SA Mining Industry Snapshot July 2021 by SundayTimesZA

ONLINE EDITION INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

SA MIN NG www.samining.co.za

EDITION 4 – JULY 2021

Junior mining key to GDP growth Renergen talks renewable energy BME tracks blasting trends

INVESTING IN FUCHS LUBRICANTS EYES AFRICA LONG-TERM GROWTH

In the news Energy Blasting and explosives Products and services

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CONTENTS INDUSTRY UPDATE 4

FEATURES 5

JUNIOR MINING The sector can play an important role as mining targets a +10% contribution to GDP, says the DMRE’s Thabo Mokoena.

RENERGEN TALKS ALTERNATIVE POWER Renergen’s CEO Stefano Marani outlines alternative energy options

Alrosa introduces technology to trace diamonds Draslovka acquires Sasol’s sodium cyanide business Glencore Coal spends R59m on social upliftment

READ ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE

FUCHS LUBRICANTS EYES LONG-TERM GROWTH Fuchs Lubricants has invested over R250m in warehouse and office complex construction.

10 BME OUTLINES THE KEY BLASTING TRENDS

BME’s Ralf Hennecke outlines the key emerging trends in blasting.

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FROM THE EDITOR

ONLINE EDITION INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT EDITOR Nelendhre Moodley 011 280 5782 moodleyne@samining.co.za

Power play

ollowing the rioting, looting and burning that took place recently, the country is on the path to rebuilding. The Minerals Council, together with many industry leaders, came out strongly against the violence, looting and wanton destruction that took place in KwaZuluNatal and Gauteng, noting that the “destruction of assets and the consequent impact on livelihoods will have devastating consequences”. The council also called for the protection of key infrastructure – “particularly power, telecommunications, water, road and rail – and all that is required to ensure food security and the recovery of the economy”. Speaking of power, government’s announcement that the embedded generation threshold has been lifted to 100MW is welcome news for all industries,

ONLINE EDITOR Stacey Visser 011 280 3671 vissers@businessmediamags.co.za

ART DIRECTOR Shailendra Bhagwandin 011 280 5946 bhagwandinsh@arena.africa

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Nelendhre Moodley

particularly the mining sector, which is a heavy consumer of electricity. Expectations are that short- and medium-term investment by the industry in embedded generation projects will be in the region of around R27-billion. Already gold miner Gold Fields is busy progressing construction of a 40MW solar power plant at its South Deep mine, scheduled to come on-stream in 2022 (see SA Mining print edition). In this edition of Industry Snapshot we chat to Renergen’s CEO Stefano Marani about what is currently taking place in the energy space (pg 7), and FUCHS Lubricants, which is investing in Africa as it eyes its long-term growth prospects (pg 8). Also, explosives manufacturer BME shares insights into the trends in the blasting sector (pg 10).

Noël van Breda 011 280 3456 / 082 717 1962 noelvb@samining.co.za Ilonka Moolman 011 280 3120 moolmani@samining.co.za

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

Gail Mortinson 011 280 5369 / 011 328 2226 gailm@arena.africa

SUB-EDITOR Andrea Bryce BUSINESS MANAGER Claire Morgan 011 280 5783 morganc@sahomeowner.co.za GENERAL MANAGER MAGAZINES Jocelyne Bayer

SWITCHBOARD 011 280 3000 SUBSCRIPTIONS Gail Mortinson 011 280 5369 gailm@arena.africa

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INDUSTRY UPDATE

ARANZU – A NEW TAKE ON PRODUCTS AND PLANTS MANUFACTURING

A new products and plants production business, aranzu (originally known as Paterson & Cooke Plants & Products), was launched recently. “We originally began as a division of Paterson & Cooke Consulting Engineers, and have since grown to become a separate entity, so we decided to freshen things up and rebranded to aranzu – a new name that speaks to our innovative thinking,” said aranzu’s MD Fritz van Sittert. Sittert and his core team of specialist engineers bring many years of engineering design experience to the business, the company said.

