46 minute read
as key money maker
Malawi President eyes mining as key money maker
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has announced plans to reform the country’s mining sector to boost the economy and crack down on rampant, illegal mining and mineral smuggling. Chakwera said, if properly regulated, mining could play a major role in Malawi’s economy, currently one of the poorest in Africa. Malawi’s president, in a national television address late Sunday, said a wellregulated mining sector has the potential to develop the country’s economy. Lazarus Chakwera noted that despite a lot of mineral resources in Malawi, the sector has faced exploitation not only by foreigners but also local miners.
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He gave an example of uranium mining activities in the Kayelekera area of northern Malawi, run by Australiabased company Paladin Africa, which he said did not yield the desired results. “Although the Kayelekera sandstone uranium deposit was discovered during Malawi’s first presidency in 1982, six presidencies later our country has nothing developmental to show for it, not even in the Kayelekera community itself,” said Chakwera.
Chakwera said Malawi has issued over 250 mining licenses but has no proper mining industry or returns to speak of. Minerals found in Malawi include uranium, gold, bauxite, coal and phosphates. The country has a proliferation of small-scale miners - most of whom are operating without a license.
In 2018 Malawi police and soldiers cracked down on a gold mining site outside the capital, Lilongwe, that was attracting foreign buyers from neighboring countries. They burnt down the mining site and shacks and also arrested some illegal miners. Percy Maleta is the chairperson for Nyasa Mining Corporative in the capital Lilongwe. He says the minerals being mined do not generate any revenue for the country.
“We have a sector which doesn’t pay tax especially with the gold rush where we are losing a lot of land to unprofessional type of mining,” said Maleta. “When we are exporting these stones, very few stones go through the system. I wouldn’t ever be surprised to say that it is less than 10%. Most of our stones are being taken outside Malawi through unchartered routes.”
He says there is greater need to bring sanity into the industry so it can replace tobacco as Malawi’s main source of foreign exchange. Lawmaker Welani Chilenga chairs the Natural Resources Committee in Malawi parliament.
He told a local radio Monday that Malawi has enough laws to regulate the mining industry but the problem is implementing them. “As a country we have a very strong Mines and Minerals Act,” said Chilenga. “Implementation is not taking place. If the act was implemented illegal mining would not have been there. We have mine all over. We don’t have to regularize illegal mining. We should have contained according to the law. So, the government is failing to implement the existing laws which parliament passed which are the biggest problem.”
In his speech, President Chakwera said the ministry of mining will work with the police to curb illegal mining and smuggling activities.
Wenco International Mining Systems has acquired all assets and intellectual property of fatigue monitoring wearable maker SmartCap Technologies. The deal will merge fatigue monitoring capability to the safety solution portfolio of Wenco. The SmartCap device evaluates fatigue levels in real-time and screens for oncoming microsleeps that can cause safety hazards. More than 5,000 consumers in mining, trucking, and various sectors are using the device. Wenco noted that the SmartCap improves the workers’ ability to stay safe. SmartCap CEO Tim Ekert said: “This purchase is an important step for the continued growth of the SmartCap fatigue technology. We have made significant progress these past eight years and we are proud of every safety incident our technology has prevented. “We believe joining Wenco will enable us to grow even further and increase the safety of even more industrial operations.”
Lately, Wenco and its parent company Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM, have concentrated on solutions for simplifying and enhancing end-toend mining venture, with safety as the primary concern. SmartCap is expected to add a fatigue analysis layer for operator protection to the digital mining drive. It may be incorporated under HCM’s Solution Linkage family, the ICT/IoT solution platform for worldwide mining and construction clients made in response to high demands for enhanced safety, lifecycle cost, and output. Wenco president and CEO Andrew Pyne said: “Wenco has long been observing SmartCap’s success in enhancing safety for their customers, and we have been in regular discussion on how we can integrate our technologies to provide a comprehensive, next-generation safety solution.
“Ultimately, it was decided that bringing our technology, personnel, and business relationships together under Wenco offered the greatest opportunity for us to deliver on our mutual vision for mine safety.”
Caterpillar-Argonne partnership shifts heavy-duty engine design into higher gear
Heavy-duty diesel engines still power most large vehicles used in the construction, mining and transportation industries in the US. Engineers are working to improve the fuel efficiency of these engines while minimising pollution to reduce energy consumption and ensure the sustainability of these industries in the future. To tackle this problem, researchers at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory joined forces with Caterpillar Inc, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of construction and mining equipment. Taking advantage of Argonne’s high-performance computing resources, researchers developed a potential piston design for Caterpillar’s engines that could improve fuel efficiency while reducing harmful emissions.
The team first created a framework to optimise combustion system design using a 3Dcomputational fluid dynamics tool called CONVERGE, developed by Convergent Science, Inc. Merging heat transfer and combustion data derived from CONVERGE models with environmental data on soot and nitrogen oxide (NOx) production, they then ran hundreds of high-fidelity simulations to develop promising designs for piston bowls — the combustion chambers in diesel engines. Using this method, they were able to identify several designs that had the potential to improve fuel efficiency while reducing emissions. Caterpillar created prototypes of the top-performing designs using additive manufacturing techniques to validate the model results. “By leveraging the supercomputing resources available at Argonne, we ran very detailed simulations and also got the results much more quickly, reducing the simulation time from months to weeks,” said Chao Xu, an Argonne postdoctoral appointee leading the simulation efforts.
One particularly promising piston bowl design improved the mixing process between fuel and air. Researchers found that it could reduce fuel consumption by nearly 1%, a measurable improvement, while reducing soot by up to 20%.
