expensive to run. Their cooling capacity lies between 400 and 2400 kW. Read more on this article on www.fmdrc-zambia.com

Air coolers These are made of new materials and

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CASE STUDY

CUSTOMER CASE STUDY

Acacia Mining, Buzwagi Gold Mine BUZWAGI UNCOVERS A MINE OF INFORMATION WITH WONDERWARE IMPLEMENTATION

Acacia Mining, Buzwagi Gold Mine www.acaciamining.com

INDUSTRY Mining, Minerals and Metals

Goals

• Plant engineering staff struggled to add or remove view clients due to complicated script ﬁles • Staff were not able to maintain the historian or make changes to it themselves; no assistance was available • A lack of support programme left staff with a choice between no or costly technical support

• A new system was needed at the Buzwagi plant, to integrate with an existing solution at sister site, Bulyanhulu Gold Mine; this included integration with the PLC automation systems. • The solution had to be ﬂexible, as existing systems are continually updated and adapted to meet industry and user requirements. • Customisable, maintainable, accessible and uncomplicated reporting was a non-negotiable. • Scalability and adaptability with the ability to interface with ERP and MES systems in future was needed • The new SCADA IO servers would have to offer dual redundancy with automatic/manual fail over capabilities • Remote access to SCADA HMI screen and data

Challenges • The legacy SCADA system had been developed with independently customised reporting/ logging functions • Existing systems were developed using archaic technologies • Buzwagi and Bulyanhulu mines were using different systems • SCADA not user- or change-friendly • Lengthy update and deploy times resulted in poor eﬃciency across the plant

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Tel Tel Fax Email Web

0861 966 337 +27 (0)11 607 8100 +27 (0)11 607 8478 contact@is3.co.za www.is3.co.za

Solution • Wonderware InTouch and InTouch Access Anywhere • Wonderware Historian • Wonderware System Platform

Results • Bulyanhulu and Buzwagi Gold Mines have standardised on Wonderware System Platform • Improved eﬃciencies due to shorter change and deploy times • All technologies are off-the-shelf with no restricting customisations or scripts • Technical support available via the Customer First Support Program • Plant related data and operational statuses are now remotely accessible

1st ﬂoor, Block E, EOH Business Park 1 Osborne Lane, Bedfordview, 2008 South Africa

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CUSTOMER CASE STUDY ACACIA MINING, BUZWAGI GOLD MINE

The Story of Buzwagi Gold Mine’s success Kahama, Tanzania Situated in the Kahama district of the Shinyanga region in the United Republic of Tanzania, Buzwagi Gold Mine is one of three gold mines owned by Acacia Mining, the other two being Bulyanhulu and the North Mara Gold Mine. Buzwagi is the single largest open-pit mining operation in Tanzania. Since starting production in 2009, Buzwagi has produced over one million ounces of gold. The plant achieved this level of success because of its investment in people and the communities it serves, with a focus on sustainability. However, this openness of spirit was not translating to its legacy SCADA system, which was complicated, difficult to use, and implemented without a much needed support programme. “Our previous system had been developed with independently customised reporting and logging functions, using technology that did not conform to modern-day production plant expectations and requirements, and, perhaps most importantly, was not making use of the same technologies as our sister mine, Bulyanhulu,” said Arthur Mgongo, operations manager at Buzwagi Gold Mine. Challenges to be overcome Several areas of concern prompted Mgongo and his team to seek an alternative solution, and these were: • The legacy SCADA was not user-friendly and any updates took lengths of time to realise, with delays in deployment resulting in a defined loss of efficiency across the plant; • The system was overly complicated, for example adding or removing a view client could only be achieved if you had a thorough understanding of complicated script files, which is not a skill required from plant engineering staff and therefore, again, led to massive delays;

• These same staff members were not able to maintain the

historian or make changes to it themselves; and

• There was no effective support system in place, which left

plant staff with no or very costly technical support.

