First Mining Drc-Zambia May/June 2020 by Mailing Times Media

CENTRAL AFRICA'S PREMIER BUSINESS TO BUSINESS MINING MAGAZINE

VOL 13 | ISSUE 3 | May - June 2020

Mining the Internet of Things

In this issue... Start of the COVID-19 bounce back: Central European steel makers and foundries resume operations Pg 07

Artisanal Mining: Why COVID-19 response planning should prioritise ASM communities Pg 16

DRC mining in post-COVID: “Survival of the fittest” Pg 23

CONTENTS NEWS

PRODUCTS

EVENTS

Huayou Cobalt under scrutiny in DRC

PROFILE

FEATURE

New Belt Speed Sensor

The Impact of COVID-19 on Junior Explorers

Renewable energy storage giving a new lease of life to shafts

Best ranked tanks for RioZim mine

New Modular Mining public API

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37 3

CENTRAL AFRICA'S PREMIER BUSINESS TO BUSINESS MINING MAGAZINE

VOL 13 | ISSUE 3 | May - June 2020

Mining the Internet of Things

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COVER STORY: PG 10 Mining the Internet of Things… Smart monitoring of water quality and tailings dam safety

There are two main sources of water monitoring information on a mine site – tailings or wastewater data and water body data. As a result, accurate realtime monitoring of sensitive instrumentation data is integral to the elimination and prevention of any environmental breaches. www.fmdrc-zambia.com

TEAM

EDITOR’S COMMENT

Editor Bertha M. bertham@fmdrc-zambia

Hope in the time of Covid

Sub-Editor Nita Karume Contributing Writer Oscar Nkala, Mfuneko Jack Lindani Mkhize Caroline Thomas 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 Advertising Consultants Meshack Ndzendevu Polite Mkhize Gladmore Ndhlovu Leslie Nyembe Production Coordinator Kholwani Dube kholwani@fmdrc-zambia.com Graphic Design and Layout Irene Faith Omudho Art Director Augustine Ombwa Arobia Creative Consultancy austin@arobia.co.ke Published By Mailing Times Media Circulation/Sales info@fmdrc-zambia.com sales@fmdrc-zambia.com +27 11 044 8986

t is now 4 months since the first case of the novel coronavirus was reported in Africa. Suffice it to say, a lot has changed since then. Many industries have been affected, with most taking a hit as a result of some of the sanctions place in order to prevent and/ or contain the number of infections. The mining industry is no different. Mining companies across Africa have been affected by COVID-19 outbreaks, and global restrictions to encourage social distancing have meant that mining projects have either slowed or been put on hold until further notice. There is no doubt that mining executives are beginning to feel nervous as the spread of the virus accelerates. Moreover, share-prices of listed mining companies are in a downward spiral. Commodity prices across the industry have been tumbling as the industry considers the devastating aftershocks of the pandemic However, in the midst of all the angst, there are those who have managed to reinvent themselves-so to speakand in an effort to deal with the current situation. One such notable initiative is the DRC Mining week 2020, which recently went digital. The event will now run from the 17th-19th June. This May/June issue of FMDRC has the usual news briefs from across Africa, together with special features on Mining in the time of COVID-19, some of the features highlighting the resilience of the industry as well as other aspects of mining. As we hope to come out of the other side or learn to live with the current situation should it persist, Frist Mining DRC Zambia will continue to bring you the latest in mining news, both locally and internationally.

Nita Karume

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

Barrick Gold donates computers to Zambia school of Mines

arrick Gold Corporation has donated 10 computers to the University of Zambia School of Mines. The owner and operator of the Lumwana copper mine has also agreed to help repair the Kakayindu Police Post, in line with its commitment of creating long-term value for its host countries and communities. Established in 1973, the University of Zambia School of Mines offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in geology, mining engineering, metallurgy and mineral processing. According to Willem Jacobs, Barrick’s chief operating officer for Africa and the Middle East, enrolment at the School has increased over the years,

projects as well as delivering computerbased course material to students. Additionally, Barrick has agreed to help repair the Kakayindu Police Post, which was vandalized late last year as a result of community unrest. The 22-person strong post provides security to 37,000 people in the Lumwana Township and neighboring communities. creating the need for an expansion of its infrastructure. Jacobs says that in keeping with the group’s policy of employing host country nationals and upskilling them to world-class standards, Barrick has long provided scholarships for undergraduate students. The donation of computers is intended to assist the School in its research

Huayou Cobalt under scrutiny for buying from individuals in DRC

UAYOU Cobalt, China’s biggest cobalt producer, is under scrutiny for buying its cobalt from individuals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The firm recently issued out a press release stating that it will cease individual purchasing following pressure from customers and rights groups concerned about child labour in the informal mining sector.

According to local press, Huayou, one of the top global suppliers of the metal used in batteries for electric cars and mobile devices, has faced growing scrutiny in recent years over human rights violations in the DRC, which accounts for more than two-thirds of global output. It was named alongside technology companies including Apple, Dell and

Jacobs explained that Barrick is driven by a commitment to contribute positively to the development of their host countries and communities, noting that in 2019 Lumwana employed 3,498 Zambians and contributed US $272m to the country’s economy through taxes, salaries, procurement and community investments.

Microsoft in a US class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of families of children killed or injured while mining cobalt in the central African nation. Responding to the above allegations, Huayou has said it has cut child labour out of its supply chain and is working to help formalize small-scale mining in the DRC through efforts to improve safety and better trace cobalt. Despite the pullback, Huayou aims to produce 30,000 tons of cobalt this year, mainly from its industrial mines in the DRC, but also through recycling used batteries. It is also looking to raise US $870m from a private placement of shares to expand nickel production in Indonesia. Shanghai-listed Huayou is a key supplier to the electric vehicle industry, providing cobalt to battery makers LG Chem of South Korea and CATL of China, as well as Chinese carmaker BYD and Germany’s Volkswagen.

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NEWS

Rio Tinto, Midnight Sun Mining sign agreement totaling US$51m for Solwezi copper deposits in Zambia within the next two field seasons. An additional US $300,000 will be paid to Midnight Sun upon completion before Rio proceeds with the final expenditures.

io Tinto and Vancouver-based Midnight Sun Mining have signed a US $51m joint venture agreement. The agreement will see the Anglo-Australian firm earn up to a 75% interest in the latter’s Solwezi licenses. According to media reports, the Solwezi licenses comprise two individual exploration licenses totalling 506 square

kilometres situated in the North-Western Province of Zambia, adjacent to First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi mine. Further and as part of the agreement, Rio Tinto will make an initial payment of US $700,000 to Midnight Sun, as well as fund an initial work program on the Solwezi licenses by spending US $3m, of which US $2m is a firm commitment,

The completion of the initial work will earn Rio 51% ownership of the Solwezi licenses by incurring a further US $16m in work expenditures within four years and making a total of US $1m in additional scheduled cash payments to Midnight Sun. The company can then earn an additional 14% ownership of the licenses by incurring another US $14m in work expenditures or completing a feasibility study within three years, and making an additional US $1m in cash payments to Midnight Sun. Afterwards, Rio Tinto can earn a further 10% ownership by spending an additional US $15m on work within two years. All these will thus total up Rio’s expenditure to US $51m for the 75% stake in Solwezi copper deposits.

“Due care has been taken to make certain that the process of discontinuing supply ensures the safety of personnel and equipment and preserves the integrity of the mine,” CEC said.

KCM to source power from Zesco following stalemate of negotiations with CEC

onkola Copper Mines (KCM), is reportedly going to source power directly from Zambia’s state-owned utility, Zesco. This is after negotiations with Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) broke down at the weekend. According to a CEC statement cited by Reuters in the local press, “Negotiations for its further extension have broken down, despite CEC’s best efforts in good faith towards securing a new contract.

The agreement in which CEC provided bulk power supply from Zesco to KCM expired on May 31. Furthermore, KCM said that, after the expiry of its contract with CEC, the company had entered into another agreement with Zesco, effective June 1. CEC said it had informed KCM that its supply will be discontinued, adding that this was the only option available after the failed talks.

KCM has been placed in liquidation by the Zambian government following a dispute with Vedanta on allegations the Indian company failed to meet certain financial obligations. Whilst Vedanta is fighting the matter in court, it is helpless to prevent Zambia barring its employees from access to, or oversight of, the 100,000 tons a year copper facilities. In February this year, Zambian mines minister, Richard Musukwa, speaking with reference to the aforementioned, labelled the country’s mining sector a victim of criminal activity. “Zambia is a victim and it needs support,” said Musukwa in a speech to delegates at the Investing in African Mining conference in Cape Town on February 5. “We deserve African and international support to make sure Vedanta pays the price.”

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NEWS

Start of the COVID-19 bounce back:

Central European steel makers and foundries resume operations

ouncing back from a sharp fall in early spring, the European steel and metal industries are at the start of a path to recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, since the halt of the majority of activity within the main metal-consuming industries - automotive, construction and others. All major car manufacturers in the EU have stopped their conveyors. In their turn, steel producers, as well as most foundries in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia - the main centres of metallurgy in Central Europe - faced a significant drop in demand for rolled steel. The Central European steel and metal industries play an important part in the European metallurgy mix. According to Worldsteel, they represent 12% (about 16 million tons) of total carbon steel production within the EU27 economic area. The steel producers and steel foundries in central Europe are closely integrated into production chains in Germany, Italy, Austria and France. The sudden decline in demand and the forced quarantine shutdown of production across Western Europe hit the industry dealt a severe blow to the metals sector in Central Europe.