“The workflow we developed will benefit everyone,” said Sibendu Som, Manager of the Computational Multi-Physics Research Section in Argonne’s Energy Systems division, who supervises the team working on the project with Caterpillar. “We are publishing our methodology so companies can use it to design new piston bowls for themselves.”
In addition to the project’s simulation innovations, one of the team’s key contributions was its development of an industry-friendly approach, which allows companies to optimise their engine designs using their own inhouse computer systems. This simplified model, based on the results of hundreds of the complex simulations, provides a similar level of accuracy while reducing the computational requirements by as much as 40%. “It actually reduces the testing costs if we have a predictive model and optimise designs on a supercomputer. It also reduces the time industry needs to develop a product — a great benefit,” said Prithwish Kundu, a research scientist who is managing the project at Argonne.
“Our work with Argonne on this project enabled the exploration of a massive design space,” said Jon Anders, Principal Investigator and Senior Engineering Specialist in Caterpillar’s Integrated Components and Solutions division. “By working together and leveraging simulation expertise and computing resources from Argonne with manufacturing and testing expertise at Caterpillar, we were able to optimise and test a piston on a timeline that was far shorter than would have otherwise been possible.”
This research was funded by DOE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office and Vehicle Technologies Office in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, under the High-Performance Computing for Manufacturing (HPC4Mfg) Program umbrella. The team used Argonne’s Laboratory Computing Resource Center, as well as the Mira supercomputer (now retired), operated by the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, a DOE Office of Science User Facility.
Tracker selects IFS to enhance and expand its service offering
Tracker, the largest provider of telematics-based data insights for vehicle and home monitoring services in South Africa, is continuing its digital and business transformation journey through partnering with IFS. Tracker has selected an IFS solution that spans enterprise resource planning (ERP) functionality, cutting-edge service management capabilities and AIpowered customer engagement tools.
The solution will ensure an elevated customer experience and reduce time and costs across Tracker’s entire operations. Established in 1996, Tracker’s base of more than 1,1-million active subscribers enjoy a range of services, including vehicle telematics, home solutions, roadside assistance, as well as business solutions for fleet managers. These services provide customers with peace of mind and cost saving through a focus on safety and business efficiency. Tracker has evolved significantly over the last 25 years thanks to a culture of continuous innovation. The company has grown into the preferred partner for turning raw vehicle tracking data into valuable insights and services. The partnership with IFS is the next step in Tracker’s digital transformation strategy.
This will provide better business insights resulting in an accelerated release of new services, improved customer engagement and experience, and Tracker being able to provide the appropriate value-adding services to its customers at the right time. Tracker has chosen a holistic IFS solution that encompasses broad functionality including finance and human capital management, cuttingedge service management capabilities and AI-powered customer engagement tools.
“As we take the next step on our digital transformation journey, we require a platform that will enable us to connect more intimately with our stakeholders whilst still ensuring the same excellent experiences that our customers have become accustomed to,” Tracker, CTO, Deon du Rand says. “The IFS platform’s comprehensive nature and IFS’s stellar track record in the service sector were driving factors in our decision.”
Emma Murray, MD of IFS Africa, adds, “I am proud to welcome such a wellrespected brand as Tracker to the IFS community. By basing its digital transformation project on a single enterprise solution, Tracker will benefit from increased productivity and improved data quality driving better decisionmaking. IFS’s open and enabled architecture will also give Tracker total freedom in extending their capabilities to ensure they keep delivering outstanding service to their customers.”
Introducing the SOLARFLOOD
Beka-Schreder announce the launch of SOLARFLOOD a solar lighting highmast solution for all area applications
Our solar lighting high mast solution for outdoor open area and rural applications provides you with a high performing, robust option for your off-grid solar lighting requirements. The SOLARFLOOD, combined with the OMNISTAR-MINI luminaire, provides a reliable lighting solution with a high Ingress Protection level (IP 66) that withstands high ambient temperatures. The OMNISTAR-MINI range is a sustainable off-grid performer with a superior lumen/watt ratio. Our highperforming optics allow for mounting of up to 30m, providing high-quality light where it is needed. The photovoltaic energy conversion is optimized by highly efficient Monocrystalline solar module technology. This, in conjunction with our Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charging system and our lithium battery technology, provides a state-of-the-art quality system, offering the required system autonomy and providing a long lasting solution to operate in any of our very challenging African environmental conditions.
Key advantages of the SOLARFLOOD include: • Designed and manufactured in South Africa, thus taking our continent’s harsh environmental conditions into account • Designed to operate reliably with a dimming profile at an optimum light output for a 12-hour period • It has sufficient autonomy to cater for up to two continuous overcast or rainy days, to continue its reliable night operation • Specific Dimming profiles for maximum output to suit your application (right light at the right
time) • Specifically engineered for geographical locations in Africa • Long life lithium battery technology
Whether used for high mast lighting, car parks, squares and pedestrian areas or security lighting, the SOLARFLOOD offers the ideal LED lighting solution.
For further enquiries, contact Grant Combrink at 011 238 0000 or g.combrink@beka-schreder.co.za
Unleash the potential in your mining data with Pitram OLAP Analysis
Using data driven insights to improve the decision-making process has been one of the biggest trends in the mining industry over the past few years and it will continue to be a strategic priority for mining companies going forward. Understanding the role data plays at both micro and macro levels can assist in unlocking value for the business. Whilst data collection on site is important, what happens with that data next can sometimes be a challenge.