TECHNOLOGY TO TRACE DIAMONDS

Diamond miner ALROSA recently introduced a groundbreaking diamond-tracing technology using non-invasive laser marking. Unlike traditional laser engraving, this laser marking cannot be destroyed or polished off. ALROSA’s laser nanomark is imprinted inside the crystal lattice, across the atomic structure of the entire diamond, making it invisible without a scanner. Diamonds with such nanomarkings have been many times successfully certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the industry’s biggest certification centre. It distinguishes ALROSA’s diamonds from other ones, including lab-grown, and allows them to be uniquely identified, providing detailed information about the diamonds’ origins, the company said. ALROSA’s new nanomarking technology.

Glencore’s social upliftment spend

DRASLOVKA

R59m

ALROSA INTRODUCES NANOMARKING

ACQUIRES SASOL’S SODIUM CYANIDE BUSINESS

GLENCORE COAL SPENDS R59M ON SOCIAL UPLIFTMENT Coal miner Glencore Coal spent over R59-million on community investments and COVID-19 support in 2020. “COVID-19 in particular presented the country with many unprecedented challenges, and we felt it was even more important to implement our CSI initiatives and roll out programmes that would help alleviate some of the challenges that were brought on by the pandemic,” said Glencore Coal general manager for community and regulatory affairs Noel Pillay. To support communities through the pandemic, some of Glencore’s activities included: Launching a Community Resilience Mobile Programme to ensure testing and COVID-19 support in communities. Mass distribution of food parcels, masks and sanitisers. Provision of personal protective equipment and hospital equipment to the Department of Health. Provision of free Wi-Fi to assist with live streaming of lessons, etc. Provision of JoJo tanks to communities without access to water.

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

JULY 2021

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Draslovka Holding, a Czech-based leader in cyanide-based chemical specialties and agricultural chemicals, has inked a deal with Sasol South Africa to acquire its sodium cyanide business, located in Sasolburg, for R1.46-billion. The company, which has production and services facilities in the Czech Republic, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and India, has a strong track record of innovation and efficiency improvement. Draslovka plans to invest within the facility to increase production and improve efficiency, with the longer-term goal of not only serving the South African mining industry, but to export across Africa to meet growing demand, the company said. Pavel Bruzek, CEO of Draslovka, said: “This acquisition will allow Draslovka to not only better serve the South African mining and associated industries, but in the longer term enhance South Africa’s exports and provide greater access to Draslovka’s leading agricultural materials.”

JUNIOR MINING

JUNIORS KEY IN FUTURE GDP CONTRIBUTION

By Nelendhre Moodley

“Mining can become a +10% contributor of gross domestic product and this growth can come largely from the junior mining sector. As such, government has set out to expand the legislative arena to enable maximum participation into the economy by junior mining companies. “And where we have alternative insight

into what government can do to expedite the business, we will gladly entertain such suggestions, including the outcome of this junior mining indaba,” said Mokoena. “Going forward the sector should look to grow both the South African and African economy against the backdrop of what appears to be the new normal of living with the pandemic,” he added. Progress report Mokoena said that government’s promise to introduce a new modern mining cadastre system that was transparent, easily accessible to the public and able to act as a catalyst to attract investors, was ready to be put out to tender in early

June. “We have engaged the relevant stakeholders, including members of the Minerals Council, and are ready to issue a tender,” he said then. Further to this, government would use the Council for Geoscience and the Petroleum Agency SA to continue its support of the junior mining sector in exploration and minerals extraction. Given that mineral beneficiation had the potential to maximise the value derived from extractive industries, the DMRE was using the platform of events such as Shanghai Platinum Week to highlight the importance of platinum group metals (PGMs). According to Mokoena, owing to the

Mining can become a +10% contributor of GDP and this growth can come largely from the junior mining sector. – MOKOENA

he junior mining sector has an important role to play in addressing the historic imbalances of the past and in ensuring an efficient competitive market. However, government needs to work harder to remove unwarranted hurdles as the sector taps into opportunities presented by the country’s extensive mineral wealth deposits, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE) Director-General Thabo Mokoena recently told delegates attending the virtual Junior Mining Indaba 2021.

