SA Mining Industry Snapshot September 2021 by SundayTimesZA

ONLINE EDITION INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

SA MIN NG www.samining.co.za

EDITION 5 – SEPTEMBER 2021

Eskom eyes green initiatives Axis Communications offers cybersecurity Safety underpins increased productivity

WCA

CALLS FOR INNOVATION IN COAL

In the news Energy Safety, health and environment Products and services

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CONTENTS INDUSTRY UPDATE 3 8

FEATURES 4

BRAND COAL CALLS FOR INNOVATION World Coal Association’s Michelle Manook calls for transformation through technology and modernisation of the coal sector.

NSafrica wins Team of the Year award E Kemach inks partnership with Liebherr Walkabout – winner at 2021 Africa Awards

AXIS COMMUNICATIONS OFFERS PROTECTION Protection of property and assets is a key concern for the high-value minerals sector, says Axis Communications’ Marcel Bruyns.

10 SAFETY VITAL TO PRODUCTIVITY Stringent safety standards on mines are vital to streamlined and efficient work processes, says BME’s Ramesh Dhoorgapersadh.

6 ESKOM EYES GREEN INITIATIVES

Eskom is investing R300-billion to mitigate its environmental impact, says GM Sandile Siyaya.

“Ivanhoe’s culture is the heartbeat of our organization, and is integral to everything that we do.” Dr. Patricia Makhesha, Executive VP, Sustainability and Special Projects

ivanhoemines.com

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FROM THE EDITOR

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

ONLINE EDITOR Stacey Visser 011 280 3671

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vissers@businessmediamags.co.za

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

the concerns

his edition of Industry Snapshot flags concerns people are facing, from the overriding worry of being unemployed (the unemployment rate rose by 1.8% to a staggering 34.4% in Q2:2021 compared to Q1:2021 – i.e. 7.8 million) to our energy challenges as we make the move to greener energy solutions. The World Coal Association’s Michelle Manook and its chairman, July Ndlovu, who heads up Anglo American’s new coal spinoff Thungela Resources (cover story in SA Mining), both highlight the need to adopt clean coal technologies such as carbon capture and storage to mitigate carbon emissions (pg 4). Interestingly, in line with the Presidential Climate Commission’s recommendations that South Africa adopt more ambitious emission reduction targets, Eskom was looking at options to meet these requirements.

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Nelendhre Moodley

According to Eskom’s Sandile Siyaya, the power utility would be investing some R300-billion to mitigate its environmental impact (pg 6). And explosives manufacturer BME has highlighted issues related to safety in the mining industry (pg 10). The Minerals Council recently reported that fatalities increased to 60 in 2020 compared to 51 last year when the mining industry announced its lowest recorded number of fatalities. Speaking of safety, the soaring rate of cybercrime remains a serious threat to businesses, especially following rail producer Transnet’s confirmation that it had been hacked. Industry Snapshot spoke to video surveillance company Axis Communications about cybercrime and preventive measures being adopted (pg 8).

Ilonka Moolman 011 280 3120 moolmani@samining.co.za Tshepo Monyamane 011 280 3110 tshepom@samining.co.za

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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

ENSAFRICA WINS TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD

Law firm ENSafrica was recently presented with the Energy & Natural Resources Team of the Year award at the 2021 African Legal Awards. The prize was for ENSafrica’s role as lead adviser to a multinational client in a transaction it concluded to sell certain of its assets to a leading South African company. The transaction was value-accretive for both companies, the law firm said. The African Legal Awards are set out to recognise exceptional achievement from Africa’s legal elite. The event is hosted by Law.com International which partnered with the Corporate Counsel Association of South Africa and Africa Legal.