Many tools exist to help management with analysis, modelling and reporting in order to realise the value in their data. Pitram’s OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) tool is an example of this type of technology. Pitram’s OLAP Analysis module provides users with the necessary tools to perform multidimensional analysis of operational mining data. OLAP is a powerful technology used across various industries for data discovery, reporting, complex analytics and predictive forecasting. With mining companies required to manage large and very complex data sets, this type of technology can provide enormous value to a mining operation. The Pitram OLAP Analysis module is an extension to the wide array of standard reports that come “out of the box”, OLAP provides the ability for users to further slice and dice their data. OLAP technology has been integrated into the Pitram solution to assist mine sites to understand their key mining data and improve business intelligence. Multidimensional analysis, complex calculations, trend analyses, and sophisticated data modelling can be applied through the OLAP Analysis module. Pitram Product Strategy Manager Gareth Dean understands the importance of this type of technology in the mining industry.
“Understanding and managing minesite data can be a challenge, the Pitram OLAP module assists mine managers, engineers, geologists and analysts to perform data analysis and provides them with the insight and understanding they need for better decision making” he said.
The benefits of the OLAP Analysis module for Pitram users are significant. Multidimensional analysis, trustworthy data and calculations, self-service reporting and the ability to manipulate data to identify areas of improvement assist management to increase business intelligence and improve the decision-making process. “Having a fully dedicated and integrated OLAP Analysis module within Pitram makes it easy for users to access their key mining data relating to equipment, minesite personnel and materials. “Users of the Pitram OLAP Analysis module can leverage the large amounts of data collected on site to improve key focus areas such as production, safety and mine planning” Mr. Dean added.
The OLAP module can also easily aggregate data from 3rd party sources such as Microsoft Excel and OEM systems. Utilising a familiar tool like Excel, provides a level of confidence in data delivery. Pitram’s sophisticated yet intuitive functionality makes it ideal for any mining environment. It has been implemented at more underground sites than any competitor product and is increasingly popular with sites using automated practices. The Pitram solution is backed by a global team of experienced technical specialists who work closely with Pitram users to ensure they get the most out of their software investment.
Sungrow Joins Hands with JCM Power and InfraCo to Construct Malawi’s First Solar-plus-storage Project
Sungrow, the global leading PV and ESS solutions supplier for renewables, has recently partnered with JCM Power, InfraCo Africa, RINA and Innovate UK to construct the Republic of Malawi’s first utility-scale solar-plus-storage project. Located in the Dedza district of Malawi near the town of Golomoti, the 20MWac solar PV and 5MW/10MWh energy storage project is set to become a leading project in sub-Saharan Africa in demonstrating the value of solar PV coupled with energy storage.
The project will fully adopt Sungrow’s one-stop solar-plus-storage MV solution comprised of PV inverter, MV station, all-in-one Power Conversion System, battery container, and energy management system (EMS). Sungrow’s leading PV and storage technologies will be deployed to improve the availability,
The Model RS pull cord, manufactured by Conveyor Components Company, is a rugged safety stop control that provides a quick positive shut off of dangerous equipment in emergencies. It is actuated by a cable pulled by endangered personnel.The outputs of the Model RS can control up to four separate circuits, depending on the model chosen. These alarms can include one for machinery shutdown and one for alarm.The Model RS was developed to meet the stringent requirements of safety agencies throughout the world. reliability, and quality of the Malawi power supply through its outstanding capabilities in providing frequency regulation, voltage regulation, peak shaving, and reactive power support. The Golomoti project, which is expected to enter operations at the end of 2021, will have all engineering, procurement and construction activities managed by JCM Power. The inclusion of lithium-ion batteries behind the meter at this scale will be a first in sub-Saharan Africa, demonstrating JCM’s position as a leader in deploying leading technologies and innovation for solar-storage projects.
“We are pleased to have selected Sungrow to supply solar inverters, transformer kiosks and a one-stop lithiumion battery energy storage solution for this pioneering project. Together, with Sungrow’s global experience and expertise, we look forward to this project demonstrating the pathway for clean, affordable and reliable energy for Malawi and further as a demonstration to other developing nations” said Shane Eglinton, Engineering Director of JCM Power.
“We are extremely proud to be part of this iconic project. At the same time, we are certain that the introduction of our latest outdoor Power Conversion System solutions to the African market will boost the region’s clean-power access and economic growth,” said Phyllis Yang, the head of Sungrow Southern Africa.
After years of growth with zero security incidents, Sungrow is on the path to becoming the world’s leading supplier of ESS equipment and integrated system solutions. In 2020, thanks to its broad product portfolio and perfectly localized after-sales service network, Sungrow led Southern Africa’s PV sector with a market share over 20%.
Dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions. With a strong 24-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power installations in over 150 countries.
Safety Stop Switch Saves Lives
This control is designed to act as an emergency stop for conveyors and other moving machinery.
This standard housing construction is corrosion resistant cast aluminum, with an optional polyester or epoxy powder coating. The operating handle must be manually reset after the problem has been corrected.
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 registered company.
CERA 4in1 and ICL Iberia announce breakthrough in cross-recognition of sustainability certification
By Ivan Closa
The CERA 4in1 initiative and ICL Iberia – with the support of CONFEDEM – have announced a major breakthrough in the crossrecognition of raw materials sustainability certification. The announcement follows pilot project results at ICL Iberia’s Súria & Sallent potash mine and its Súria processing plant near Barcelona, Spain. It is a development that will provide smaller domestic producers with a clear route to meeting the sustainability requirements of international markets.