www.samining.co.za

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

JULY 2021

JUNIOR MINING

Our goal is to increase the country’s share of the global exploration to at least 3% in the next five years. – MOKOENA ©I

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targeted increased investment in the sector, such as: The masterplan on beneficiation which aimed to ensure maximum benefit from the value chain of the commodities mined in SA. The Gas Amendment Bill which looked to unlock investment in the gas sector, and to facilitate development of the infrastructure and integrated energy projects such as gas to power projects approved by Cabinet in 2020. Government was amending the regulations that defined the regulated

increasing use of platinum beyond the traditional ones of automotive catalytic converters and jewellery to new uses including batteries and mobile phones, the DMRE was “insisting on the beneficiation of our PGMs”. “Shanghai Platinum Week provides us with a platform to engage the second biggest economy by population size. We expect our participation in Shanghai Platinum Week will bear fruits of lessons learnt,” he said. According to Mokoena, government was also making legislative amendments that

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

JULY 2021

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Junior mining plays an important role in the economy.

transfer price of biofuels, and was working on expanding the definition of bio-fuels to include second and third generation given that it currently catered only for first generation. Amendment of clean fuels regulation to improve the quality of the liquid fuels under cleaner fuels programmes. Amendment of the Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA) which is intended to address challenges related to the health and safety of mine workers and the urgent need to improve health and safety standards in order to curb the high number of fatalities. The national Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill and the Radioactive Waste Management Fund Bill, which was scheduled to be published for public comments before the end of June. “We will continue to work with all stakeholders to promote investment through a conducive regulatory framework, including reducing the current time frames for mining, prospecting, water and environmental licences. Our goal is to increase the country’s share of the global exploration to at least 3% in the next five years,” the DG said. n

POWER PLAY

RENERGEN

By Nelendhre Moodley

ith an increased awareness for a lower carbon footprint and a loadshedding nightmare that continues to negatively impact households and businesses alike, everyone is seeking alternative energy options to meet their electricity needs. SA Mining recently caught up with Renergen’s CEO Stefano Marani to chat about what is currently taking place in the energy space and to touch on developments at Renergen.

How is the global drive towards sustainability and lowering the carbon footprint impacting the energy mix? Locally we are beginning to see more companies think about their carbon footprint. The most common answer is solar, but increasingly discussions around liquefied natural gas are taking front and centre stage given its ability to provide base load more reliably than the coal-fired grid. What are some of the emerging trends related to energy and power? Load shedding is making the need for alternative power solutions more urgent. We see companies are now budgeting for alternative power sources, and while they are making the investment emphasis is placed on greener power. Government recently consented to power self-generation. What is the appetite and uptake from industry for self-generation? The lack of reliability on the grid is driving demand, particularly where downtime implies diesel backup at high cost. We are predicting a significant uptake of selfgeneration.

ENERGY

What are some of the challenges associated with self-generation? Space and fuel delivery are the most constraining features. Solar needs a large area, and for base load needs batteries that are bulky. Generators take up space and need fuel. Both solutions require space which wasn’t necessarily planned for in older operations.

Renergen is an emerging helium and domestic natural gas producer and holds the rights to rich renewable natural gas fields, with exceptionally high helium, from its Virginia Gas Project, in the Free State. The project comprises exploration and production rights to 187 000ha of gas fields. Renergen’s strategy is to expand the Virginia Gas Project to produce liquid helium and liquefied natural gas.

How is demand for alternative sources of energy influencing Renergen’s business? We are engaged in significantly more discussions with customers, and particularly around carbon reduction. A year ago there was more energy security and convincing customers to go off grid was harder.