In Q1, steel production in this region fell by 13%,while overall production in the EU-27 region dropped by 11%. The countries with the most significant effect were Poland and Hungary, where steel production fell by 19% and 18% throughout Q1. The decline was characterised largely by a focus towards production of flat-rolled products for car manufacturing, from local producers. Hungarian foundries in turn, remain highly dependent on demand for automotive components. The mid-April the halt to car production in Germany therefore brought about a shutdown of foundries in Poland and Hungary. Other Eastern European neighbours, such as the Czech Republic and Slovenia suffered a reduced impact on carbon steel production. Here, a higher domestic steel consumption pattern made steel producers less reliant on demand from Germany and Italy, thus leading to a more modest fall in production by a mere 2% and 0.5% respectively. During this period, metal procurement and sales remained challenging due to shutdown of many businesses and key staff working off-site, making it difficult to coordinate operations. Digital technologies proved to be a useful remedy for this

situation: supporting work from home and managing procurement. One key user in the Czech Republic, noted that during the quarantine period: Â´Metalshub was one of the few digital tools that really helped us getting through the situation smoothlyÂ´. There are clear signs that the situation for steel consumption of rolled and casted products is starting to improve since early May. Car manufacturers in Germany have resumed operations while in Italy metallurgists have been allowed to resume operations, provided they comply with strict Covid-19 health and safety rules. Metalshub has learned that Slovenian foundries that they are resuming operations with 100% capacity utilisation from the first week of May, through direct communication. In response to expectations of growing demand from Italian factories, sources in Poland are confirming an initial recovery of activity with local metallurgists, who are resuming purchasing of raw materials and ferroalloys. Polish suppliers of ferroalloys are preparing to offer material for export, which was hampered by transport interruption from border closure.

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NEWS

Qutotec to deliver new copper solvent extraction technology to DRC

Q Glencore’s Mopani to scaling

down on production on the wake of the COVID -19 pandemic

lencore’s Mopani Copper Mines, as a measure to retain sustainability will scale down on production. This is according to the hostile conditions created by the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic which has resulted in dwindling international metal prices and a concoction of other operational challenges. According to media reports, Mopani had, on 9th of April invoked a “force majeure”, clause in their contracts allowing its contractual obligations to be ignored because of unavoidable circumstance and placed its Mufulira and Kitwe-based mining units under care and maintenance for three months. This meant that the miner is able to place its 11,000 labour force on forced leave until it redresses concerns. Government intervention However, the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Hon Richard

Musukwa has discouraged intentions by the three miners from ceasing operations in Zambia, arguing the reasons for such actions lack merit. He challenged all companies to reconsider. Further, and while Mopani Copper Mines, has been approached to withdraw its initial plans to close down operations, it has since recalled all the 11,000 workers while engaging the relevant stakeholders on some of the effects on its operations. Unfortunately, there are indications that it could revert to care and maintenance amid gripping concerns. The Minister argues the 90 days’ notice given by Mopani Copper Mines was meant to put its mines under care and maintenance as opposed to stop operations altogether. He further added that they should instead ensure that the mining firm goes well into survival mode by reducing operating costs.

utotec, a mining technology company from Finland is going to deliver a new copper solvent extraction technology to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to local press, La Sino-Congolaise des Mines SA (Sicomines) has awarded the contract for the delivery of the copper solvent extraction plant to Sicomines’ copper/cobalt project near Kolwezi, in the DRC. Sicomines is a joint venture formed by companies from China and the DRC. Furthermore, the US $22m order has been scheduled in Outotec’s 2020 second quarter order book. The scope for this includes basic engineering, technology and equipment deliveries and advisory services for mechanical installation as well as commissioning and startup of the modular copper solvent extraction plant, known as VSF®X, the VSF standing for vertical smooth flow. The modularized plant is said to provide a novel way of designing, manufacturing, transporting, installing, operating and maintaining a solvent extraction plant with an emphasis on sustainability and safety. A fast-track delivery and installation, as well as environment-friendly and safe performance of the plant, are projected by Outotec. The plants are designed to reduce lead times by 20% as tailor-made total packages. In a release to local press, Outotec metals refining head Kalle Härkki said that the company looks forward to working with Sicomines on this project. He further added that they are happy to deliver the technology package, which is inclusive of their modern VSF®X modular concept. This, he added, is with the benefits that come with it. The Sicomines project, Härkki reiterated, will be a great reference for Qutotec in the active African copper/cobalt market.

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NEWS

Ivanhoe’s Kakula set for completion in 2021 ahead of schedule

vanhoe Mines’ Kakula copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set for completion in 2021. This is in the underground development which is currently ahead of schedule. According to media reports, as at February this year, well over 8 km of underground development had been completed at Kakula, which at the time was already 1.7 km ahead of plan. The underground development work at Kakula is being performed by mining crews operating large-capacity, semiautonomous mining equipment, such as jumbo drilling rigs and 50 t trucks. Based on the results of the February 2019 Kakula prefeasibility study, the project’s average feed grade over the first five years of operations is projected to be 6.8% copper, and 5.5% copper on average over a 25-year mine life. Process plant and other surface infrastructure on track Kakula’s original 3 Mtpa first processing plant module has already been redesigned during the basic engineering phase to a nameplate capacity of 3.8 Mtpa. Purchase orders have been placed for all major long-lead time mechanical equipment, plant earthworks is complete, and plant civil works are advancing rapidly. More than 4 400 employees and contractors currently are helping to construct the new Kakula mine, of which approximately 90% are Congolese nationals. “We’re not just investing in a new mine, roads, hydropower plants, power lines and other important infrastructure, we’re investing in good-paying jobs and new opportunities for people who live in the DRC. And with our focus on skills training and apprenticeships for young Congolese, we’re helping build the DRC’s next generation of skilled tradespeople,” says Mark Farren, CEO, Kamoa Copper SA. Kamoa-Kakula focused on producing “green copper”. Together with its joint-venture partners, Ivanhoe is committed to building modern, safe, mechanised mines that will be showcases for responsible, “green” mine development. “These vast Kamoa and Kakula discoveries are the type of world-scale mineral systems needed to supply the copper for the electrification of the global economy, to usher in the era of the electric car, and the electric everything, in order to reduce our planet’s consumption of hydrocarbons,” says Ivanhoe Mine’s co-chairman Robert Friedland.

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COVER STORY

Mining the Internet of Thingsâ&#x20AC;Ś Smart monitoring of water quality and tailings dam safety

igitalisation in the mining sector is on the rise. Digital technologies undoubtedly have tremendous potential to move mining to greater heights. These technologies can deliver exceptional shareholder, customer and environmental value and water monitoring technologies are no different. Environmental monitoring and control for mines is even a bigger issue now than it has ever been. Governments are increasing regulatory restrictions on new developments, and the social license to operate mine sites is leaving operators with no choice but to ensure they have zero environmental breaches.

It is in the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best interest, from a public image as well as - cost and efficiency point of view to deploy the latest, most efficient technology for water monitoring. There are two main sources of water monitoring information on a mine site â&#x20AC;&#x201C; tailings or wastewater data and water body data. A small amount of contaminants or a process that has gone wrong for a few hours can negatively influence the quality of waste or bodies of water on mine sites. As a result, accurate real-time monitoring of sensitive instrumentation data is integral to the elimination and prevention of any environmental breaches.

To this day, it is still common practice to manually monitor the water and moisture levels in the dam wall. This presents two common issues. The first being sporadic monitoring due to the time it takes to check all points required and the second being the inconsistency in manual measurements and reading of values performed by the operator. With the possibility of each operator using a different methodology and procedure to conduct the reading, recording, interpreting and transferring of results onto digital storage, the quality and integrity of information can be greatly impacted. There are plenty opportunities for error in this manual procedure. In addition, if measurement is not done frequently enough, the water or moisture level data then becomes unreliable. In this scenario, introduction of automation technology is key to ensure data is collected more frequently and far more accurate measurements are achieved due to the standardisation of automated systems, which in turn improves safety and reduces costs in the plant. There is a much greater opportunity for automation in a tailings dam, where a

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variety of measurement solutions such as flow, level, displacement and strain are needed. Smart solutions can provide online data to the control system, eliminating human errors involved with reading and noting data values. In this application, a hydrostatic level sensor that is equipped with a WirelessHART adaptor is installed in a PVC or any other type of tube within the water well. The adapter provides power to the level sensor which can be programmed to measure in shorter intervals providing constant data feed. An ultrasonic level transmitter can be used to measure the level of the tailings dam. The information is sent via WirelessHART adapter.

Example; ground water level measurement using WirelessHART solutions.

This solution helps to decrease the cost of investment in automation without the need for major changes to existing infrastructure. A gateway may be used to collect the data and send it to the control system as well as the cloud. Endress+Hauser provides wireless solutions that enable simple setup of the wireless networks and ensure that all the information can easily be integrated into any control system through open protocols, such as OPC or Modbus. The wireless solution does not only provide all the measurement values, but also provides device diagnostic information.

Endress+Hauser IIoT solutions - Netilion Health empowers plant personnel to be ready and effective in case of unexpected events in the plant. With Netilion Health, essential information on the operational health of the device can be viewed via the app from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. If anything happens with a measuring point, an immediate alert is

sent. Custom visualisation formats can also be created, and information can be integrated into other platforms to receive immediate notifications in case of failures. Out-of-the-box solutions are now available to monitor water quality in the field. These include all hardware, software and cloud support subscriptions, making it extremely easy to integrate and cost effective to operate. Not only easy to set up, but in the event of an environmental breach, these boxes can be deployed quickly in about 15 minutes and can monitor important quality parameters on surface water applications. The flexibility and simplicity of the IIoT, coupled with advances in edge devices and sensor technology has greatly improved the ability for operators of tailings and waste facilities to cost effectively monitor their processes while reducing risk and improving their environmental reputation.

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PRODUCT & TECH

New “Traction Action” Belt Speed Sensor The Model BSD can shut down rotating equipment before damage is encountered. It provides protection for interlocked conveyor belts, especially if one of the belts fails due to overloading or quits due to tearing. The standard construction is a mild steel/carbon steel frame with safety yellow polyester powder coating. The main advantages of the Model BSD are no drilling or tapping of tail pulley shaft required, the unit is shielded between top and bottom of conveyor belt, and the unit can be placed anywhere on the conveyor belt.

he Model BSD (belt speed detector) is a “traction action” motion control that indicates when a conveyor belt has slowed or quit moving altogether. The unit can be adjusted as an overspeed, underspeed, or zero speed control.

The output of the Model BSD can be wired into a PLC or DCS, or to the optional RMS controller (or MSD controller) which has a DP/DT relay to control up to two separate circuits, one for machinery shutdown and one for an alarm.

If you would like additional information on this or other products that Conveyor Components Company offers please contact their sales department toll free 800-233-3233, fax 810-679-4510, e-mail: info@conveyorcomponents. com or visit their website at www. conveyorcomponents.com. An ISO 9001 certified company.

payload is limited by the high weight of the lining and the box itself. The Metso Truck Body differs from a standard box by its lighter, but resistant, rounded shaped design in ultra-highstrength steel combined with the Trellex™ rubber lining. This makes it possible to obtain a 20% to 30% lighter body without sacrificing rigidity.