Since 2020, the CERA 4in1 initiative has been working with a range of pilot projects to actualise its mission to standardise the evaluation of sustainability for every raw material, in every country, under a single scheme. Within this mission, a framework has been developed to recognize sustainability schemes that are already been in place at operational sites. To-date, sustainability at the ICL Iberia’s Súria & Sallent mine and processing plant – which produces 4,000 kilotonnes of potash ore annually – have been evaluated using the UNE 22470/22480 Standard, Spain’s national technical standard, which is not known in a broader international context, but has now been recognised through the CERA 4in1 framework. Súria & Sallent were selected as one of the CERA 4in1 pilot projects to test the “CERA 4in1 Performance Standard” which evaluates the responsible performance of mine activity and subsequent processes.
As part of the recertification process of Súria & Sallent under the UNE 22470/22480 standard, the UNE Standard requirements were evaluated and successfully transferred to meet the majority of the performance criteria within CERA 4in1’s internationally recognised standard.
Commenting on the significance of this achievement, Dr Andreas Hucke, Project Director, CERA 4in1, said: “From the outset, CERA 4in1 set out to harmonise the way the raw materials value chain ensures the sustainability of its processes, products and linkages – a constant headache for the industry. CERA 4in1 has made a major step in cross recognition, opening the door for other individual standards to receive international accreditation.”
Commenting on the pilot project, Carles Aleman, President of ICL Iberia, said: “Reaching a sustainable mining has been one of ICL Iberia’s top priorities in recent years. We are certain that working with the CERA4in1 Standard will not only help us meet our sustainability goals, but also lead the entire industry toward a more sustainable future”.
The CERA 4in1 Performance Standard criteria was first published as a working model in April 2019, before being presented and initially discussed during the CERA 4in1 stakeholder workshop at the EIT Raw Materials Summit in Berlin in May 2019. Following this audit, the Súria & Sallent mine and processing plant will now aim to achieve full CERA 4in1 certification as soon as practicable.
A . H . L U N D B E R G S Y S T E M S L I M I T E D
E n g i n e e r e d P r o c e s s S o l u t i o n s
INT ROD UCT ION
. . . .The p ro duct is gr ea ter t ha n the s um of its pa rts .
F r o m m o d e s t b e g i n n i n g s i n 1 9 5 4 , A . H . L u n d b e r g S y s t e m s h a s e v o l v e d i n t o a l e a d i n g d e s i g n e r o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l s y s t e m s , e n e r g y o p t i m i z a t i o n , c h e m i c a l h a n d l i n g , a n d p r o c e s s e n g i n e e r i n g s e r v i c e s t o p o w e r , r e s o u r c e , a n d p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r i e s .
W e a r e a C a n a d i a n c o m p a n y w i t h c o r p o r a t e o f f i c e s l o c a t e d i n Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Through our Vancouver office and our agents, we provide custom designed process equipment and engineered solutions to industrial enterprises worldwide. Continuous involvement in limited areas permit us to offer specialized services utilizing the latest state-of-the-art technology in our process equipment designs.
W o r k i n g w i t h A . H . L u n d b e r g S y s t e m s m e a n s w o r k i n g w i t h a c o m p a n y t h a t t a k e s c a r e o f e v e r y a s p e c t o f a p r o j e c t . W e u n d e r s t a n d h o w i n t e g r a t e d s y s t e m s c a n i n t e r a c t a n d h o w t h e y m a y a f f e c t o n e a n o t h e r . B u i l d i n g u p o n y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e , w e c o n t i n u a l l y p r o v i d e n e w s o l u t i o n s t o p l a n t n e e d s , e x p a n d i n g o n w h a t h a s b e e n d o n e b e f o r e . A . H . L u n d b e r g S y s t e m s ’ c a p a b i l i t i e s d o n o t s t o p w i t h p r o c e s s k n o w l e d g e . W e h a v e t h e r e s o u r c e s t o p e r f o r m e v e r y e l e m e n t o f a n E P C p r o j e c t , t a i l o r i n g o u r s c o p e a n d p r o j e c t t e a m t o m e e t t h e s p e c i f i c n e e d s o f t h e c l i e n t , l o o k i n g c a r e f u l l y a t e v e r y a s p e c t t o f i n d t h e b e s t f i t a n d d e v e l o p t h e m o s t c o s t e f f e c t i v e s o l u t i o n . T h e a b i l i t y t o a d j u s t o u r s c o p e t o m e e t p r o j e c t n e e d s a l l o w s o u r c l i e n t s t o e f f i c i e n t l y u t i l i z e e x i s t i n g p l a n t r e s o u r c e s a n d e x p e r t i s e i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h o u r s .
O u r i n n o v a t i v e w a y s i n c l u d e n o t o n l y w h a t w e d o , b u t a l s o h o w w e d o i t . O u r k n o w l e d g e g i v e s u s t h e f l e x i b i l i t y t o a d j u s t t h e s y s t e m d e s i g n , o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e p r o j e c t , t o p r o v i d e t h e c u s t o m i z e d s o l u t i o n r e q u i r e d .
T h e p r o p e r s c o p i n g o f a p r o j e c t , t h e a b i l i t y t o t i e m u l t i p l e s y s t e m s t o g e t h e r t h a t a r e d i v e r s e , y e t i n t e r r e l a t e d , a n d b u i l d i n g t h e p r o p e r p r o j e c t t e a m a r e a l l i n g r e d i e n t s a s s u r i n g o v e r a l l s u c c e s s . W e a r e c o m m i t t e d t o t h e g o a l o f p r o v i d i n g a t e c h n i c a l l y a d v a n c e d , h i g h q u a l i t y , e c o n o m i c a l , s a f e a n d r e l i a b l e i n s t a l l a t i o n .