Companies are budgeting for alternative power sources with an emphasis on greener power. – MARANI What are some of the latest developments related to the Virginia Project, and what is your strategy for this project in the next two years? We are in the final stages of the construction and expect to be operational by the end of the year with liquefied natural gas deliveries going to customers shortly after. Earlier this year we embarked on a drilling campaign to increase production, and the results have vastly exceeded expectations, which bodes well for our scaling up and planning for Phase 2. www.samining.co.za

What was the reasoning for developing the groundbreaking Cryo-Vacc technology? Are there opportunities for other areas of application? Cryo-Vacc technology was originally designed as a showcase for the uses of helium, but it became clear that the need was quite significant and Cryo-Vacc took on a life of its own. Renergen recently struck a deal with an SA logistics company for the manufacture and purchase of its new helium-powered vaccine storage cases, ahead of Phase 2 of SA’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout programme, which began in May. This has been an amazing and very fulfilling journey. Any other information you wish to impart? We have quite a few developments in the near term, so the next few months will be incredibly busy as we roll out the broader strategy. ■

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

JULY 2021

ENERGY COVER STORY

INVESTING IN FUCHS LUBRICANTS EYES AFRICA LONG-TERM GROWTH By Nelendhre Moodley

ubricants manufacturer FUCHS Lubricants remains upbeat about the future and is investing in excess of R250-million in the construction of a warehouse and office complex scheduled for completion by February 2022. SA Mining recently caught up with Andrew Cowling, sales director, FUCHS Lubricants South Africa to chat about market conditions and the latest developments under way at FUCHS. What impact has COVID-19 had on the lubricants sector? While FUCHS acknowledges the negative impact brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and clients in the sector, the company has, thankfully, largely been unscathed. The demand for lubricants decreased somewhat in 2020 but is moving up, back to pre-pandemic levels of supply and demand. FUCHS anticipates that this upward trajectory will continue in 2021 and gradually pick up speed. How has FUCHS fared and what measures has the company implemented to handle the situation? Although the company is concerned about COVID-19 and its impact on our customers, our capital investment decisions are not based on current situations, but on long-term strategies. We have confidence in the future strength of our business in Africa. As the company’s

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

growth continues, we will consider further expansion; and continually improve quality, efficiency and plant capacity. What percentage of your business is focused on mining and exploration and what is your strategy for this segment of business? Lubrication products commonly used in mining equipment can be divided into a number of groups. Heavy-duty lubrication oils, multi-purpose, circulating and hydraulic oils for engines bearing

FUCHS has been a partner of the global mining industry for more than 85 years. – COWLING lubrication and fluid power, as well as general-purpose greases for normal industrial bearing applications and specialised mining products. Our high-performance lubricants and greases contribute to reducing equipment maintenance costs and improving mine output. Mining equipment has evolved over the years, having to perform in tough environmental conditions and under increasing stress. Reliability poses significant challenges in this industry where a single mechanical failure can shut down an entire operation in an instant.

JULY 2021

www.samining.co.za

It is therefore important that highperformance mining lubricants are formulated that provide a level of reliability that reduces the risk of equipment failure. This is exactly the focus of FUCHS Lubricants. Consequently, as far as specialist lubricants for mining machinery are concerned, FUCHS Lubricants provides lubricants that are developed to keep equipment functionally operational while adhering to international best practice technological know-how, standards and certifications. FUCHS has been a partner of the global mining industry for more than 85 years. The product range covers the complete main stages of mineral value chain, exploration, infrastructure, mining and processing. Continuous product development and optimisation underline our mission to achieve technical perfection, all based on FUCHS’s extensive research and development (R&D) programmes. As a subsidiary of Germanbased FUCHS Petrolub SE, where R&D is a key focus, our products comprise premium lubricants proven to help mining companies reduce total cost of ownership by reducing maintenance costs. Machinery lubricants can take up a significant part of the maintenance budget, and using the correct products has proven to have a positive impact on operational profitability.

FUCHS industrial oils offer a host of highperformance solutions for diverse applications.

FUCHS’s grease range includes permanent and long-term lubrication solutions.