Central Europe gets its first two Metso Truck Bodies into operation

xactly one year after the launch of the Metso Truck Body at the BAUMA 2019 fair, the first two Komatsu HD605-8 dump trucks equipped with Metso Truck Bodies have been delivered to a porphyry quarry in Brabant Wallon, Belgium, by Metso distributor BIA Group. These are the first

Metso Truck Bodies taken into operation in Central Europe and a world premiere for rigid dumpers in this weight class. The tough and abrasive rock handled by the quarry had a significant impact on the previous conventional truck boxes. On a traditional box, the maximum

Haul more with less The Metso Truck Body designed for the Komatsu HD605-8 truck weighs 6 tonnes less than a standard version fitted with a steel liner. This weight reduction translates into a 10% additional payload and therefore offers greater efficiency from the first run. Likewise, during empty bucket journeys, the dumper will consume less fuel simply because it is lighter. Due to its rounded shape, less carry-back remains in the body, avoiding transporting unnecessary weight.

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PRODUCT & TECH

BMG launches new Garlock EVOLUTION fully-coated isolation gaskets for high-pressure pipeline sealing applications

MG has recently launched EVOLUTION™ fully-coated isolation gaskets, that meet the demand from the oil and gas sector, for sealing and isolation products offering improved leakage rates and safe and reliable performance in high-pressure applications.

Other features include a built-to-match pipe bore and a short moment arm. The robust glass-reinforced handle is made of an abrasion, impact and UV resistant thermoplastic material.

BMG’s new EVOLUTION isolation gaskets have been developed by Garlock Pipeline Technologies, incorporating advanced gasket technology and design benefits, into one robust system, for dependable pipeline isolation. Key features of EVOLUTION isolation gaskets include easier installation, tight sealing, high-temperature operation, zero permeation, hydro-testing isolation, fire-safety and chemical-resistance. These gaskets also have low emission values to meet stringent environmental and safety standards. “Garlock isolation gaskets, which are unaffected by moisture or humidity, are the first gaskets of their kind, to be fully-encapsulated and this is a major advantage in tough pipeline installations,” says Wayne Holton, BMG’s business unit manager, Bearings, Seals and Gaskets division. “EVOLUTION isolation gaskets, with a thinner, 3 mm retainer, are easy to install without damage and do not have the creep relaxation problems which are often associated with conventional Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) isolation gaskets.

providing chemical resistance to H2S, steam, CO, CO2 and other chemicals often found in oil and gas pipelines.” EVOLUTION isolation gaskets - which encompass Gylon ID seals, with resistance to oil and gas chemicals allow the gasket to be hydro-tested in the pipeline, with no compromise on its isolation properties. The new full-coating encapsulation, with a 316LSS core, comprises pressure-energised seals and metalliccoated C-rings for advanced sealing, also enabling the gasket to withstand extreme temperature swings in the flange. For improved safety in the oil and gas industry, integrated fire-safe Inconel 718 seals are standard.

Extensive sour media testing of EVOLUTION gaskets show there is zero permeation and no degradation of the gasket. These gaskets have also been subjected to fire, abrasion, scratch and impact tests. Steam and chemical exposure testing of the coating confirms these gaskets can efficiently handle the demands of a typical pipeline installation. Garlock Pipeline Technologies is a leading manufacturer of critical-service flange systems, spring-energized jacketed seals and electrical flange isolation kits for the oil and gas, water/wastewater, chemical, energy, construction and infrastructure industries. BMG’s Garlock highperformance seals and sealing systems also include metallic and Gylon gaskets, oil seals, bearing isolators, expansion joints and butterfly valves. Components extend from a standard sealing ring, available from BMG stock and ready to install, to customised designs, which are fabricated to specific requirements.

“Although standard GRE gaskets - which use a leak-to-seal technology – provide efficient isolation and sealing in some applications, we have found that as operators need to drill deeper, GRE materials become vulnerable over time, as they are subjected to degradation from aggressive media in the pipelines. “EVOLUTION’s proprietary material coating eliminates the need for costly exotic cores, as there is no exposure of metal to aggressive media. These gaskets, with high-dielectric strength, are abrasion and impact resistant, while

BMG has recently launched EVOLUTION™ fully-coated isolation gaskets, that meet the demand from the oil and gas sector, for sealing and isolation products offering improved leakage rates and safe and reliable performance in high-pressure applications.

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PRODUCT & TECH

HPE Africa - Soosan hydraulic breakers - SB Line and SU+ 85 Line TR-F series

PE Africa’s range of Soosan products encompass hydraulic breakers and quick couplers, which are complimentary attachments to the company’s Hyundai construction equipment. Key to the Soosan range are hydraulic breakers, which cope efficiently in tough conditions in quarrying, mining and construction. These breakers combine advanced technology for high productivity and a robust structure, to ensure extended service life and minimal maintenance requirements. Notable features include a high power to weight ratio for optimum efficiency and a patented valve system, which is synchronised with a simple hydraulic system “HPE Africa’s Soosan SU+ hydraulic breakers enhance the Soosan SB line, known for dependable operation in tough conditions. Advanced features of SU+85 Line TR-F Series include an Integrated Power Control and Anti-Blank Hammering systems (IPC and ABH) for the selection of three working modes and increased impact frequency for improved production efficiency,” says Ross Collard, managing director, HPE Africa. “We believe minimising energy loss from the excavator benefits both the operator and the environment. In order to achieve this, Soosan has introduced a piston floating system. In addition, a pressureresistant hydraulic hose reduces hose vibration and extended tool bushing

Typical applications for Soosan SU+ hydraulic breakers are for primary and secondary breaking in quarries, site preparation, foundation works, road construction, demolition works, highly-reinforced concrete, trenching and tunnelling, bench levelling and general construction works.

prevents consequential damage to the piston and cylinder, caused by misaligned tool hammering. “Soosan’s bounce-controlled percussion system minimises the recoils during hammering work and helps to reduces damage at the hammer and the carrier, as well as improving operator comport. “Another important feature is the thermal stress analysis system used to control heat generation of the breaker. As a result, these units are able to maintain the same percussion frequency at high temperatures. Increased accumulator capacity ensures a more stable hydraulic system and surging reduction. Other features for safe operation and durability are specially-developed devices that prevent foreign substances flowing into the cylinder and an antiscratch system.

HPE Africa’s Soosan SU+ hydraulic breakers enhance the Soosan SB line, known for dependable operation in tough conditions

Added to this, is vibration damping by high strength urethane cushions, an auto shut-off and easy start function and a valve adjuster for efficient control of oil flow to suit on-site work conditions. The auto-lubrication connection is optional. Typical applications for SU+ hydraulic breakers are for primary and secondary

breaking in quarries, site preparation, foundation works, road construction, demolition works, highly-reinforced concrete, trenching and tunnelling, bench levelling and general construction works. Important units in Soosan’s SB range are SB40, and SB121 hydraulic breakers, which are equipped with a connection for an automatic lubrication system. SB40 breakers have an operating weight of 307 kg, a moil diameter of 68 mm and a striking rate between 500 and 900 bpm. The minimum excavator tonnage for this unit is 4T. SB121 hydraulic breakers, with an operating weight of 2 965 kg and an impact rate of between 300 and 450 bpm, require a carrier rate between 28 and 35 T. Notable features of the SB157 series include an efficient hydraulic system which generates less heat, a patented built-in valve system, with a simple side plate frame and fewer components for minimal maintenance requirements. Reduced oil flow is required to lower fatigue on the hydraulic pump. These hydraulic breakers are suitable to transport with the base machine between sites.

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PRODUCT & TECH

Image: Micromine 2020.5 Interactive Grade Control

NEW TOOLS IN ITS LATEST MICROMINE UPGRADE

ICROMINE has expanded its suite of intuitive mine planning tools which will be available in a significant upgrade pack to be released next month. The software specialist, which is a market leader in mine design and production control, has added many new features to its Micromine solution. Paul Hooykaas – Micromine Chief Product Strategy Office, said the MM2020.5 upgrade extended the tools available to help mine planners and designers prepare prospective regions more accurately. “The new features in MM2020.5 give users greater power to capture, manage and interpret exploration and production data, so they can optimise their operations” he said. The enhancements focus on the software’s design tools offering greater flexibility, power and speed for mine designers, planners and engineers in both underground and surface mining contexts. •

More than 12 new features give users faster and more intuitive control over underground ring drill

and blast design. Planners can now use ring design tools and run calculations on as-drilled (actual) holes, and compared them with planned holes, enabling designs to quickly adapt to changes in the field and identifying drilling inefficiencies and improving design protocols. •

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Six new features that have been added to Micromine’s surface drill and blast toolbox including upgrades to design and reporting tools for blast plots. A new interactive tool has been released to mirror the terrain of blast face and speed up the process of creating blasthole patterns within dig blocks of varying shapes. Grade control and wireframing tools have also benefitted from revamped workflow features giving open pit planners deeper insight into the value of each dig block. Users can produce simple reports that indicate ore and waste estimates or comprehensive reports broken down by material classification bins. Dynamic report updates enable faster reserve evaluation and integrate seamlessly with wireframes for subsequent planning

activities such as scheduling. The new functions are fully integrated into Micromine’s market-leading exploration and 3D mine design software, which is used in over 90 countries. Paul Hooykaas continued; “This is a substantial update and reflects our commitment to rolling out cutting edge technology that helps our mining clients become more successful and stay ahead of the competition. “We are working hard to ensure our users have complete visibility of their project and they will now have even more power to explore, test and optimise multiple scenarios, so the best options can be implemented in the field.” MICROMINE’s software suite supports every phase of the mining lifecycle – from geological exploration and data management to resource estimation, 3D mine design, planning and production control. The MM2020.5 upgrade will be available for users to download straight from the MICROMINE website.

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OPINION

Artisanal Mining:

6 reasons why COVID-19 response planning should prioritise ASM communities A guest article by Adam Rolfe, Estelle Levin-Nally and Holger Grundel.

s the world’s priorities are reshaped by the COVID-19 crisis, Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) communities should not be overlooked. Here are 6 reasons why: 1.