A.H. LUNDBERG SYSTEMS LIMITED 5118 JOYCE STREET, SUITE 300 VANCOUVER, B.C., CANADA V5R 4H1
PHONE: 604-629-5599 * FAX: 604-629-5199 * E-MAIL: sales@ahlundberg.com * WEB PAGE: www.ahlundberg.com
00b_06-10-2016
Mining Indaba expands the Advisory Board for 2022
Australian based company, Kinder Australia, are pleased to welcome their exclusive agent Mngeniseni “Lucky” Nkosi. Enhancing their growing list of international partners, Lucky is based in Felixton and can service South African bulk handling sites. He brings an impressive set of technical skills and is well acquainted with the servicing and maintenance of conveyors. Investing in African Mining Indaba (Mining Indaba), organised by Hyve Group Plc announced the newly expanded Advisory Board last week. The strategic committee includes distinguished finance, technology, sustainability, mining operations, policy, and governance leaders whose focus will be to shape and guide the priorities of the conference.
“Designed to reflect the true voice of the industry in shaping the purpose and agenda, this is an important milestone for Mining Indaba,” said Tom Quinn, Head of Content, Mining Indaba. “We carefully curated this Board to include industry experts whose collective experience ensures the conference has the guidance it needs to navigate its way in the mining industry”.
With combined years of expertise spanning the sector, the Advisory Board will play a valuable role in guiding strategic decisions to help strengthen Mining Indaba’s commitment to the sector. Whilst, linking leaders in the PanAfrican mining sector to identify the goals and ambitions of governments, investors, and businesses in Africa’s mining sector for Mining Indaba to continue being the event created by the industry for the industry. The Board of CEOs and leaders will bring formidable prestige to Mining Indaba, and is projected to meet on a formal basis, building on the already existing relationships, through yearly meetings in South Africa, alongside weekly conference calls.
Joining the newly established board includes:
Executive Committee
• Mpho Makwana, Co-Chair,
Investing in African Mining Indaba • Tom Quin, Head of Content & Co-
Chair, Investing in African Mining
Indaba
International & South Africa Committee
• Frans Baleni, Former General
Secretary, National Union of
Mineworkers • Noluthando Gosa, Founder/ Non-
Executive Director, Akhona Group/
Investec Asset Management • Tony Carroll, International Advisor,
Investing in African Mining Indaba
CEO & Leadership Committee • Roger Baxter, CEO, Minerals
Council South Africa • Errol Smart, CEO, Orion Minerals • Deshnee Naidoo, Director of Finance & Business Development –
Base Metals, Vale • Dr Nombasa Tsengwa, CEO-
Designate & MD – Minerals, Exxaro
Resources • Fortune Mojapelo, CEO, Bushveld
Minerals • Rohitesh Dhawan, President &
CEO, ICMM
Finance & Investment Committee
• John Startin, Senior MD, Evercore • Jerry Agyeman-Boateng,
Executive Director & Head – Global
Subsidiaries, Standard Chartered
Bank • Colin Hamilton, MD Capital
Markets, BMO • Nivaash Singh, Co-Head: Mining &
Resources, Nedbank CIB • James Wellsted, Senior Vice
President – Investor Relations,
Sibanye-Stillwater
Sustainability Committee
• Daniel Litvin, Founder & CEO,
Critical Resource • Estelle Levin-Nally, Founder &
CEO, Levin Sources • Bady Baldé, Deputy Executive &
Africa Director, EITI • Naseem Cholan, EVP –
Sustainable Development, Gold
Fields
Mining Operations & Technology Committee
• Cyrille Mutombo, DRC Country
Manager, Barrick Gold • Patrick Murphy, President – Rock
Drills & Technologies, Sandvik • Mohamed Cisse, Manager –
Technical Services & Automation,
Resolute Mining • Roland Ehrl, Global Head Minerals
Solutions Business, Siemens • Clive Govender, CEO & Founder,
CGC Consulting & ADAPT Digital
Solutions
Policy & Governance Committee
• Jorgen Sandstorm, Head of Mining & Metals Industry, World Economic
Forum • Alex Buck, Managing Director,
Women in Mining • Sven Renner, Program Manager
EGPS Trust Fund, World Bank • Tebello Chabana, Senior Executive – Public Affairs & Transformation,
Minerals Council South Africa • Dr. Anthony Costa, Investment
Mobilisation Programme Lead,
Industrial Development Corporation
How to mine the future with Illumiti ERP solutions
To build and run a successful mining operation has never been more complicated – sustainability, workforce management, supply chain constraints, and community engagement are constant challenges. Those needs come on top of the standard finance, procurement, inventory and maintenance needs shared by all operators. And the future looks even more challenging.
Fortunately, Illumiti enables better business outcomes with cost-effective, digital solutions to enterprise resource planning (ERP) that harness the power of the cloud and puts improved productivity at the operator’s fingertips. Illumiti does this by taking SAP software and tailoring it to the core activities common at all mines and mills. By digitizing the core, process efficiencies are gained, decision making is improved, costs are controlled, revenues grow, and employees are empowered. “No matter where in the world they are, most mines perform core processes in the same manner – finance, procurement, inventory and maintenance,” Illumiti’s head of its mining division Rory Friedman told The Northern Miner.
“Our goal is to leverage industry best practices and implement a system as quickly and responsibly as possible. This accelerates time to value and gives various stakeholders visibility into what is actually happening, giving them a platform to continuously improve over time.”
Companies setting out to establish ERP protocols for their sites often fall into the trap of thinking that they have to create the perfect system. Such an approach necessitates making hundreds of decisions upfront and taking as long as two years before improvements to the business are seen, he said.
Instead, Illumiti has created a modular template with the necessary processes common to all mine and mill operations. “The solution is 80% pre-built,” Friedman said. “This allows us to focus our efforts on the 20% that may be unique to a particular operation.”
