MDESS – TRANSFORMING SUSTAINABILITY IN MINING
02
A SUSTAINABLE LEGACY WRIT TEN BY
ANDRE W WOODS PRODUCED BY
S TUART IRVING
OCTOBER 2018
CONSTRUCTION
03
IN AFRICA a fri c a .busi ne ssc hief. com
MDESS — GCO CONTRACTORS
Millennium Drilling and Equipment Services Senegal (MDESS) Director Francis Billy Williams discusses opportunities for sustainable transformation in the mining industry
A
s awareness surrounding ethics and sustainability increases scrutiny across every industry, Senegalese mining contractor MDESS
(Millennium Drilling and Equipment Services Senegal) is working to own that conversation. MDESS wants to put as much back into the earth as it takes out with a range 04
of initiatives designed to preserve the wellbeing of its workers and their working environments. Managing Director of MDESS Francis Billy Williams has made environmental practices and the safety of his workers – a top priority at his company. “The environmental side to what we do is of serious concern,” he explains from his Senegal office.
REHABILITATION One area of sustainable work Williams is tapping into pertains to the rehabilitation of existing water wells in the region. A massive 75% of Africa’s water comes from groundwater drilling, after a significant increase in water well/boreholes over the past 30 years. It is an area that MDESS is most active in. “There are a lot of companies here and everybody is just drilling, drilling, drilling, and that represents a lot of OCTOBER 2018
MINING
05
a fri c a .busi ne ssc hief. com
MDESS — GCO CONTRACTORS
drilled wells in need of rehabilitation,”
ful rehabilitation of a well will decrease
says Williams. “There is a village in
the drawdown, lower energy costs and
Ghana where there have been 10 wells
increase the pump life resulting in the
drilled and it was totally unnecessary.
raising of efficiencies and quality of
Why do we drill new ones, when there
water. “We have always been in close
are already 10 wells in the village? Why
proximity with environmental groups,
do you add more? Why don’t you build
making sure we don’t spill oil and that
roads and schools with that money
we keep our sites clean and safe and
instead? All the existing water wells
that we have all our papers in place.”
can be used if they’re rehabilitated. You
06
MDESS is a contractor of personnel,
wouldn’t buy a new car just because
equipment, transportation and logistical
your engine is smoking. You have to get
support to a number of global business-
the thing running again. These are
es such as Grand Côte Operations.
things I’m seeing around a lot of the
MDESS enjoys good relationships with
countries, where we’re just drilling the
its numerous partners, including
holes and leaving the holes behind;
Grande Côte. GCO’s mineral sands
holes that can rehabilitated. I have
operation is the largest single dredge
a program for rehabilitation that I’m
mineral sands operation in the world
going to put into action very soon.”
and is managed by an experienced
Water well maintenance programmes,
team, positioned on a coastal, mobile
in line with NGO support, have a number
dune system approximately 50km
of aims including the improvement and
north-east of Dakar in Senegal, home
maintenance of well performance as
to Africa’s largest international shipping
well as lengthening the overall lifespan
port. GCO will primarily produce
of the well and its assets. Such work
high-quality zircon and ilmenite as well
can also reduce operational costs as
as small amounts of rutile and leucox-
well as eliminating the risk associated
ene. The operations comprise a dredge,
with well transfer. The quality of both
a wet concentrator plant (WCP),
the water and the well improve as
a mineral separation plant (MSP), rail,
a result of these initiatives. A success-
port facilities and a power station.
OCTOBER 2018
MINING
“ We have always been in close proximity with environmental groups, making sure we don’t spill oil and that we keep our sites clean and safe and that we have all our papers in place” — Francis Billy Williams, Director, MDESS
07
a fri c a .busi ne ssc hief. com
MDESS — GCO CONTRACTORS
“We are working for GCO, where we are doing some continent bore drilling. We have 15 wells drilled, and we are almost finished. We have 10 more to come after,” says Williams. “I have a very good working relationship with GCO, Bauer and another company in Senegal called Midas, which I own. I have my own drilling company that I brought to Senegal, working in the same mine as them. We’re all heading towards the same goal. It’s all friendly; the guys there
“ We’re all heading towards the same goal. It’s all friendly; the guys there were trained by me” — Francis Billy Williams, Director, MDESS
were trained by me.” To foster such valuable partnerships, MDESS has made a pledge not to compro-
The best partner in Africa for your project’s needs.
Your success is our success. Spanish Group leader in exports and investments in Africa. In sub-saharan countries PMS International is focused on chemical products and equipments for Civil Works and Mining Sectors. Is already working in Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana, giving support to Civil Works companies with Geosynthetics products, Pipes and also Chemicals for water treatment. Contact Info: Elissa Belzunce Area Manager : Ebelzunce@pms.es | +34.628.60.30.44
MINING
09 mise on quality or safety. “We ensure
and more recently with Bauer. “You
our workers wear the appropriate
have to go through a lot of safety
PCE for the work we’re doing,
formations, because their priority was
especially when it comes to welding;
safety,” Williams explains. “95% of the
in case our welders aren’t wearing
whole program was safety. Newmont
the demanded kit,” Williams explains.
had a highly precise code when it came
“So, I think we have always been on
to safety because of the nature of the
the right track there with regards to
drilling that was being done by them.
safety concerns.”
They wanted everybody to come back
Safety is a paramount issue for
safe and sound. Newmont had very high
Williams, who has 37 years of experi-
expectations and everybody was being
ence under his belt. Williams’ record of
trained extensively on safety issues.
achieving the highest safety standards
We worked for about four years without
stretches back to his days working at
any incidents, which resulted in end-of-
the Newmont Gold Mines in Ghana,
month safety bonuses too.” a fri c a .busi ne ssc hief. com
MDESS — GCO CONTRACTORS
DRILLING SCHOOLS MDESS stakes its reputation on providing the best and safest equipment to mining operations and any piece of kit is only as safe as the person operating it. Williams has placed a strong emphasis on staff training at MDESS to reduce any potential risks as much as humanly possible. Williams is also looking at launching a drilling school in a bid to try and raise standards in the field. “When it comes to equipment, I believe in working with the best. I worked for Bauer who had some of the best equipment in well mining. The safety standards were at a high 10
standard. The equipment was constantly tested, changed and overhauled and special training was implemented on how to use these tools correctly and safely. Most of the drilling we see in the villages is very poor,” he explains. “The workers are without PCE, and I’m sorry to say that Indian companies are drilling without even slippers on their feet. No helmet. This is not accepted in our field. “There should be a type of organisation that lets them know how to protect their workers. I am working with a friend of mine in Germany to see if we can set up a drilling school in Senegal, to teach the guys exactly what to do when it comes to drilling. It’s that important. What kind of legacy do you want to leave?” OCTOBER 2018
MINING
“ All the existing water wells can be used if they’re rehabilitated. You wouldn’t buy a new car just because your engine is smoking. You have to get the thing running again” — Francis Billy Williams, Director, MDESS
11
a fri c a .busi ne ssc hief. com
Fbws5@yahoo.com mdess_sarl@yahoo.com