The underlying health characteristics of ASM communities may mean that they are likely to be disproportionately impacted by the crisis. The direct and indirect impacts of ASM activity on health are well-documented. These include but are not limited to chronic respiratory illness, malnutrition, sexually transmitted diseases and substance addiction. For instance, respiratory disease resulting from dust exposure during the extraction and processing cycle is widespread in ASM communities. Data shows that COVID 19 mortality rates are almost 2x higher than the average in patients with this underlying condition (6.3% vs. 3.4%). Malnutrition, which reduces the body’s immune response, may well further compound the threat posed to communities as food security decreases (although data on this is limited since the incidence of the COVID-19 outbreak appears at present much greater in the Global North). In addition to this, access to health care in ASM communities is typically limited to non-existent since it predominantly occurs in the

rural areas of developing countries, which have an underdeveloped health infrastructure. In short, ASM community resilience to the disease is likely to be low, with associated mortality relatively high.

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2The ASM sector is a likely vector for the spread of coronavirus in fragile states. At the same time as being disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, ASM miners and traders are likely to contribute significantly to the rapid spread of the illness within and between towns and rural areas. There are three reasons for this.

Finally, ASM miners and traders are highly transitory; traders must move the product from A to B, and we are likely to see miners return to their places of origin and / or move between sites (including inter-regional and cross-border migration) as mining economies and political stability deteriorate as coronavirus takes hold.

The impact of COVID-19 is likely to destabilise already fragile security situations in ASM areas. A significant proportion of ASM activity is found in Conflict-Affected and HighRisk Areas (CAHRAs), where the production and trade in minerals is / has been linked to conflict financing and serious human rights violations. The rapidly changing local dynamics in ASM areas will likely be seen as an opportunity that is too good to miss for armed elements that seek to extend their control in these areas. We are already hearing anecdotally that the “retreat” of the state and military or peacekeeping forces from some rural areas during the crisis is creating a vacuum that illegal armed groups are starting to fill. Where they remain, rent-seeking

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Despite some tight restrictions in place on ASM activity, including outright bans in some jurisdictions (e.g. Zimbabwe, Mali), ASM production will continue regardless, as it has often done in the past under similar dictats, because many ASM labourers live hand to mouth without savings or formal social safety nets. Since ASM is labourintensive and conducted in teams it is likely to spread quickly amongst workers and the communities in which they live.

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Secondly, for production to continue the trade in minerals must continue. At the best of times, this trade is predominantly informal; during

the crisis, it will be even more so. Therefore, as minerals and money are exchanged, so too are viral particles.

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opportunities are reportedly being exploited. We anticipate that this is likely to result in an intensification of violence in already fragile conflict or post-conflict settings unless stabilisation measures are maintained, reinforced and wellgoverned. The victims of a rise in violent conflict and / or predation will predominantly be rural communities, who operate in areas where it is lucrative to extend control. A longerterm impact of this will be the raising of barriers to formal, responsible trade, which is notoriously difficult to achieve within a conflict setting. 4.

Lower-income and increasing food prices will increase poverty in ASM communities. ASM communities’ short-term purchasing power will be significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, making it hard for them to access basic necessities at a time of great need. Reports already show that that the local spot price for gold (price paid at the mine site) has been severely impacted by the crisis, resulting from challenges in moving minerals to market. Decreases of up to 50% have been reported in Latin America, 25-50% in West Africa and 10% in Papua New Guinea. Whilst this presents opportunities for buyers it will have severe implications on mining households’ income. This comes at a time when disruption to local food supply chains is increasing the cost of basic necessities. The FAO reports that globally “[a]n upsurge in food demand and disruptions

to supply chains triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic underpinned food price increases in several countries in the second half of March”. 5.

Liquidity crunches will limit the medium-term viability of ASM production and jobs. ASM production is highly dependent on pre-financing, as it can have high upfront costs in terms of labour and equipment before the minerals are extracted. These pre-financing relationships are often governed by a paternalistic relationship between miners and their backers, through which miners can access welfare support in times of hardship. Yet reports demonstrate that as liquidity dries up in producer countries, wellresourced traders are seizing the opportunity to buy low and sell high. Traditional pre-financing networks are therefore likely to be disrupted and replaced by less “embedded” buying relationships formed in what is a temporary “buyers’ market” where short-term wins and cherrypicking are likely to prevail. We are therefore likely to see a significant negative impact on the mediumterm viability and productivity of ASM operations as embedded capital which typically circulates up and down the supply chain is replaced by a “quick win” mentality. This will only compound the impact on ASM incomes the longer the crisis continues. COVID-19 will bring ASM populations into closer contact with wildlife

increasing the prospect for animal to human transmission of infectious diseases. In addition to COVID-19 the epidemics Ebola, SARs, MERs, HIV, Influenza A and many others can all trace their origins back to animal hosts. As resource scarcity, and especially food shortages, pushes ASM populations into closer contact with animals, primarily as a food source, there is a risk that the indirect impacts of the present crisis can generate the conditions from which a new pandemic could be born. Whilst this final point may seem abstract, so too did the threat of a global pandemic of present proportions at the end of 2019. Policy makers therefore need to be thinking in terms of preventing future crises now. And this means prioritising emergency response to vulnerable groups, amongst which we can count ASM communities. Estelle Levin-Nally is Founder and CEO of Levin Sources and a frequent speaker at Mining Indaba. This is the second insight in Levin Source’s series on the impact of COVID-19 on the minerals sector. The previous one looked at the potential economic, governance and social impacts of the pandemic for ASM and responsible sourcing. In her next insights, she will look at the specific programmatic options available to support emergency response and longer-term programming for ASM – as well as why this is important for broader responsible sourcing efforts.

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OPINION

Exploration companies will slowly resume operations, asking for licence extensions to make up for time lost. While international travel remains difficult, local contractors are likely to benefit at the expense of global firms and companies’ own exploration departments. As always, a good discovery, well-managed, will succeed whatever the economic climate, but there is likely to be a cull of second-rate projects and companies.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Junior Explorers: Past, Present and Future A guest article from Mark Parker, Mark Parker, CEO of Equator Gold.

s delegates were arriving in Cape Town for Mining Indaba 2020 in the last days of January, the WHO declared a “public health emergency of international concern”. A week earlier, the Chinese city of Wuhan had been locked down, and cases of a new viral respiratory disease started being reported elsewhere around the world. Although the outbreak was the topic of many conversations around the conference, few people then were considering the potential impact on the mining business. Just a month later, the WHO declared coronavirus a pandemic, most of the world was in lockdown, international air travel had pretty much ceased, stock markets were down 30% and explorers everywhere were dusting off their force majeure clauses. Perhaps surprisingly, even gold, which had been enjoying a buoyant market since mid-2019 in response to the tariff wars between the US and almost everybody, slipped 12% in sympathy with equities, probably due to the closure of jewellery markets worldwide. Exploration company directors are still struggling to get to grips with impact of

the pandemic. Work programmes almost everywhere have had to be suspended – even domestic exploration in western countries has become difficult during lock-down, and operations are currently impossible in many African countries. Most juniors are reporting significant impacts, although thus far most planned work has simply been delayed or deferred. Companies expect the consequences to become more substantial in the next few months, but at this stage, juniors are almost evenly split on whether they expect their total exploration expenditure to increase or to reduce over the next year. Wage costs are widely expected to go down, however, and almost all firms anticipate much less spending on investor relations and travel. Most companies will struggle to raise new investment while road-shows and investor presentations are at a standstill, although there have been recent successful private placings to funds and high-net-worth investors, and companies are still able to look to their existing shareholders through rights issues, open offers and share purchase plans.

Directors generally expect commodity prices to remain weak over the next few months for all minerals, except gold and silver. The strengthening of the gold price since mid-2019 has continued, and the 12% price fall as the stock markets plunged in March has since been more than regained. Predictions for the longer term are a bit more bullish, with battery metals and copper expected to recover somewhat. The outlook for energy minerals is uniformly pessimistic, however. Many commentators believe that the world will never be the same, though we can only speculate as to how this may affect the mining industry. Investors have been given a sharp reminder that value is wiped out when equities crash, so the appetite for hard assets such as gold may well persist. The West may look to diversify supply away from China, whether critical raw materials such as rare earths or manufactured goods. Consumer spending patterns are unlikely to revert quickly, and countries may try to fill the gap with infrastructure investment. Fossil fuel demand may take years to recover, with major impact on producing countries. Similarly, international travel looks unlikely to return quickly to prepandemic levels. Governments around the world have realised that their populations will accept extreme measures for a time, if they believe that they are acting for the greater good. Perhaps this, coupled with the environmental benefits demonstrated by lock-down, may encourage acceleration of climate change mitigation policies, with consequent impacts on mineral markets. Alternatively, we may see narrow nationalistic policies prevail, with consequent effects on global trade. Thank you to Mark Parker of Equator Gold for this submission. Learn more about Equator Gold.

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FEATURE

Virtual Pipelines: What role could they play in Africa? Virtual pipelines deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) in compressed tanks by roads, railways and waterways to locations not connected by physical pipelines.

his solution is being increasingly used where distance, terrain and demand do not justify an investment into a national or regional pipeline. Approximately 44% of Africa is currently off-grid, with rural and remote areas lacking access to power. LNG has the potential to help meet the demand for electrification through small-scale power generation. Virtual pipelines have the potential to innovate the supply chain by tapping into multiple gas sources and distributing LNG regardless of conventional pipeline routes. Infrastructure inflexibility is limiting the possibility of utilising Africa’s abundant natural gas resources to provide new energy supplies to areas where demand is greatest. Virtual pipelines are also a viable option for overpopulated urban locations and for power plants where new pipeline infrastructure would not be feasible, or where demand is too low, or only required for a short period of time. Virtual pipelines have been praised as an efficient, flexible and cost-effective

way of establishing a gas market without significant capital outlay. Alongside reduced maintenance costs – NNPC estimate that they spent over N556 billion (approx. £1.17 billion) on pipeline repairs and maintenance between 2015 and 2019 – virtual pipelines are much quicker to implement and are not subject to project delays or stakeholder abandonment, which often plague traditional pipelines. There are also clear environmental benefits supporting the use of LNG as the cleanest burning fossil fuel, with many of the transportation tanks running off LNG. It will be interesting to see if the uptake of virtual vs. physical pipelines across Africa gains traction. Globally, Argentina is using virtual pipelines for the Mendoza thermoelectric power plant which is powered entirely by LNG sourced from stranded gas wells and transported via trucks, and in India, ExxonMobil LNG has just signed a letter of cooperation with Chart Industries and Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) to accelerate gas access.