Implementation of the template can take as little as 12 to 16 weeks. The software is generally introduced as early as the post feasibility study, before construction begins. The modular nature of the template means that the capabilities needed earliest can be implemented first and additional capabilities added as the mining operation matures. By the time production starts, the core modules are in place and customized to the unique needs of the project.
“You learn by doing and by using,” Friedman said. “Our goal is to implement the templated solution and make it perfect as you use it. You focus on what you actually need, not on what you think you need.”
He likens implementing ERP to building a house. Once the elements common to all houses – the foundation, roof, electrical and plumbing – are in place, owners can move in. Then the focus moves to interior design and decorating to create a unique space.
The benefits of using ERP software
What Illumiti offers is a platform to get a business system running very, very quickly and implementing more efficiencies earlier.
Entering data is done on a tablet in the field. A maintenance superintendent can walk through the mill, for example, and pull up history on a piece of equipment, see if parts are available, and generate a maintenance request. Gone are the days of returning to the office (which may be miles away) and entering data manually from notes jotted on paper.
The digitized approach helps eliminate errors that may creep in when a second party is entering data. This frees the supervisor or manager to become more of a problem solver because he/she can look at the operation as a whole and trust the software to organize the data.
“We can knock down the silos between finance, supply chain and maintenance. This allows our clients to create better integrations between stakeholders across a business process creating holistic efficiencies and thereby streamlining the operation,” he added.
Process automations and machine learning can be leveraged in a variety of areas, one of which is to scan incoming accounts payable (AP) invoices quickly and accurately then allowing the system to perform a three-way match against goods or services received. This frees up staff to manage by exception and focus on analysis of data as opposed to data entry.
Gone are the days of extracting data into multiple spreadsheets and performing various analyses. Using the standard embedded key performance indicators (KPIs), SAP allows a business to set targets across process chains and also perform peer comparisons setting the stage for improvement. Because all the data is in one system, drilling down to get necessary information and understanding the root cause of a problem is simpler with ad hoc reporting and advanced analytical capabilities.
In simplest words, the tools are now available to allow the business to focus its time on decision making as opposed to key stroking. The modular implementation model is gaining a global following. Illumiti has already helped miners in 35 countries around the world reap the benefits of a faster, leaner approach to digitization.
Underground mining support vehicles
Vehicles of Greener, Safer, More Cost effective and Productive Underground Operations
While OEMS of underground support vehicles are pulling all the stops to address current and urgent needs of mine operators in the area of reducing emissions, improved safety, low operating costs and productivity, clearly, ‘constant innovation’ is the operative word for their products to remain relevant and meet demand.
Mining activity is migrating deep level -even ultra-deep - in search of valuable ore-bearing rock, as far as recent projects in African precious and base metals sector go. And so, to excel in this environment, mining companies require the most appropriate equipment to ensure safe, productive and cost-effective operations. And, as critical equipment in underground mining environment, mining support vehicles are no exception. Commonly, underground support vehicle categories include but may not be isolated to the following - agitators, motor graders, personnel carriers, delivery trucks, service trucks, water cannons, water tanks, among other specialised equipment.
Product relevance
Underground support vehicles is one arena where OEMs are going all-out to deliver the more relevant products to mine operators, who are very particular about their needs. Of course, the question is whether or not they are rising to the challenge. Thus, in a bid to establish this, recently, First Mining DRC-Zambia conducted a survey amongst select OEMs to establish contemporary preferences for underground support vehicles used in different mining applications. The OEMs are involved in the design, engineering, manufacturing and support of equipment for the global underground mining market.
An interesting trend has emerged from the exercise. Though they produce a wide range of brands for mining companies, the OEMs declare that, through their vehicles, mine operators would be able to improve safety and productivity, reduce emissions as well as minimise operating costs, which in recent years have been skyrocketing.
Meeting expectations
Conspicuously, what stands out are common features in the vehicles, which indicate OEMs efforts to address industry’s requirements in the four critical areas, thanks to meticulous design and engineering.
• Productivity
‘Increasing productivity’ is the catchphrase in contemporary environment, and mines are only eager to acquire machinery that can enable them to realise this objective. And on their part, OEMs have been responding to this need through different productivity-enhancing innovations, as different features in vehicles illustrate.
One area where productivity-enhancing feature is manifest is in graders. For instance, deploying a grader with a shortened wheel base and a lower profile for haul road maintenance can increase productivity and reduce operational costs in a mine’s production fleet. This can be seen in one top OEM’s grader can manoeuvre in a tighter turning circle and reach areas that a standard grader cannot. It is hard to fail to notice that remote operation has become a standard as can in another OEM’s dual-application water cannon. The water cannon has a wireless remote-operated telescopic boom with a high-pressure water cannon for washing down valuable ore fines and blast material blockages. This ensures that the machine can be operated at higher cycle times and speeds.
The other common features in ground support vehicles are uprated solid axels, simple drivetrain and ove designed chasis. This improves vehicle performance movement. Also, to handle the extreme temperature in underground mines, vehicles have spacious and climate-controlled cabins to create ideal conditions for operator comfort. In such an environment, operators can be able to work effectively.
• Reduced running costs (reduction of maintenance and
operation costs) Various features in underground vehicles can enable mines to reduce vehicle maintenance and operating costs, especially through fuel-efficiency and high machine availability. Using vehicles with fuel-efficient engines can contribute towards reducing vehicle operating costs. This is quite significant considering that, estimates say, energy constitutes about a third of a mine’s operating costs. Not only do uprated axels, simple drive train seen in some vehicles improve productivity, they also reduce maintenance and operation costs. Ultimately, less requirement for maintenance increases equipment availability, which results in increased productivity.