WALKABOUT WINS AT 2021 AFRICA AWARDS

ASX-listed Australian-owned energy minerals developer Walkabout Resources recently took top honours at the Australia-Africa Minerals and Energy Group (AAMEG) 2021 Africa Awards, winning in the Best Innovation in Corporate Social Development category for its “Tanzanian first, local first” Lindi Jumbo Graphite Project. Operating near the village of Ruangwa, Lindi Jumbo has implemented a number of initiatives that have ensured the project assimilates successfully into the cultural landscape while adhering to local content requirements of Tanzania, including its 5% village trust fund, which sees profits from the project go directly back into the community. AAMEG vice-chair Ben Gargett said: “We initiated the AAMEG Africa Awards to tell the stories of the Australian mining industry as it operates in Africa, particularly in the areas of workforce and social development and environmental, social and corporate governance leadership.”

Sibanye-Stillwater ranks among world’s top three PGM producers.

NEAL FRONEMAN AWARDED BRIGADIER STOKES AWARD

KEMACH INKS PARTNERSHIP WITH LIEBHERR Kemach Equipment has been appointed South African partner to Liebherr for the sales and aftersales service of construction and earthmoving machinery. Les Lothian, CEO of Kemach Equipment, said, “Our experienced sales team is now equipped to provide current and future customers with a 360-degree solution to construction and earthmoving needs with the strong product line that Liebherr is bringing to us.” Tendayi Kudumba, general manager – earthmoving at LiebherrAfrica, added: “Liebherr and Kemach are two household names in the earthmoving equipment industry. We will leverage each other’s strengths to provide customers in South Africa with a high-end product that is backed by unparalleled aftersales support.” As part of the distributorship agreement, Kemach will distribute the full Liebherr range of earthmoving equipment, including excavators (20-100t), wheel loaders (10.4-25t), dozers (20-73t) and a line of telescopic handlers. www.samining.co.za

Mining giant Neal Froneman has been honoured with the 2021 Brigadier Stokes award by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, considered the highest distinction to be bestowed by the South African mining and metallurgical sector. Froneman has spent the past eight years transforming SibanyeStillwater from a 1.5moz South Africa-based gold producer into a leading precious metals miner with an international operating footprint ranking among the world’s top three PGM producers. The Brigadier Stokes Memorial Award was instituted in 1980 in commemoration of the outstanding contribution that Brigadier R.S.G. Stokes made to the South African mining and metallurgical industries over many years.

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

SEPTEMBER 2021

ENERGY

BRAND COAL © ISTOCK – Thossaphol

CALLS FOR INNOVATION AND MODERNISATION By Nelendhre Moodley

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

will require the building materials of steel and cement. As such, coal will continue to be the mainstay as a power source for the next couple of decades. But for coal to continue to be relevant and thrive, it has to evolve and transform. “We speak a lot about mitigation when it comes to coal. We don’t speak enough about the constant innovation in the coal industry. Just last week I spoke with senior representatives from the American Coal Industry leading a discussion on

$1.03-trillion Value of investments made in thermal coal companies this year

a ‘net negative CO2 Baseload Power initiative’, achieved through co-firing coal/biomass with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). “With more than 319GW of new coal capacity being added in emerging markets between 2014 and 2018, and 1 000 coal plants in various stages of development currently, we cannot afford to see developing nations forced into sub-economic paths, or emissions stemming from sub-optimal technology deployment,” she said.

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oal continues to power the greater part of the world, with emerging markets highly dependent on it. However in the face of climate change, coal dependence is under pressure. World Coal Association CEO Michelle Manook says that if the sector resists transformation through technology and modernisation, then there’s little chance of it thriving. Addressing delegates at the virtual Coal Industry Day, Manook called for the creation of a new narrative for “brand coal” underpinned by technology transformation. While it was generally perceived that dependence on coal was declining, the reality was that “global coal capacity grew every year between 2000 and 2019, nearly doubling from 1 066GW to 2 045GW with more than 319GW of new coal capacity being added in emerging markets between 2014 and 2018”. “Coal remains the world’s largest single source of electricity and will still be the biggest contributor in the fuel mix pie at 22% in 2040. Beyond electricity, coal is literally a ‘building block’ to industrialisation, critical to the production of 90% of the world’s cement, 70% of global steel, and more than 60% of energy used to make aluminium.” With the global population pegged at 10 billion people by 2050 and two thirds expected to be living in urban areas, demand for infrastructure developments