R250

-million

Value of FUCHS’s investment in a warehouse and offices

How is FUCHS Lubricants looking to grow this segment of business over the next two years? We have experienced growth in the subSaharan African region such that we are upgrading our existing lubricants plant in South Africa. We anticipate more positive growth and, as this continues, we will consider further expansion to continually improve quality, efficiency and plant capacity. FUCHS has invested more than R250-million in South Africa for the construction of a warehouse and office complex which will be completed by February 2022. Land comprising 3.2ha adjacent to our current location in Isando has been purchased for the location for the new development. There is enough space on the land for further expansion and upgrades to the manufacturing facilities. The investment comprises two phases. Phase 1 entails the purchase of land, site development and construction of a new and much larger warehouse and office complex. Phase 2 will be a new lubricants plant. The development of the lubricants plant is still in the concept phase and will depend on the design feasibility report.

The warehouse system will include a fully integrated barcoding system using SAP. The latest material handling equipment will be in use, such as narrow aisle lift trucks stacking to 17m high and a fire protection system is being designed to the latest international best practices. The new project follows FUCHS Lubricants’ investment of R125-million in a grease plant expansion in Isando in 2018. The investment has since made a significant contribution to our business. Any new product developments you would like to flag? There is still a misconception that a lubricant is a lubricant. Customer education on the evolution of lubricants is important. The sophistication in the equipment being sold today calls for ever-increasing technology improvements from their lubricant provider. As original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) keep pushing their technologies forward, so will the demand on the lubricants industry to meet the more stringent requirements these OEMs place on the products used. www.samining.co.za

FUCHS’s transmission and axle oils provide low viscosity, which delivers enhanced benefits.

Any other information you wish to impart? The average business requiring lubricants needs an understanding of the value of a quality and approved product in order to make an informed decision. We believe that the ability to assist the market with technical queries and training is more important than ever. Customer education on the evolution of lubricants is important and the sophistication in the equipment being sold today calls for ever-increasing technology advances from lubricant providers. As OEMs keep pushing their technologies forward, so will the demand on the lubricants industry to meet the increasingly stringent requirements these OEMs place on products. ■

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

JULY 2021

BLASTING & EXPLOSIVES

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF KEY BLASTING TRENDS

BME has facilitated record blasts through its AXXIS technology.

lasting occupies a strategic place in the mining process. As an early-stage intervention that can significantly improve downstream efficiency, Omnia Group company BME is capitalising on this fact, driving those trends that feed bottom-line gains.

According to Ralf Hennecke, general manager: technology and marketing at BME, the company’s continuous technology development remains focused on key mining imperatives: safety, blast reliability and efficiency of downstream activities. “We have always been innovators in the sector, since our early days of pioneering cold emulsions in South Africa,” said Hennecke. “Today, it is in the digital technology arena where we are helping to drive blasting trends that make mines more productive and sustainable.” Digital trends As a leading trend, digital systems were raising the levels of accuracy and reliability in each blast, he said. “Our recent launch of the holistic Blast Alliance software portfolio emphasises and is aligned with this. “The power of modern blast design software – such as BLASTMAP – leverages the precision and flexibility of BME’s

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

BME’s BLASTMAP leverages precision and flexibility in blast design.

electronic detonators to optimise fragmentation distribution. In particular, optimal fragmentation improves not only loading and hauling efficiency, but also the throughput and recoveries achieved in the crushing and milling circuits. “In this way, a quality blast impacts directly on the mine’s operational and financial performance – raising outputs while controlling costs. Improving efficiencies in energy-intensive cycles like load-haul and comminution also helps mines reduce their carbon footprint – a growing imperative for a future-focused mining sector.” JULY 2021