• Safety
Legislation on Mining health and Safety – in South Africa the Mining Health and Safety Act (MHSA) comes to mind – stipulates that operator safety is paramount in the vehicles. To help mines comply with this, mines have a number of safety-enhancing features.
A hardbody with Roll Over Protection Standard (ROPS) and Fall Over Protection Standard (FOPS) certification is standard. WR810 is a case in point, with a cabin Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) are certified to ISO 3471:2008 and a Falling Object Protective Structure (FOPS) certified to ISO 3449:2005. These features give assurances that the operator is protected in the event of a fall over or roll-over accident.
Another safety feature is tag in/out all engine and machine isolation functions which are safely accessible at ground level. Besides, Collision avoidance Systems (CAS) have been incorporated in vehicles to mitigate the risk of head-on collision as a measure to ensure enhance operator separator.
Last but not least, to mitigate the high risk of fire, the vehicles have integrated fire suppression systems. Similarly, the use of fire-resistant wiring is becoming popular.
• Reducing emissions
Emission reduction has been prioritised in the vehicles to comply with legislation obligating mines to reduce diesel particulate emissions from vehicle engine combustion to protect the health of mineworkers underground. It is noteworthy that the World Health Organisations (WHO) categorises Diesel Particulate Matter as a carcinogen with cancer-causing properties. That’s why, effective filter products are in engines are a must. Furthermore, through reduced fuel consumption, the engines produce less emissions.
It is hard to ignore growing interest in the adoption of Battery-operated Electric Vehicles (BEV)in underground mines. BEVs are punted as the ‘greener’ option to diesel engine powered vehicles. Already, as First Mining DRC-Zambia hears, some mines have placed orders from manufacturers.
Constant innovation
While OEMS are pulling all the stops to address current and urgent needs of mine operators in the area of reducing emissions, improved safety, low operating costs and productivity, clearly, ‘constant innovation’ is the operative word for their products to remain relevant and meet demand. Preferences in mines are changing rapidly as the operating environment is prompting adoption of new means of managing operations.
WR810 water cannon exceeds expectation
comprising a 6m3 agitator, scissor lift, fuel & lube, and delivery configurations.
UG20K and UG20M Grade control
Elphinstone identified an opportunity to expand their growing range of underground support vehicles by including a haul road maintenance vehicle, based on the Caterpillar 120K and 120M surface grader platforms.
The role of the underground grader is to create safe, consistent access throughout the underground tunnel network and ensure adequate drainage. Quality haul road maintenance ensures all production, support and light vehicles can move freely in a safe and controlled manner with optimal efficiency. The added benefit is increased production equipment tyre life and speed on grade.
Elphinstone acquired the IP for the UG20M and UG20K underground graders from Ground Force and further refined the existing platforms to ensure compliance and performance in the harsh and demanding environment. In addition to Elphinstone’s renowned operator safety and ergonomic features, a robust rearguard provides rear protection whilst a front counterweight balances the machine.
An optional shortened gooseneck frame and moldboard improves the operation and manoeuvrability of the machine. This adjustment increases the turning radius with the standard articulation features of the grader. The redesign of the moldboard lift cylinders and exhaust complete the conversion to a low-profile configuration.
Units are operating on the ground in Canada, Argentina, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and USA.
The Elphinstone WR810 Underground Water Cannon
Since the founder, Dale Elphinstone, started modifying Cat surface mining equipment to suit underground applications in 1975, the Elphinstone name has been synonymous with underground mining. The company has developed and released six new underground support vehicles in the last 24 months with the first production units already operating in North America, South America, and Australia.
In 2020, Elphinstone identified an opportunity to trial an Elphinstone WR810 Underground Water Cannon in a mine in Victoria, Australia. Exceeding expectations, the dual application machine has significantly increased the recovery of high-grade ore at the mine.
The operators were very impressed with the ergonomically designed, spacious 3-person ROPS/FOPS cabin, access to controls, ease of operation, and the lighting arrangement, reported by the customer to be “the best they have ever seen on an underground machine”. The machine’s primary purpose is to wash down valuable ore fines by reaching into the stope using a high-pressure water cannon mounted to a telescopic boom. In addition, the machine’s rear and side sprays are used for dust suppression and maintenance of haul roads.
“The trial was so successful it secured a sale for Elphinstone through William Adams and potential
opportunities for future orders” - Tim Waller, Elphinstone Regional Sales
The optional wireless controller allows the operator to position the 8m telescopic boom from a safe remote location. The operator controls the side and rear sprays for dust suppression from the cabin. Other features include a proven Caterpillar power train, all-wheel drive, oscillating hitch, heavy-duty axles and fingertip-controlled electromagnetic brake retarder for downhill haulage. The WR810 10-t nominal base platform is highly configurable with applications
WR810 VERSATILITY & MACHINE COMMONALITY
EXHAUST OPTIONS TO SUIT ENGINE PACKAGES 5 -SPEED POWERSHIFT TRANSMISSION TIER 3 OR TIER 4 FINAL ENGINE (OPTIONAL)
FIRE SUPPRESSION ACTUATION (OPTIONAL) FIRE RESISTANT WIRING AND HEATSHIELDS BOLT-ON RADIATOR COVER
ENCLOSED BATTERY COMPARTMENT HYDRAULIC OIL TANK (RHS)
SWING OUT RADIATOR GRILL PROVIDES EASY ACCESS FOR CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE LED OPERATION LIGHTING APPLICATION SPECIFIC CAB DIAL CONTROL FOR RETARDER ON OPERATORS ARM REST 3-SEAT ENCLOSED CABIN CLIMATE CONTROLLED ROPS/FOPS CERTIFIED FOR SUPERIOR OPERATOR COMFORT (OPTIONAL) REAR WINDOW GUARD (OPTIONAL)
MACHINE LIFTING POINTS (RED)
WHEEL CHOCKS X2 CENTRE FRONT MACHINE RETRIEVAL POINTS (RED) EMERGENCY STOP
MACHINE TIE DOWN POINTS 3-PIECE WHEEL RIMS FRONT SUSPENSION (OPTIONAL) MACHINE ISOLATION ADJACENT TO OPERATORS CABIN
ARTICULATION STEERING LOCK OSCILLATING HITCH FOR OPERATOR COMFORT
GROUND LEVEL ACCESS TO ALL FILTER AND SERVICE POINTS FORWARD TILTING CAB
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC BRAKING RETARDER
WR810 Underground Water Cannon WR810 Underground Agitator 6m3 WR810 Underground Fuel & Lube
The WR810 is designed with safety as a priority.