However Manook was quick to point out that while the world was calling for speedy transformation of the sector on the back of the devastating impacts of climate change, it was unable to sustain the sort of net zero projections being continually impressed upon it. “For instance, to meet the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero to 2050 scenario, emerging and developing economies would need to increase clean energy investments more than sevenfold – from $150-billion in 2020, to $600bn by 2030. By 2050, this figure would balloon to more than $1-trillion despite developing nations experiencing a current 8% decline between 2019 and 2020 and struggling with additional crisis highlighted by the COVID pandemic.” Speaking of costs, Manook said while the estimated cost for clean coal technologies of R60bn for South Africa

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seemed unattainable, this was until it was compared to the economic cost of not having stable, secure generation available. “Load shedding is estimated to cost the South African economy R500-million per stage, per day, and a report by the [Council for Scientific and Industrial Research] Energy Centre shows that in 2019 alone, the cost to the economy was between R60bn and R120bn, totalling as high as R338bn for the last decade.” She points to the deployment of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technology as a potential innovation that is both an economical and environmentally acceptable route to a low-carbon future, but also one that would enable coal to form the basis of a future hydrogen economy. An advantage of taking this route is the highly attractive price of hydrogen from

coal and carbon capture and storage (CCS) which is priced at around $2.50$3.50 per kilogram – “a fraction of green hydrogen, which can be up to $26 per kilogram”. “Hydrogen from coal with CCS is proven and operating at commercial scale now. The Great Plains Synfuels Plant in America produces around 1 300 tonnes of hydrogen per day in the form of hydrogenrich syngas from brown coal gasification with CCS,” she says. Although many financing institutions have been reticent to fund coal projects recently, a key factor that has been hampering coal miners from developing new projects or investing in expansion programmes, the good news is that some investors continue to have an appetite to progress coal projects. According to Manook, in January 2021, 4 488 institutional investors held www.samining.co.za

Coal is the world’s largest single source of electricity.

R60bn Estimated cost for clean coal technologies for SA

investments totalling $1.03-trillion in companies operating along the thermal coal value chain. “Between 1 October 2018 and 31 October 2020, 665 banks provided loans totalling $315bn and underwriting activities worth over $808bn.” n

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By Nelendhre Moodley

SEPTEMBER 2021

www.samining.co.za

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SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

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Speaking on the topic “What is Eskom’s role in the Southern African coal market and how is this changing?”, Siyaya conceded that while the power producer was in the process of an “imminent transition” to cleaner fuel sources, it would remain a significant consumer of coal until the middle of the century. Among the initiatives under way, the power utility was considering moving coal via rail or conveyor system where feasible and had identified Transnet as its designated rail solutions provider. “The Eskom Coal Strategy underpins our efforts to have dedicated long-term contracts, with a preference for coal

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its environmental impact

R300-billion Eskom’s investment to mitigate

delivered on conveyor belts to ensure a predictable price path and security of coal supply.” The company was also looking to renegotiate its coal quality requirements into the cost-plus agreements. “Eskom will continue with the cost-plus mines contracts and the extension of the contracts to match the remaining useful life of the power stations. Focus will be on coal quality initiatives at specific sites; requiring assurance that coal quality paid at source is the same coal quality received at the stations,” said Siyaya. Following the recent realisation that a substantial portion of its coal was being nicked, Eskom engaged the services of the relevant law enforcement agencies, including the South African Police Service, Hawks and others. “We are seeing that there is a significant amount of coal that is being stolen from the organisation. Thus far two arrests have been made in the last three months, with more to come.” Aside from engaging with its suppliers to optimise its coal quality, other capital expenditure initiatives targeting environmental compliance include: • X-ray screening technology aimed at improving coal quality – in this regard the power producer is partnering with mining houses and emerging coal miners. • Exploring clean coal technologies – Eskom is working with the Council for Geoscience on the Majuba CCS project – a pilot project targeting carbon capture and sequestration. • An inland coal terminal aimed at improving coal qualities through blending and homogenising to reduce variability and optimise total cost of coal.