Current physical gas pipeline projects across Africa include: • Tanzania – Kenya Pipeline: this 558km gas pipeline will run from Dar es Salaam to Mombasa via Tanga and will meet a gas demand of 50 MMscfd •

Nigeria – Morocco Pipeline: this project is set to involve 15 countries in West Africa and is due to start construction towards the end of 2020. It’s estimated the project will take 25 years to complete.

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Richards Bay, South Africa: plans are in place for a LNG import terminal at Richard Bay with an expectation of first gas to land in 2024. Transnet are will repurpose existing pipelines to transport gas between Durban and Johannesburg. For more on this dynamic topic, join the new Future Energy Series: Africa this November as we discuss “Bridging the Gap: Exploring the pivotal role natural gas and LNG will play in the transition”.

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FEATURE

DRC mining in post-COVID: “Survival of the fittest” While some mining operations in the DRC have been able to continue production despite COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, experts agree that the country’s mining industry faces a tough postpandemic period, although this also provides opportunities for investors.

everal DRC mining industry pioneers have shared valuable, up-to-date insights and reports from mines on the ground, during the first of a series of live webinars focusing on mining in the DRC on Mining Review Africa, entitled: Post-COVID-19: A brave new world for the DRC. Panellists: • Boris Kamstra, Director, Pangea Exploration and Alphamin Resources • Louison Kiyombo, Partner, Tax and Legal, KPMG DRC • Amedeo Anniciello, CEO, Standard Bank DRC • Louis Watum, MD DRC Operations, Ivanhoe Mines DRC and President of DRC Chamber of Mines

Moderators: • Laura Cornish, Editor-inChief, Mining Review Africa • Elodie Delagneau, Event Manager, DRC Mining Week “Come to Kamoa” “Come to Kamoa” “I need to commend the entire mining industry in the DRC which has shown unprecedented solidarity to government and local communities during this pandemic” said Louis Watum, President of the DRC’s Chamber of Mines and Ivanhoe Mines’ MD of DRC Operations. “We see in the DRC mining operators coming together and contributing in all sorts of ways, including taking extraordinary measures to keep operations going under a strict lockdown configuration and

protecting the health of their employees and not retrenching people as the government has asked.” He said the company was making good progress on its Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project in the Kolwezi district: “if you want to see a real brave new world, come to Kamoa. As I’m speaking, we have 4500 workers working under strict lockdown, they have not seen their families for weeks and they are working underground and on the surface. They are pushing for Kamoa to get into production and tell a great story next year. We are still on target, we showed a lot of resilience and courage, so it is very good for the country and the economy and all the stakeholders.”

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FEATURE

Remote location an asset Alphamin Resources and Pangea director Boris Kamstra also lauded the staff of the Alphamin Bisie tin mine in North Kivu that was still fully operational, although he admitted that the remote location was a benefit to the operation during the pandemic. “Being isolated and not having large numbers of people around us, does give us a degree of immunisation. Now, naturally we do have to have people moving in and out. One of the most difficult areas has been the movement of expatriate labourers. So, we’ve got a team onsite – we were firmly believers in their superhuman abilities before this event – and they have now proven how much they are actually able to keep it going. Some of these guys have been there over two months and are overdue for a rotation, yet they continue to produce at our budgeted level.” However, Louison Kiyombo, Partner in Tax and Legal at KPMG DRC warned that the country’s mining sector, at 20% the largest contributing sector to the state coffers, was already hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. “A decrease in exports means a decrease in tax collection. When mining companies are obliged to cut costs it may end in job losses. We are seeing several SMEs pushed to postpone and even to close their operations which is dramatic to the employment and tax revenues.”

New mining code While Amedeo Anniciello, CEO of Standard Bank DRC agrees that exports have slowed down, he said that COVID had not been the only factor to negatively impact the country’s mining industry.

confidence. “I think what is very important is that the government understands that we have to be ambassadors for the DRC, and in our instance, for North Kivu, long before we can even talk to people about our specific projects.

“One is the impact of the imports of raw materials from China and the extent to which the Chinese economy has slowed down. That seems to have had less of an impact that we had originally anticipated. The consequence of which is that the mining companies continue to produce and export the copper and cobalt.” He added: “so while we have seen some of the prices come down, we believe that the prices have stabilised at the lower end and we’ll start to see some recovery as China starts their recovery.

When the previous mining code with its stability clause, which gave investors a degree of comfort, was changed, we were put on the back foot. We stand together with the government, it is in our interest that the DRC flourishes and runs very smoothly. So this goes back to a greater need for a partnership and a great degree of trust amongst us.”

I don’t think that there has been a huge impact on the mining industry in terms of COVID alone. I think there have been a number of other issues that have also impacted the mining industry, one of which was the new mining code last year and some of the mines have been trying to get to grips with what it means and how it will impact them.” Ambassadors for the DRC In response to a viewer question during the webinar regarding the DRC being viewed as a very risky mining destination, Alphamin’s Boris Kamstra also mentioned the new mining code and the negative effect it had on investor

During the discussion, Louis Watum, who describes himself as “a DRC mineral resources fundamentalist” agreed that the government had some work to do to inspire more confidence: “I must say it takes two to tango, the DRC needs to come to the party as well. There is a strong appetite amongst investors looking for new ground for exploration in particular and also in beneficiation in country, adding value, because there is a big market for that. We can never say it enough, but we need to root out corruption in the Congo, we need more transparency in the Congo, particularly for getting permits for exploration and so forth. We need stability and certainty of regulatory framework. All these are must-haves if you want to attract big investors and really create wealth. So yes, the appetite is there, but the DRC needs to make it attractive for investors.” Increase in M&A post-COVID The webinar panel agreed that it was difficult to predict when the pandemic would be over and when all mining operations could resume. “What does this mean for the mining industry?” Louis Watum asked, “I think it is going to be the survival of the fittest post-COVID-19. And who is going to be the fittest? It is those that are well-funded, with deep pockets, with less debt and with very strong management. These are the ones who will survive this challenge. I therefore see an increase in M&A activities post-COVID-19, where the big players with a lot of cash and experience will be shopping around for opportunities that have lost a lot of value and have become affordable.” Pangea’s Boris Kamstra admitted that

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they “had their radars out and were scratching around” for opportunities. He added: ”we are great bulls on the DRC and believe wholeheartedly in its potential and are reviewing a number of possible investments that we could make. There are people with some severely stressed balance sheets. I think if you are an explorer or a developing project and you are not fully funded at this point I think in post-COVID-19 it is going to be quite hard to acquire that capital and those would be the kind of opportunities that we look at.” The full recording of the webinar can be viewed here: This webinar was the first in a series of topical webinars on mining and investing in the DRC that is taking place in the runup to the 16th edition of the DRC Mining Week expo and conference that is taking place in Lubumbashi from 7-9 October 2020. The event was due to take place from 17-19 June but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event organisers are also hosting a free, digital conference during the original event dates in June.

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The upcoming webinar topics are: • 9 June: Formalising artisinal mining in the DRC • 9 July: Counting on copper: Renewable energy and EV boom drive demand • 26 August: How to exploit the DRC’s commodities other than its strategic metals (cobalt, coltan)

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30 September: Harnessing hydropower in the DRC

To register for these webinars click here. • 17-19 June: Digital conference view programme Industry and institutional support DRC Mining Week takes place in Lubumbashi, with the support of the Ministry of Mines, the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC) and other strategic partners, and in October the event is expected to once again gather about 5000 local and international

mining stakeholders and influencers in the public and private sector doing business in the DRC. South Africa, Germany and Zimbabwe will be amongst at least six international pavilions along with the more than 230 sponsors and exhibitors, including two diamond plus sponsors for 2020, namely Standard Bank and Orange as well as Kamoto Copper Company and Vodacom who are diamond sponsors. The event will also feature a heavy machinery section and seven conference tracks. 100+ mining houses and operators will be represented.

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With You

09/01/2020 14:03

FEATURE

Renewable energy storage giving a new lease of life to end-of-lifecycle mine shafts

UK-based start-up has raised seed capital to finance an innovative idea which hopes to use old mine shafts to generate clean electricity at half the cost of lithium-ion batteries. The new power source, dubbed “gravity energy” is being developed by Gravitricity, and mimics hydropower projects which have played a key role in helping to balance the electricity grid. Gravitricity’s “virtual battery” design is created by hoisting and dropping 12,000-tonne weights – more than the weight of the Eiffel Tower – down disused mine shafts, according to Imperial College London. This system effectively stores energy by using electric winches to hoist the weights to the top of the shaft when there is plenty of renewable energy available, then dropping the weights hundreds of metres down vertical shafts to generate electricity when needed. A full-scale project would drop 24 weights totalling 12,000 tonnes to a depth of 800 metres to produce enough electricity to power 63,000 homes for more than an

hour. By controlling the winches Gravitricity said it could extend this period by allowing the weights to fall at a slower rate and release electricity over a longer period. Ideally suited to network-constrained users and operators, distribution networks and major power users, the technology operates in the 1MW to 20 MW power range and enables existing grid infrastructure to go further in a renewable energy world. Electrical power is either absorbed or generated by raising or lowering the weight. The weight is guided by a system of tensioned guide wires to prevent it from swinging and damaging the shaft. The system was developed by Gravitricity’s founder, Peter Fraenkel, who also invented the world’s first full-scale tidal energy turbines. The tidal energy design was subsequently bought by the German industrial firm Siemens. The company is currently in discussion with mine owners in the UK, South Africa, Poland, and the Czech Republic, where mine shafts can be more than 2,000 metres deep.

Charlie Blair, Gravitricity’s managing director, said: “The beauty of this is that this can be done multiple times a day for many years, without any loss of performance. This makes it very competitive against other forms of energy storage – including lithium-ion batteries.” Oliver Schmidt, the lead author of Imperial’s report, said Gravitricity’s model is the most price competitive energy storage option because it has a relatively low upfront cost and a potential lifespan of more than 25 years. The report found that electricity released by a typical 10MW lithium-ion battery project would cost $367 per megawatthour over its lifetime compared with a cost of $171/MWh for electricity from a Gravitricity project. Schmidt said: “I don’t expect Gravitricity to displace all lithium batteries on grids, but it certainly looks like a compelling proposition.”