www.samining.co.za

Record blasts The digital era is also ushering in vital advances in blasting indicators such as initiation timing design, initiation sequence simulation, blasthole loading design, fragmentation distribution predictions and vibration prediction. These benefits can be programmed quickly and easily into a blast initiation sequence using platforms like BME’s AXXIS™ system – and on an everincreasing scale. This makes large blasts possible, another trend that is raising mine productivity. “The more often a mine has to halt all operations and clear the pit for a blast, the more disruption is introduced into the flow of the mining process,” he said. “Where conditions allow, mines are conducting larger blasts for better continuity and fewer stoppages.” The capabilities of AXXIS in this regard have allowed BME to facilitate record sizes of blasts in countries including South Africa, Zambia and Australia. Real-time reporting Data is the lifeblood of modern mining operations, and digital technology is what makes it flow, says Hennecke. Having that data available in real time is what allows

The AXXIS system houses vital advances in blasting indicators.

BME’s Blasting Guide app provides hand-held digital solutions in the field.

smart mining technologies to transform the mining workplace. “An example of how BME has fostered this trend is through our XPLOLOG cloud database, which allows users to view, capture and synchronise drill and blast data,” he said. “The database gives engineers and management real-time access to preparation progress on the blast block, so their decisions are more informed.” Integration As the digital world develops and becomes more specialised, an essential trend is for technology providers to integrate their products with each other – as well as with the platforms that the end-customer is already using. There is also the need for service providers to work more closely together in pursuit of systems that perform optimally. To integrate its own innovations, for instance, BME recently launched its Blast Alliance platform to integrate BLASTMAP,

As a leading trend, digital systems are raising the levels of accuracy and reliability in each blast. – HENNECKE XPLOLOG, AXXIS and its Blasting Guide application. “This reflects our holistic approach to collaboration, partnering internally to optimise our solutions, through direct engagement with our customers, and through third parties,” he said. The Blasting Guide app – itself a marker of the trend towards hand-held digital solutions – provides ease of use to make a blasting engineer’s job easier and more productive. Developing these products calls for a strategic commitment to collaboration – in this case with niche players in digital design and development. Fewer touchpoints Hennecke said the risks exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic had hastened the trend towards digitalisation and automation – to allow mining operations to continue while ensuring that personnel www.samining.co.za

avoid transmitting the virus. Part of this important trend is to ensure that physical touchpoints around a mine are minimised – both by the mine and its supply partners. “This requires that all stakeholders introduce innovations to prevent possible transmission through physical documents, for example,” he said. “Embracing digital technology makes this possible in ways that would have been difficult just a decade or two ago.” He notes that even the sharing and signing of documentation at various stages in the supply chain have seen a shift towards digitisation in the interests of health and safety. “It also aligns with the mining industry’s focus on process optimisation,” he said. “BME’s systems have evolved to reduce the number of touch points in the blasting supply chain, reducing the risks posed by current and future pandemics.” n

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

JULY 2021

BLASTING & EXPLOSIVES

AECI MINING EXPLOSIVES

A groundbreaking alternative booster technology manufactured from non-explosive raw materials.

DEVELOPS BOOSTER TECHNOLOGY

iven that storage and transporting of explosives and their associated raw materials come with a fair amount of risk, explosives manufacturer AECI Mining Explosives has addressed this issue through innovation. It has developed a groundbreaking alternative booster technology manufactured from non-explosive raw materials. The manufacture of boosters or primers from pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) or (cyclo-trimethylene trinitramine (RDX) and trinitrotoluene (TNT)) has been unrivalled for decades in terms of performance and reliability. It remains the preferred method as an intermediary part of the detonation train due to its ease of initiation from a detonator and high velocity of detonation (VoD). PETN, RDX and TNT have proven themselves to perform reliably when manufactured correctly, but due to their chemical make-up, they require sophisticated plants and specialised raw material facilities for their manufacture, the company says. The handling of energetic materials and explosive raw materials are by nature hazardous and therefore highly regulated in the interest of public safety. This introduces some costly challenges, says Hazel Bomba, product manager at AECI Mining Explosives. As a result, the ability

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

AECI has developed an alternative booster technology manufactured from non-explosive raw materials.

Mobile manufacturing unit at Modderfontein bulk emulsion plant.