“Our wish list replacement solution had to be a 'hero among men' in so many ways,” he said. “We had to move over to the same technologies that were proving their mettle at our sister plant to enable mutual support from our service providers. The new setup would have to allow for easy customisation, as our systems are always being updated or customised to meet the constantly changing needs of a fast-paced industry. proposed solution would have to be able to integrate “ The with the existing PLC automation systems, without the

need for modiﬁcation of the PLC code or networks, and it would need to be sacalable – allowing for future growth, or even the potential to interface with ERP and MES systems, should the need arise in the future

”

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CASE STUDY

CUSTOMER CASE STUDY ACACIA MINING, BUZWAGI GOLD MINE

continuous operational improvement and real-time decision support,” said Mgongo. Very importantly, System Platform enables enterprise-wide standardisation and a single version of the truth by managing all operating data centrally. “We now have one common infrastructure that normalises and contextualises real-time process, alarms and events and historical archived data, which makes the design and maintenance more efficient, flexible and secure. “Also, all configuration, administration and deployment of system updates can be managed locally or remotely due to rapid change management technologies that will help us align with changing business or technology requirements, while the architectural flexibility inherent to the program means we can scale up or down without intense technical knowledge, as and when needed,” he added. Wonderware InTouch and InTouch Access Anywhere have played a large role in changing efficiency levels amongst Buzwagi plant staff. With intuitive, pre-built and customisable visualisation technologies, InTouch has increased efficiencies across the plant, with the Access Anywhere extension enabling this remotely as well.

“We demanded dual redundancy from the proposed SCADA IO Servers with automatic and manual fail over capabilities, and the new HMI screens and database would need to be remotely accessible.

“InTouch brought process graphics and ready-to-use symbol libraries to the plant, increasing our operator effectiveness with improved situational awareness. This, in turn, enables better decision making in real time, with secure access to the system from any device, anywhere,” Mgongo explained.

“Lastly, our new historian would have to be highly customisable, maintainable and accessible with uncomplicated reporting.” Essentially, Buzwagi needed a SCADA system that would be easy to maintain, offer mutual site support and be adaptable to changing business and industry requirements – all while offering effective training on the systems as well as reliable and accessible technical support for the duration of the relationship. Worth its weight… As the answer to this extensive list of requirements, Buzwagi needed to look no further than Wonderware, as it offered an answer to all of the challenges posed – and more. System Platform 2017 was proposed as the base system, as it unified all site applications and allowed for simplified management of these systems at all levels across the plants. “The implementation of System Platform 2017 has given us a collaborative, standards-based foundation that unifies our people, processes, and assets across facilities for

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CUSTOMER CASE STUDY ACACIA MINING, BUZWAGI GOLD MINE

Combining the power and flexibility of Microsoft SQL Server with high-speed data acquisition and compression, Wonderware Historian has been included in the system overhaul. “This is specifically to acquire and store plant data while providing real time and historical data together with configuration, event, summary and other production data to applications both on the desktop and on the move. “As we have disparate users using different applications to access our systems, Historian was the natural choice. Historian now collects plant data at full resolution, ensuring that decision makers at all levels have access to the data they need to make on-the-fly improvements using context specific information reporting. Our decision makers are now able to quickly generate detailed, focussed information they need to accelerate the decision making process, as they are provided with the right information when problems are identified, or when opportunities are identified.”

Simplification through standardisation Post closure of the project, the plant has realised some impressive benefits, the most important being that all of their listed requirements have been comprehensively addressed. The Buzwagi and Bulyanhulu plants have standardised on System Platform 2017 and are realising vastly improved engineering efficiencies in shorter time frames when updating or deploying updates across the mines. The difficult to use, modify and debug applications are a thing of the past, and technical support is at hand at all times through the Customer First Support Program. Furthermore, all relevant staffers who require remote access to data and operational statuses now have this – from wherever they are and on any device. “The Wonderware solutions allow us to access the information we require in a reliable and easy manner,” said Mgongo. “It is now simple for plant operators to access, update and operate the system and our reporting is leaps ahead of where we were a short while ago.”

About IS³ IS³ is the sole distributor of AVEVA Group’s software for sub-Saharan Africa. At IS³ we believe in the limitless potential of technology to empower people and transform businesses. We focus on creating the most innovative and reliable industrial software that empowers individuals, teams and businesses of all sizes, to become extraordinary. Our industrial software solutions addresses production operations, production performance, manufacturing intelligence, business process management and collaboration. IS³ believes the information in this publication is correct as of its publication date. As part of continued product development, such information is subject to change without prior notice and is related to the current software release(s). IS³ is not responsible for any inadvertent errors. All product names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective holders. © 2018 AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiary alliances. All rights reserved.

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