The cabin structure features a Rollover Protective Structure (ROPS) certified to ISO 3471:2008 and a Falling Object Protective Structure (FOPS) certified to ISO 3449:2005. All engine and machine isolation functions are conveniently located on one panel accessible from ground level. Switches have been designed to incorporate the requirement for the site tag in/out machine isolation process. Handrails are fitted standard in accordance with ISO 2867:2011. All handrails are painted green and designed for 3-point access to cab and machine. Full hydraulic controlled steering via opposed cylinders at the oscillating hitch. Secondary emergency steering is also provided as standard.
Serviceability means more time for production.
Forward tilting cabin, swing out radiator grill, hinged bonnet and exhaust module make regular maintenance quick and easy. Easy access to daily service points increases the likelihood that maintenance will be done resulting in increased machine service life. In addition, less maintenance time means more working time and greater productivity. Steps and grab handles positioned for 3-point contact are standard for easy access to the service and operation areas. Ground level servicing access allows convenient servicing to tanks, filters, lubrication points and compartment drains. Bolt-on guards o er protection to critical components and are easily removable for servicing. Removable floor plates and side plate allow access to components under the cab.
Digital Transformation in Mining
In recent years, the world has witnessed Customers a rapid increase in the consumption The mining industry has experienced of commodities. This is due to the many challenges over the last few rising trends in urbanisation and decades with regards to productivity. industrialisation. The Mining, Minerals, and Metals (MMM) industry play a critical According to McKinsey research, role in this growth. In fact, according mining operations are as much as 28 to U.S. Geological Survey (2017), It is percent less productive today than a estimated that each person uses more decade ago. McKinsey also states that than 11,000 kilograms of new non-fuel the profitability of mining over the past minerals found in everyday products like three years has decreased. However, medicine, buildings, vehicles, homes, the adoption of new technologies and electronic gadgets, etc. Commodity the implementation of digitalisation consumption therefore continues to be a can help mines to reduce complexities, significant driver for the Mining, Minerals improve overall productivity and optimise and Metals industry. operational performance. The constant change in technology has Endress+Hauser offer a broad range of disrupted industries and businesses devices with Heartbeat Technology to around the world. They are now being help optimise mining processes. forced to accept this new reality rather quickly. However, the advantages of adopting new technologies are immeasurable and have a tremendous potential to deliver exceptional value for those willing to adopt.
Heartbeat Technology breathes life into your devices:
• Devices continuously show their status: from the sensor to the output signal • You receive a diagnostic coverage up to 98% • Full texts give clear guidelines on what to do • Everything at a glance: Efficient maintenance according to actual needs • You increase the availability of your plant and avoid unplanned shutdowns
Real-time data for smooth mining operations
What does this mean for your engineer on site? The engineer will now be able to commission, run diagnostics or perform verification tests without physically touching the device. This leads to flexibility in mining operations, increased productivity, greater safety, and lowering costs.
While productivity globally has declined, the harnessing of data and the utilisation of automated systems offers the potential to enhance the productivity, efficiency,
Source: https://www.usgs.gov/energy-and-minerals/mineral-resources-program/science/ -we-take-minerals-granted?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects. Source: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-insights/productivity-in-mining-operations-reversing-the-downwardtrend#:~:text=Worldwide%20mining%20operations%20are%20as,according%20to%20new%20McKinsey%20research.
and safety of mining operations into the future. Therefore, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is transforming industries across the world. The Mining industry is in a prime position to benefit from the adoption of digital technology across its operations. There is no longer any need to wait, because the technology has now matured and is ready to be implemented.
How to ingrate IIoT into your plant?
Netilion is a cloud service offered by Endress+Hauser, which demonstrates the intelligent utilisation of data and information from field instrumentation.
While the data already exists, the Netilion applications allow users to take advantage of it, with the Netilion cloud-based ecosystem, which enables intelligent and connected applications for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
When combined with Heartbeat technology and Netilion applications, this data enables predictive maintenance. The information also provides an indication of operational reliability and process safety. Since the instruments automatically monitor their own condition, manual inspection cycles can be reduced.
Exploit the potential of IIoT and Heartbeat
• Combine monitoring data with the Endress+Hauser Predictive
Analytics app to calculate the optimum date for maintenance • When maintenance is due, you get notified by a message via your smartphone • Connect the data with other business processes via cloud to automatically place a purchase order via e-procurement • Automatic delivery to your operation site at an optimal date for exchange • Integrate data of your devices with different fields of applications
Automate your processes and analysis while saving money
Within the MMM industry, digitalisation transforms key aspects at every step of the value chain. Digital transformation in mining connects people, technology and processes to achieve strategic transformation, and also places organisations ahead of competition.