– mariusz_prusaczy

tate-owned entity Eskom is among the top global greenhouse gas emitters, and in a bid to reduce its emission rates, the power utility is exploring a number of technology solutions. It is investing some R300-billion to mitigate its environmental impact while improving power station performance, Sandile Siyaya, Eskom GM for primary energy, recently told delegates attending the virtual Coal Industry Day. In line with the Presidential Climate Commission’s recommendations that South Africa adopt more ambitious emission reduction targets, the power producer is looking at options to meet these requirements.

ESKOM POWERS ON EYES GREEN INITIATIVES

Eskom is transitioning to cleaner fuel sources.

The proposed introduction of an inland coal terminal would allow for emerging miners to contribute to the overall Eskom coal supply. The initiative is in the early stages and the company has yet to decide on where the coal terminal would be located. Looking ahead, Siyaya said Eskom had developed the Just Energy Transition Strategy to prepare for the future and that the entity had prioritised Komati as its flagship site to implement its repowering and repurposing programme, which offers the entity opportunities in the green space. The Komati power station has been operational since 1961 and its last unit is scheduled to shut down in 2022. ■

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SAFE AND SECURE

AXIS COMMUNICATIONS OFFERS PROTECTION By Nelendhre Moodley

ith an increase in security breaches – be it cybercrime or physical infringements – the need for protection of property and assets continues to be a key concern for most industries, especially for the high-value metals and minerals sector. Industry Snapshot recently caught up with Axis Communications sales manager for Africa, Marcel Bruyns, to chat about the company’s product innovation. “Developments in the digital space continue to unlock avenues for step change innovation in the security space, giving rise to a whole host of new products,” he says. The Swedish manufacturer supplies a range of network products for physical security and video surveillance, including network cameras, network intercoms, network audio, access control, wearables, video recorders and video management software and analytics. The company provides products and services to a range of businesses, including mining companies from mining majors such as Anglo American, to midtier and junior miners. “While many companies have regarded investment in security systems as a grudge purchase, however, with the rise in high-level criminal activity, investment in security systems has become a necessity. “Over the past four years we have

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

seen a major shift in developments in business security; with a focus on products targeting preventative measures that include the use of artificial intelligence and related analytics which notify security teams of potential threats as they happen.” In line with being at the forefront of security product development, Axis Communications recently launched a wearable body camera to add to its already large camera portfolio.

Axis Communication is in a strong position to help clients deter potential hackers. – BRUYNS Wearable body cameras are being used increasingly by security personnel on-site, at access points and as a means to collate footage during plant maintenance and troubleshooting. In the mining industry, the wearable device is suitable for use at mine sites and processing plants to monitor operations, by the human resources department

SEPTEMBER 2021

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AXIS Q8752-E Bispectral PTZ Camera.

to record disputes, and as a security surveillance mechanism during protest/ strike action. It can also be used at weighbridges to monitor vehicles, product and personnel – given the rising rate of incidents of ore theft. Following the launch of the wearable body camera in the first quarter of 2020, traction for the product from the mining sector has been gaining momentum. The company is also continuously enhancing its product line seeking to expand its offering to its extensive client base. “For instance, some future releases include features that can be connected with a range of sensors able to monitor aspects such as ambient temperatures, water levels and humidity, etc. The

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Axis Communications AXIS COMMUNICATIONS’ PRODUCT RANGE works closely with The security specialist has a global clients to provide tailorpresence across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South made solutions. America AXIS W100 Body Worn Camera.

devices are sophisticated and able, among others, to automatically shut off the equipment in the event that set levels or temperature are breached, thereby saving the client thousands in replacement and/or repair costs.” Further to this, the rise in cybercrime is forcing many companies, be they billiondollar entities or small-scale firms, to invest in preventive technology. Although South Africa has reported few cybercrime incidents compared to its more developed counterparts, the recent “cyber-attack, security intrusion and sabotage” incident at Transnet is a case in point. “Axis Communication is in a strong position to help clients deter potential hackers with product features such as Axis Edge Vault, Trusted Platform