– BOMBA

to position booster manufacturing sites in more geographical areas, to make the product more accessible, is limited. AECI Mining Explosives is developing an alternative booster technology, wherein a high-powered explosive booster is manufactured from non-explosive raw materials. The alternative booster technology is currently being trialled in the field following extensive laboratory testing. AECI Mining Explosives is confident that its innovative PowerBoost product will be market-ready by Q1-2022. As demand for resources continually surges to sustain global growth, the need for mining activity correspondingly increases. The need for boosters has subsequently increased, says Bomba. The benefits of storing non-explosive raw materials and only producing boosters as required offer far-reaching gains to the JULY 2021

www.samining.co.za

mining fraternity. These include the ability to reduce the booster magazine storage capacity, while the opportunity to adapt the mine’s licence to operate as a booster manufacturing facility can be a stimulus for localisation. “This alternative technology opens up the opportunity for so much more. AECI Mining Explosives has been trialling and optimising the booster design to the extent that its PowerBoost technology outperforms the equivalent pentolite (PETN and TNT) boosters. “The use of non-explosive raw materials in booster technology simplifies logistics, has the potential to lower manufacturing costs and creates the ability to deploy simple mobile modular plants to strategically placed manufacturing hubs,” says Bomba. ■

aeciworld.com

YOUR EXTREME BLASTING CONDITIONS. OUR EMULSION.

A signiﬁcant new development in AECI Mining Explosives’ product offering is the development of its Powergel X² range, designed for surface mining applications where extreme blasting conditions such as hot blast holes and reactive ground, or a combination of both, exist. *Only available in certain regions.

PRODUCTS & SERVICES – ADVERTORIAL

THE LEGACY OF THE

MAXECO BOOT FROM LEMAITRE

or 30 years, Maxeco has helped build a nation with the world’s toughest workforce. Across construction sites, mines, farms and factories, almost 10 million pairs of boots have helped realise the dream of a stronger South Africa by protecting the millions of workers who built it. Every legacy has to start somewhere. For Lemaitre and its iconic Maxeco boot, it began some 30 years ago when the brand was introduced to South African shores. It’s a story based on the recollections of the innovation manager at the time, Cedric Novis: “In the late 1980s Bagshaw Footwear successfully bid on an 18-station dualdensity direct injection machine at an auction in Babelegi, even though we had very little knowledge on dual-density footwear. We had a very strong range of military footwear, but now had to consider how best to utilise this machine. After much consultation it was agreed to introduce dual density to the safety footwear market – a first in South Africa. “We decided that we needed to manufacture under licence, and contacts at the SABS pointed us in the direction of a French company who had expressed interest in the South African market. It was during the first half of 1990 that we initially went to Lemaitre, in Strasbourg, and met with the MD and owner Jean-Michel Lemaitre. Our meetings culminated in a signed licensing agreement for Lemaitre safety footwear. “We decided to position the brand as European-styled, technologically advanced and comfortable; and went to market with the premise of ‘Why you deserve to wear a better safety boot.’ It was a great campaign and something that

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

Lemaitre has been serving South Africans for the past 30 years.

Lemaitre’s campaign celebrates millions of pairs of Maxeco serving South Africans. – NOVIS the industry had never done before. “It worked and the workforce started to demand the Lemaitre Maxeco, which was the only model we launched. You could have them in any colour you wanted, as long as it was black or tan! “The focus on the people actually wearing the boots is still central to the Lemaitre brand in South Africa today. In hindsight, we introduced the right product at the right time at the right price and managed to launch possibly the most successful selling safety shoe of all time in the South African market.” And hence the Lemaitre Maxeco was introduced towards the end of 1990 – the first ever locally produced direct-injection dual-density PU sole on a safety footwear style. From such humble beginnings the Maxeco has since become the number one

JULY 2021

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sold safety footwear style in the history of our country. It ushered in the era of dual-density safety footwear, and is still the most popular style of sole in the safety footwear industry today. That’s no small feat. Lemaitre’s new campaign celebrates the widespread effect of 30 years and millions of pairs of Maxeco serving South Africans. It’s been there to help build the country and its people. It’s created jobs through local sourcing and manufacturing. It’s contributed to an inclusive economy for all our people. And it has been on the frontlines of the nation’s industries, protecting those who are strengthening South Africa. Has any boot done more to build our country? ■

THE MOST

Beautiful SHOE IN SOUTH AFRICA?