Images are courtesy of Gravitricity. 26

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With DWD Drilling DRC’s Elephants bigger (and deeper) are better for mine dewatering!

____________________________________________________________________________________ DWD Drilling (DRC) is a DRC registered company based in Lubumbashi and a subsidiary of the Botswana based, DWD Group. DWD Drilling DRC focuses on specialised drilling operations with purpose-designed and built equipment directed at large diameter, deep, high volume and high yield, vertical and horizontal dewatering wells and, large diameter, deep, directional coring. The DWD Group operates a fleet of equipment ranging from Schramm TX 130 rigs to purpose built Elephant drill rigs capable of servicing a full spectrum of our clients’ needs from greenfields exploration through to brownfields resource expansion programmes. Qualified and competent personnel form an strong base of knowledge and experience in various fields of expertise allowing DWD Drilling (DRC) to offer clients a solid and unique partnership and service. The DWD Group through DWD Engineering an ISO 9001:2015 accredited company has designed and built proprietary drill rigs inclusive of the Buffalo multipurpose drills and Rhino blast-hole and horizontal dewatering rigs while also developing equipment in anticipation of the growing gas and oil discoveries, worldwide. DWD Engineering operates from our facility in Rasesa (Botswana) with a focus on drill rigs, structural steel, hydraulics, service and repairs of vehicles and support equipment. The group has and continues to operate across the SADC region inclusive of Botswana, DRC, South Africa, Angola, Zambia and Mozambique. DWD Drilling (DRC) operates two Elephant drill rigs in the DRC and successfully completed the first DRC dewatering drilling contract (20” and 24” holes to depths of 350m) at Frontier Mine in early 2017. A dewatering contract at MMG Kinsevere Mine and a further contract at Frontier Mine are being serviced at present. In 2015 a 24” hole to 600m was completed at 20” to 754m at the Lubambe Mine in Zambia. DWD Drilling (DRC) is also willing to deploy horizontal secondary in-pit dewatering technology to the DRC and / or Zambia for dewatering and side-wall stress relief purposes by means of 6 ½” horizontal boreholes and 4 ½” slotted casing installation to depths of 350m, subject to demand.

Enquiries regarding the group or drilling operations can be directed at: Rudie de Wet (Director – DWD Group)

+267 713 00 166

email: rudie@dwddrilling.com

Dannis Sumbu (General Manager - DWD Drilling DRC) +243 842 281 348

email: dsumbu@hotmail.com

Corne van Rooyen (Ops.Manager – DRC / Zambia)

email: corne@dwddrilling.com

+243 896 766 985

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MINROM: votre partenaire en Gestion des ressources minérales (GRM) en Afrique De conseils aux entreprises pour les investisseurs dans le secteur des ressources minières, en passant par le déploiment de programmes d’exploration à travers l’Afrique entière, la GRM dans l’industrie minière, et la formation en GRM, MINROM est votre partenaire en sciences géologiques.

Nos connaissances spécialisées en matières premières, en solutions techniques perfectionnées, en complexités géologiques et en pièges de l’industrie, ainsi que nos liens étroits avec d’autres services de conseils et de soutien font de MINROM un choix évident pour vos besoins. Ressources minérales: Pour tous vos besoins en Gestion des ressources minérales, MINROM est votre partenaire de choix parce que MINROM South Africa possède les compétences, la capacité technique et l’expertise pour transformer une ressource minérale en un projet viable. Tous les projets miniers nécessitent un soutien géologique solide et Minrom

peut vous aider en vous apportant le soutien technique essentiel qui donnera projets peuvent souvent être attribués à la méconnaissance des risque géologiques et géo-métallurgiques. MINROM dispose d’un large éventail de réussites en matière d’enquêtes de diligence raisonnable ainsi qu’en matière de programmes et de projets d’exploitation du manganèse dans le monde entier. Gestion de projets et exploration: Nous avons plus de 25 ans d’expérience en prospection et en extraction minière de nombreuses matières premières mais nous nous focalisons sur le fer, le manganèse, le cuivre, le cobalt, l’or, l’argent, le graphite, les pegmatites (l’étain, la tantalite, le tungstène, le lithium et les terres rares) ainsi que sur le diamant. Le but de Minrom est de minimiser le risque de l’exploration géologique par chiffrant le projet convenablement et en gérant les programmes d’exploration. Formation: de pouvoir proposer des formations dans les disciplines de l’Exploration

géologique et de la Géologie minière qui se basent sur les normes, les lignes directrices et les meilleures pratiques de l’industrie de manière à pouvoir répondre aux besoins du client. Les programmes de formation de Minrom client et s’adapteront à ses besoins uniques. Ces programmes s’adressent aux étudiants, aux petits exploitants miniers (et aux équipes géologiques) ainsi qu’au prospecteurs. Les programmes de formation de Minrom s’articulent autour de la Gestion des projets d’exploration, la Géologie pratique sur le terrain, les Systèmes d’information géographique (SIG) et de télédétection, l’évaluation et la gestion des programmes de forage, la modélisation en 3D, la compilation de rapports géologiques en vertu des exigences JORC/SAMREC/NI43-101. De plus, Minrom peut mettre au point des modules personnalisés pour ce qui est des levés de terrain, de la mise en place de camps en zone isolée (bush camp), et pour la formation sur véhicule 4 x 4 pour les géologues d’exploration.

MINROM EST VOTRE PARTENAIRE EN GESTION DES RESSOURCES MINÉRALES MINROM est spécialisé dans la Gestion des ressources minérales et offre:

Services de conseils aux entreprises & Enquêtes de diligence raisonnable

et statut de permis d’exploitation de projets

Execution et gestion de programmes d’exploration

Modèles de Blocs Géologiques en 3D et Rapports par Personne (CPR)

CONTACTEZ-NOUS DÈS AUJOURD’HUI AU: +27 (0)83 704 0243

Modélisation géométallurgique en 3D

Ι info@minrom.co.za

Système de Gestion Formation des ressources professionnelle minérales et pour géologues et mise en œuvre logicielle départementales

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Conseils aux entreprises: Notre vaste expérience en matière d’exploration et d’exploitation minière fait que nous sommes parfaitement placés pour conseiller les investisseurs potentiels, les directeurs d’opérations ainsi que les titulaires de projets sur tous les aspects de la Gestion des ressources minérales. Nous offrons aux entreprises des recommandations et des conseils pertinents qui ont pour but d’optimiser les solutions s’adressant aussi bien aux projets individuels

FEATURE

Mining in Zimbabwe with the Future in Mind Part of the Mining Matters series from Africa Legal Environmental problems are rife in large-scale and artisanal smallscale mining areas in Zimbabwe writes Tafadzwa Masukume, an associate with Manokore Attorneys in Harare.

he focus on sustainable development, in the context of environmental law and protection, has sparked the need to promote sustainability reporting and disclosure by mining project developers on ESG issues. These issues are essential for promoting transparency and accountability within the extractive sector, especially as Zimbabwe has not accelerated adoption and implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). On a more global scale, reports have indicated that the metals and mining sector is increasingly exposed to ESG risks, including concerns around emissions, water use, deforestation and community relations. The definition of ESG can be narrowed to encompass the following related issues: • Environment: climate change and biodiversity, waste, water and resource use and pollution • Social: Human rights, labour practices, safety and health, community and diversity • Government: corporate governance and ethics, compliance, approach to taxation Institutional lenders and private equity funds for mining project investments are increasingly undertaking environmental, social and business integrity assessments as part of their due diligence to establish whether there are liabilities which have not been accounted for elsewhere. We are seeing these assessments extending to cover a wide range of questions about cost efficiencies and advantages arising from improved environmental, labour, health and safety, community, ethical practices and corporate governance. The reason for this development is that, in a world where environmental protection has become a global concern, ESG compliance provides value drivers that appeal to both mining

entities and investors. Some of these value drivers include: increased capital access, easing risk management, cost savings through green energy systems, promoting innovation in productivity and brand enhancement. International policies such as the Carbon Disclosure Project, the EDFI Principles for Responsible Financing (2009) and the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment also require companies to report to investors on key ESG issues in line with most of the above value drivers. If Zimbabwe’s mining and extractive industries sector is to attract the right amount of quality global investment, then there is no better time than now for local entities to start adopting international best practice standards as the rules-ofplay in their mining business. Undoubtedly, there is a need for transparency and accountability in the Zimbabwean extractive sector to hold the private sector players accountable for their actions. The problem with lack of transparency is not always about lack of information, but sometimes it is the capacity to interpret information. There is, therefore, a need to undertake capacity building of government, parliament and other stakeholders to understand and adopt best international standards for Sustainable Reporting and to invest in ESG programmes for the mining sector. Both large-scale, artisanal and smallscale mining entities must be brought up to speed with reporting standards that give investor confidence in the mining industry. This is critical, bearing in mind the US$12 billion target that Zimbabwe’s Minister of Mines and Mining Development has pencilled as an achievable target by 2023. Boston College Centre for Corporate Citizenship and the consulting company

McKinsey & Company have argued that there are clear financial reasons for companies to invest in ESG improvements, indicating that ESG programmes can generate substantial direct financial returns. This study quotes investors and corporate managers as thinking that ESG improvement programmes have substantive impact on total quantifiable shareholder value. Global mining houses recognise that financial returns are equally as important as corporate social responsibility, particularly around organisational reputation. It is imperative therefore that investment prospects in Zimbabwe are viewed in this matrix, combining the feasibility of mining operations, with sovereign/political risk, ESG issues and the ease of doing business reforms being undertaken in the country. While the extent to which the environmental regulation and policy framework in Zimbabwe enforces the standard environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA) reporting prior to commencement of mining projects is appreciated, there is need to enhance the current legislative and policy framework to mirror internationally accepted ESG standards. Both mining sector players and regulators must be able to come to terms with the intricate relationship between mining processes – mine development, mining and mineral processing, marketing, mining taxation, mining cost structures, value chains, profit-shifting mechanisms, governance and sustainable development – and ESG reporting. Zimbabwe is on a concerted drive to attract foreign direct investment in a bid to turn around the economy, and mining continues to be a key sector focus for investors as the prospects are high. As issues around ESG are increasingly taking centre stage globally in investment decisions, Zimbabwe will serve to make itself a more attractive investment destination by prioritising them. Africa Legal partner with Mining Indaba on the General Counsel Forum which was successfully launched at the recent February 2020 edition of Investing In African Mining Indaba