MAXECO CELEBRATES 30 YEARS. HAS ANY BOOT DONE MORE TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY? For 30 years, Maxeco has helped build a nation with the world’s toughest workforce. Across construction sites, mines, farms and factories, almost 10 million pairs have helped realise the dream of a stronger South Africa by protecting the millions of workers who built it. Now that’s a beautiful thing!

N° SOLD

S AFETY BO O T

*Since 1990 no other safety footwear style has sold more pairs in SA, as we near 10 million pairs sold.

LEMAITRE SAFETY FOOTWEAR

FROM ONE WORKER TO ANOTHER

View the full Maxeco story at:

www.lemaitre.co.za

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

T 274 – THE NEW 305T MINING TRUCK

KEMACH EQUIPMENT

NEW DEALER FOR BOMAG GMBH PRODUCTS Construction equipment manufacturer BOMAG GmbH, based in Germany, has appointed Kemach Equipment as its new dealer for South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, effective from 1 August. The company markets the full BOMAG heavy and light machine range from the global market leader in compaction technology. Kemach Equipment supplies and supports a wide range of products to suit various applications, including earthmoving and road-building equipment for all types of projects and plant hirers. In addition to the equipment itself, Kemach Equipment distributes a full range of lubricants and genuine parts, while field service technicians and expert product support engineers ensure that assistance is always available. As the BOMAG distributor, the company will market the entire BOMAG product range, including compaction machinery for asphalt, soil and landfill construction, milling machines, finishers and stabilisers/recyclers. The range also comprises soil stabilisation equipment and binder spreaders.

T 274

Liebherr’s new mining truck

Equipment manufacturer Liebherr recently released its new T 274, a class-leading 305t/336-tonne haul truck. The new truck bridges the gap between the successful T 284 (363t/400-tonne) and the upgraded T 264 (240t/265-tonne). Among its many favourable features is its class-leading payload with 305-tonne capacity, its match with Liebherr mining excavators R 9800 and R 9600 and its applicability across a range of conditions, including extremely cold climates and high-altitude environments. According to Liebherr, the T 274 provides fast cycle times, higher production rates, low fuel consumption, and a low cost per tonne. “Operators and technicians can expect to experience first-class comfort and safety while driving and servicing this truck. “A wide range of options are available, not only providing maximum productivity even in the harshest conditions, but also catering to the evolving requirements of customers and mine sites,” Liebherr said.

TAKRAF APRON FEEDERS

INSTALLED AT PROJECT IN DRC Equipment supplier TAKRAF South Africa, part of the global TAKRAF Group, recently supplied two machines for a leading copper/ cobalt producer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The TAKRAF apron feeders, which are being installed in two new crushing stations at the mine, are 1 830mm wide by 11.2m long (18° incline) and feed copper/cobalt ore at 1 200t/h from a truck tipping point to grizzly feeders, which in turn feed jaw crushers. They are designed to handle up to 950mm-diameter lumps.

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

JULY 2021

www.samining.co.za

TAKRAF apron feeders are increasing in demand from projects across sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for challenging and abrasive material handling work, where they are preferable to belt feeders, which tend to tear in such applications. For example, in earlier orders, TAKRAF South Africa has supplied three apron feeders to a gold project in the Republic of Guinea, and five apron feeders to an iron ore project on the West Coast of South Africa, the company said.

FUCHS Lubricants. Specialist lubricants supplier to the mining industry as well as all industrial and automotive applications. (011) 565-9600 www.fuchs.com/za

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