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FEATURE

Dafo Vehicle Fire Protection on giving miners premium protection on site

for their SV-K fire suppression system. This has been granted with a Certificate of Approval by the Certification Body Global-Mark. The AS 5062-standard is equivalent to the upcoming Zambia Bureau of Standards new standard ZS1209/2019. Dafo Vehicle is also in the process of getting an FM approval in accordance with FM 5970.

ining, both surface and underground, is a complex operation that needs large off-road vehicles/ heavy duty mobile equipment (HDME) and processing equipment that operate at remote locations 24/7. In addition, these machines operate under challenging and demanding conditions in environments with many potential fire hazards as the HDMEs often carry a lot of flammable liquids in pressurized fuel lines close to hot engines and transmissions. When a fire breaks out on a mining vehicle the results can be catastrophic. Expensive repair or replacement of valuable equipment are the obvious consequences. Extensive downtime and business interruption can result in even greater expenses as this equipment often takes many months to repair or replace. Further and most importantly, a fire on a mining vehicle can mean serious injuries to the machine operator, miners and in some cases also lead to geological instability of the workplace.

Factors to consider when purchasing a vehicle fire protection system The first step is always checking to ensure that the system under procurement is a robust system fit for purpose in the harsh mining environment. For instance, the Dafo Vehicle Fire Protection system has fulfilled the requirements of the Australian Standard AS 5062:2016 - Fire protection for mobile and transportable equipment

Dafo Vehicle offers the most reliable and effective fire suppression systems for heavy duty mining vehicles designed to survive challenging working environments and secure safety of operations. The systems are designed to mitigate losses due to fire and reduce the impact on investment, reducing downtime and securing business continuity and increasing the productivity of the end users. Dafo Vehicleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s robust system not only protect individual hazards within the vehicle such as leaking fuel, hydraulic fluid, and/or lubrication, built up flammable deposits, but it is also a system with low life cycle costs.

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Do not compromise safety Reduce the impact on investment Secure business continuity www.dafo-vehicle.com

Cer tif

62 50

Democratic Republic of the Congo Cool & Care SARL Tel. +243 858930150

roduct - A dP S ie

Ghana TIGRIS 2000 LIMITED Tel. +233 240488733 Morocco M.G.C AFRICA Tel. +212 695031203 South Africa AAS (Advanced Automated Systems) Tel. +27 82 383 2757 Zambia ASM Global Tel. +260 978 700 751

Global-Mark.com.auÂŽ ID Number: 103658

Equivalent to Zambia Bureau of Standards - ZS1209/2019

FEATURE

HDME designed to survive challenging working environments and secure safety of operations. The systems are designed to mitigate losses due to fire and reduce the impact on investment, reducing downtime and securing business continuity and increasing the productivity of the end users. Dafo Vehicle’s robust system not only protect individual hazards within the vehicle such as leaking fuel, hydraulic fluid, and/or lubrication, built up flammable deposits, but it is also a system with low life cycle costs.

The basis of Dafo Vehicle’s system is the suppression agent Forrex™ which is specially developed to suppress fires in combustible engines. Forrex™ is highly effective on flammable liquid fires like petrol, diesel and hydraulic oils. The system combines the features of liquid and dry chemical, includes unique and propriety tailormade solutions and offers outstanding flame knockdown and unique protection against re-ignition as it will cool down the overheated engine parts in case of a thermal event. In addition, Dafo Vehicle Fire Protection continuously works towards sustainability, meaning environmental sensitivity without compromising safety. A potential fire in a mining environment would have a significant impact on the working- and public environment. To possibly get ahead of such, Dafo Vehicle is measuring and mitigating impacts from manufacture to end-of-life, making it favorable for mining environments. Dafo Vehicle offers the most reliable and effective fire suppression systems for

Democratic Republic Congo Cool & Care SARL Tel. +243 858930150 E-mail: amit.gupta@coolcare.cd Ghana TIGRIS 2000 LIMITED Tel. +233 240488733 E-mail: tigris2000limited@gmail.com

Technological advancements to lookout for Dafo Vehicle has launched a fire protection system for electric and hybrid vehicles that is activated before a fire in a battery occurs. The fire protection solution has been developed for buses but will also be available for other heavy electric vehicles as we now see are entering the mining environment. Additionally, introduction of the DafoCLOUD, a cloud-based risk management system is set to revolutionize the industry. The system provides a full overview of lifecycle of Fire Detection and Suppression System (FDSS). The DafoCLOUD provides access to the full history and genealogy of sub-systems of the FDSS and the complete information is seamlessly accessible and updatable by relevant stakeholders. The DafoCLOUD is the basis for reducing and controlling the total cost of ownership with keeping maximized safety in focus. With more than 165000 vehicle systems sold worldwide knowhow and experience ensure our customers to have the latest technology combined with proven reliability. The current solutions are being used worldwide as integrated solutions at the OEM production lines as well as retrofit installations at the end user in the mining industry. Morocco M.G.C AFRICA Tel. +212 695031203 E-mail: mgc.nafrica@gmail.com South Africa AAS (Advanced Automated Systems) Tel. +27 82 383 2757 E-mail: herbert@aasys.co.za Zambia ASM Global Tel. +260 978 700 751 E-mail: piers.holl@gmail.com

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FEATURE

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New Modular Mining public API brings interoperability to mining technology

odular Mining, the global leader in the delivery of real-time computerbased mine optimization solutions, announced today the launch of its Modular Mining Public Application Programming Interface (API). The new API is designed for superior integration and increased openness among thirdparty technologies and Modular Mining’s IntelliMine® portfolio, including the DISPATCH® Fleet Management and ProVision® Machine Guidance systems. Through the Public API infrastructure, bi-directional data sharing is possible among the industry-leading DISPATCH and ProVision systems and thirdparty programs, helping to increase productivity, operational efficiency, and overall value to the mines. The release of up- and down-stream thirdparty integration characterizes Modular Mining’s first step towards mine wide optimization. The Modular Mining Public API provides the Modular Mining mine management ecosystem with access to previously unavailable information, to supplement existing decision-making algorithms, automate tasks, and avoid duplication among systems. The Public API enhances third-party systems by

•

providing real-time read- only access to various endpoints including equipment positioning data, equipment status changes, and equipment cycle state changes. In addition, the API provides write access to various entry points including location status, road state, and crusher telemetry. The Public API is based on industry standards, including OpenAPI and AsyncAPI technical specifications and employs both REST with JSON for request/response patterns and WebSockets for publish/subscribe patterns. “As industry needs have evolved, we’ve come to understand that integration is increasingly more important and that we can’t solve all problems in the mining value chain ourselves,” said Lourens du Plessis, Vice President Customer Value, Modular Mining. “The Public API allows us to collaborate with other technology providers to deliver enhanced value to the industry.” The Modular Mining Public API includes components such as: • Mine Planning: Developed initially for integration with RPM Global and their short-term planning solution, XECUTE. The generic mine planning element enables any

third-party mine planning system to integrate with the ProVision system, bridging the gap between planning and execution, and enabling mines to monitor progress to plan and proactively respond to unplanned events. Payload Management: Built in conjunction with MineWare to integrate two Komatsu technology solutions: the Argus Payload Management System from MineWare, and Modular Mining’s ProVision Machine Guidance and DISPATCH Fleet Management systems. The API can integrate a site’s existing ProVision and DISPATCH systems with any third-party shovel-based payload monitoring system. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): To facilitate data exchange among Modular Mining’s DISPATCH and ProVision systems and a mine site’s ERP system. Available endpoints enable bi-directional updates with regards to current configuration, positioning, time tracking, and production states. Crusher Management: To manage the flow of traffic at the crusher by integrating the mine site’s crusher Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) data with Modular Mining’s DISPATCH Fleet Management System (FMS) for use in real-time decision-making algorithms. The integration enables the DISPATCH FMS to re-direct trucks to stockpiles and mitigate the effects of unnecessary queuing at the crusher. The Crusher Management component also makes it possible to monitor bin levels in real-time and reduce crusher black belt losses by calling for ROM feed on demand. With access to crusher data, the DISPATCH FMS can address gaps from ex-pit sources and minimize disruptions at the crusher caused by the rock breaker occupying the crusher bin at inopportune times. Information exchanged via the API can be used to customize utility display parameters such as bin level and time to green light status.

The Modular Mining Public API is available now for the latest releases of the DISPATCH Fleet Management and ProVision Machine Guidance systems.

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FEATURE

EFFECTIVE DUST CONTROL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

LT WORLD’s Samson travelling Eco-Hoppers have an effective dust control system that minimises the escape of dust during the grab discharge cycle in bulk materials handling.

says Ken Mouritzen, managing director, BLT WORLD. “It is the responsibility of companies to minimise people’s exposure to environmental pollution, which is a major problem in dry bulk handling, caused by fugitive dust.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we all do business and will permanently alter how production plants operate and how all industries function. It has become critical - at a time when we are all susceptible to this highly contagious virus - that extra care is taken to protect people working in potentially dangerous environments and to make sure working distances are maintained,”

Eco-Hoppers are designed to suit the characteristics and flow properties of virtually any bulk material, including coal, iron ore, gypsum, copper concentrates, soda ash and wood chips. These robust grab unloading hoppers, which are manufactured to withstand tough conditions in bulk handling, offer handling rates to 5 000 tonnes per hour,

depending on grab crane performance. This low-maintenance system also reduces capital equipment investment and minimised operating costs. These hoppers have an upper and lower section, separated by a dust retention feature, the ‘Flex-Flap’. This divider, which comprises a series of pressedsteel sections and vertical rubber flaps, opens to allow the free flow of material into the hopper and closes to prevent the flow of air out of the hopper. When bulk material is released by the grab, it falls through the Flex-Flap and accumulates in the inner hopper below.

BLT WORLD’s SAMSON Eco Hoppers pic 1 BLT WORLD’s Samson travelling Eco-Hoppers have an effective dust control system that minimises the escape of dust during the grab discharge cycle in bulk materials handling.

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For handling difficult materials, one or multiple Samson feeder units can be integrated with the Eco-hopper, to provide controlled rate feeding of virtually any material. Eco-Hoppers can be rail mounted or bolted to suitable concrete foundations. For applications requiring a higher level of manoeuvrability, hoppers can be supported on solid rubber filled pneumatic tyres. The combination of fixed and steering axles provides the option of power travel.

BLTWORLD’s SAMSON Eco Hoppers pic 2 BLTWORLD’s range of SAMSON bulk materials handling equipment includes travelling Eco-hoppers, which provide efficient handling, flexibility and environmental protection, in the discharge of dry bulk materials.

The hopper system automatically closes as a result of the newly created pressure differential between the hopper and the atmosphere, forming a seal to contain the dust contaminated air. Integral reverse jet filters are positioned around the hopper inlet to extract and clean the dust laden air. Collected dust is then re-cycled into the mainstream of material. The Flex-Flap feature reduces the volume of exhausted air necessary to control fugitive dust and requires the

use of small, compact filters rather than a large de-dusting system. Discharge of materials from the EcoHopper may be direct to a belt conveyor for a fixed installation. In this case, the bulk material is reclaimed by a gravity discharge unit which feeds the material onto the conveyor at the required output rate. By using a dust-controlled loading spout, the hopper can discharge direct to tipping trucks.

Four SAMSON Eco Hoppers, which were installed at Kenya’s Port of Mombasa a few years ago, have significantly improved port facilities, also minimising the environmental impact of bulk handling operations at the harbour. These fullymobile Samson hoppers, with powered travel and crabbing functionality for easy positioning alongside the vessel during unloading, can be manoeuvred off the quay, freeing up space when they are not in use. BLT WORLD is the exclusive distributor in Africa for the Samson range of bulk handling equipment, which includes material and boom feeders for loading and high capacity stockpiling, mobile shiploaders and Eco-Hoppers.

BLT WORLD’s SAMSON Eco Hoppers pic 3 Four SAMSON Eco Hoppers, which were installed at Kenya’s Port of Mombasa a few years ago, have significantly improved port facilities, also minimising the environmental impact of bulk handling operations at the harbour

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FEATURE

New MSGBC Basin Prospects in Focus for TGS offshore The Gambia

GS has announced that it has fired the first shot in a 3D seismic survey it is undertaking off the coast of The Gambia with the commencement acquisition of the 4,770-sq km (1,842sq mi) Gambito 2020 3D survey in the MSGBC basin offshore The Gambia. The company is undertaking the program in co-operation with BGP and The Gambian Ministry of Petroleum & Energy (MOPE), using the BGP Prospector vessel. Recently the vessel steamed south to prepare for the campaign after recently completing another 3D seismic survey for TGS off northern Senegal. Gambito 2020 will cover acreage in deep and ultra-deep waters, which according to TGS could be highly prospective, based on extensive basin floor fans identified in previous TGS 2D regional seismic grids. Located at the heart of the MSGBC basin, the survey will also be adjacent to Jaan, a fully-harmonised

30,000-sq km (11,583-sq mi) 3D multiclient project which recently delivered final PSTM/PSDM products. The acquisition in The Gambia will last around three months, with the full dataset available after final processing in Q2 2021. The survey will support a future licensing round organized by the country. TGS also has exclusive rights to existing multi-client seismic data offshore The Gambia. Kristian Johansen, TGS CEO, said: “the commencement of the Gambito 2020 3D is the latest step to increase our extensive subsurface survey activities in the MSGBC basin, a prolific region in offshore West Africa. TGS’ unique combination of seismic and interpretation products in the area will offer our customers critical insight into supporting their E&P plans in this region.” TGS acquisition is the latest development in The Gambia’s desire to

explore offshore resources and build a significant energy economy. Last year the government signed a contract with supermajor BP to explore oil and gas off its coast. The Gambia’s President, H.E. Adama Barrow, is trying to build up Gambia’s oil and gas sector as a way of reviving an economy decimated by more than two decades of autocratic rule under former President Yahya Jammeh, who fled the country in 2017. For more on the MSGBC Basin, which spans territorial waters between Senegal and Mauritania on Africa’s Western Atlantic Coast, join us at AOW 2020 as we discuss above and below ground risk, and gain insight from NOCs and operators in the region. Hon. Fafa Sanyang, The Gambia’s Minister of Petroleum & Energy, is attending AOW 2020. See the full list of confirmed governments.

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FEATURE

The first completed tank for the RioZim project.

Best ranked tanks:

Betterect employs pan-African project know-how and SA steel to build tanks for RioZim mine

etterect, a South African specialist in steel fabrication and erection of mining, petrochemical and other industrial structures, is drawing on its extensive experience of successfully delivering steel projects locally and across Africa to fabricate and install ten large steel tanks for RioZim, at its Cam and Motor gold mine in Zimbabwe.

The tanks - of which the largest measure 12 m in diameter and 12.7 m in height - are part of an expansion of the gold processing plant at the mine. Betterect has also been appointed as the only structural mechanical piping and platework (SMPP) contractor on the project; and, as such, will be fabricating and installing all structural steel, piping,

mechanical and process equipment accordingly. On completion of the expansion project, the Cam and Motor mineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly production will increase from 80kg to 167kg, making it the largest gold mine in Zimbabwe â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as well as the only refractory gold ore treatment plant in

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FEATURE

One of the tank strake sections for the RioZim project in the process of being rolled and joined.

the entire country.The front end of the refractory gold ore treatment plant will have a nameplate capacity of 2 500 tons per day, and the BIOX tanks will treat 100 tons of flotation concentrate per day. BIOX is a robust, easy to operate and sustainable technology for the treatment of refractory gold concentrates, developed and owned by project designers Outotec. Betterect is fabricating the tanks with locally-sourced South African steel, which has reduced the overall project lead time by six to eight weeks. Columbus Stainless has supplied 250 tons of grade 2304 duplex steel for the project; while South African steel and aluminium supplier Stalcor is responsible for the processing of the material.

“We are proud of the ‘Team Africa’ nature of the RioZim project, which is being delivered by a South African team of suppliers to an African project,” says Managing Director of Betterect, Nicolette Skjoldhammer. She adds that - particularly in light of how the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed widespread economic dependence on Asian products – the RioZim collaboration is an example of one of the ways in which local industrial supply chains can drive African growth. “This happens when companies focusing on the supply, processing, fabrication and erection of steel structures join forces to deliver pan-African infrastructure projects in the mining, power generation,

petrochemical and other industries,” she asserts. The RioZim steel tank fabrication project, which includes structural mechanical piping and platework (SMPP) components - kicked off in July 2019 and is making excellent progress, taking the industry-wide and unavoidable Covid-19 pandemic-related delays into account. Betterect is fabricating two types of tanks in this project, namely bulk standard and OKTOP reactor units from carbon and duplex stainless steel, including design integration of the original BIOX technology from project designers Outotec. Skjoldhammer says the company is fabricating a number of the tanks at its facility here in Johannesburg, before transporting and installing them

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at the RioZim operation; while only the largest are being built on site. She explains that this approach reduces the safety risks inherent in on-site work; as well as the logistical risk factors which come with cross-border, in-country work: “For example, we have ensured that as much of the so-called ‘hot’ work (such as welding) has been done at our facility in Johannesburg.” “The challenges typically involved in delivering steel projects pan-Africa include – amongst many others - logistical issues such as obtaining the required in-country work permits, managing of export and customs requirements, the issuing of bonds and cross-border site establishment. Notwithstanding these – and as well as delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic-related challenges – Betterect has once again proved its adeptness at successfully overcoming challenges and is on track to complete the project within the original planned project duration,” she explains. Skjoldhammer adds that the smooth supply of the steel material by Betterect’s South African partners Columbus and Stalcor contributed to the overall project success: “The project underlines that Betterect and our partners have a competitive advantage in undertaking projects in Africa for both local and international clients.” Betterect has a sound track record of supplying pan-African mining and energy projects with large steel equipment and infrastructure. Its milestone projects include the delivery of seven stainless steel thickeners for a project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); the fabrication and installation of thickeners for the Swakopmund uranium mine in Namibia; and the fabrication and installation of structural steel and tanks for a gas-fired power plant in Mozambique.

Managing Director of Betterect, Nicolette Skjoldhammer.

Manit Shah, Group Chief Operations Officer at RioZim Limited commends Betterect and its ‘Team Africa’ partners Columbus Steel and Stalcor for their contributions to and participation in this

“The success of this project is not only attributable to Betterect’s substantial experience of working in the steel sector locally and in Africa for over four decades; but also to our partnership with

milestone project: “The RioZim BIOX project serves as a great example and reference point in promoting African steel products and fabrication services to the pan-African market – and is a showcase for what ‘Team Africa’ can collectively achieve,” he remarks.

local steel suppliers, whom we would like to sincerely thank for their contribution and team work. The sterling-quality material and processing capabilities which are available in South Africa – together with Betterect’s expertise in manufacturing large equipment and steel structures for the mining sector – has formed a productive partnership, to the ultimate benefit of our client,” Skjoldhammer concludes.

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ADVERTISER’S INDEX Ambra Solutions ..................................................................................................................17 CBRE......................................................................................................................................... 40 Dafo............................................................................................................................................ 31 Derrick.................................................................................................................................... IBC DWD Drilling.......................................................................................................................... 27 E.S.P.I.C......................................................................................................................................19

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Introducing the SuperStack® Wet Sizing Screen Up to 3X the capacity of the 5-Deck Stack Sizer® Derrick® has once again redefined high capacity, fine particle wet screening with the introduction of the SuperStack®. With 8 decks operating in parallel and a 35% increase in the effective width of each deck, the SuperStack has a demonstrated capacity equivalent to 2½ to 3 times that of its precursor, the 5-Deck Stack Sizer®. All this added capacity comes with only a slight increase in the space required per machine, significantly reducing CAPEX and OPEX for any screening installation. Offering high productivity, low operating and maintenance costs, convenient serviceability and durability, the SuperStack is built to last and backed by a worldwide support team available 24/7.