– BRUYNS

Module, Secure Boot and signed firmware supported by our priority ARTPEC chip. This ensures the safe transmission of data content, and the security of cryptographic keys and certificates are maintained while the sign firmware protects against malicious code being installed. “Our devices are compatible with VMS partners who support HTTPS/SSL self-signed certificates, which is a type of ‘handshake’ between the edge device and server,” says Bruyns. Coupled with these offerings, the company also provides best practice guides which assist in actively preventing security breaches. “At Axis Communications we work closely with clients to provide tailor-made solutions to meet their needs. In line with www.samining.co.za

Marcel Bruyns.

this, we also offer to trial products on-site to showcase how the products work and the benefits the clients are able to achieve. “Once clients see the value of our products, they are happy to invest in them. Our main aim is to develop longterm relationships and ensure that we supply the right equipment first time.” ■

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

SEPTEMBER 2021

SHE COLUMN BME

SAFETY IS A KEY STEP ON THE ROAD TO PRODUCTIVITY Ramesh Dhoorgapersadh, GM for SHERQ.

ar from impeding production targets, stringent safety standards on mines are vital to streamlined and efficient work processes – and nowhere is this more relevant than in the blasting space. As one of mining’s critical performance areas, blasting has a special respect for best practice in safety, says Ramesh Dhoorgapersadh, general manager for Safety, Health, Environment, Risk and Quality (SHERQ) at blasting and explosives leader BME, a member of the JSE-listed Omnia Group. Indeed, proven safety performance and demonstrable systems are today a basic pre-requisite to earn contracts from leading mining companies. “This means ingraining safety into every activity, in line with recognised standards and procedures,” said Dhoorgapersadh, highlighting the company’s Safety for Life brand. This guides every step in the company’s process – from raw material sourcing and emulsion manufacturing through to final blast initiation. He emphasised the negative potential impact of any blast-related delay or incident that could affect a mine’s smooth operation. “Any delays – including those from safety-related incidents – can cause disruption, while a Section 54 notice can bring an entire operation to a halt, with massive financial implications,” he said. “For this reason, no aspect of the blasting function can be left to chance – and BME ensures this with its thorough safety management system.” The result has been plain to see, with the company’s recorded case rate reaching a record low of 0.05% for the last financial year. This represents a world-class achievement in the blasting sector, and also places BME among the ranks of the best safety performers in the local industry. This follows the company’s earlier recognition for safety, health and environment performance improvement

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

at the Chemical and Allied Industries Association Awards. “Our blasting philosophy – through our innovative products and leading initiation technologies – aims to optimise the productivity of our customers’ mining operations,” he said. “Underpinning our ability to do this is a foundation of safe practices that mitigate our customers’ risk – by aligning with their own safety protocols and broader regulatory requirements.”

Safety and security are given top priority in the design of BME’s products and equipment. – DHOORGAPERSADH Dhoorgapersadh highlighted the extensive footprint of BME’s network across Southern Africa in particular, where emulsion explosives, accessories and equipment are constantly moving between manufacturing facilities, factories and mine sites. Governing every step of these journeys is a detailed safety system – ensuring every stakeholder’s safe return home at the end of each day. “Even across borders, our safety culture is shared, ingrained and enforced among all BME employees and contractors alike, so that we can apply and embed our safety learnings wherever we operate,” he said. The success of BME’s results reflects the broad approach to occupational wellness – supporting the health of employees with regular monitoring by an occupational doctor and nurse. Inspections by medical professionals are part of a medical

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surveillance programme of all the company facilities. This would include site visits to check the responsible handling of hazardous chemicals, constantly ensuring that personnel are not at risk. Safety and security are also given top priority in the design of BME’s products and equipment. Its latest AXXIS Digital Initiation Systems are a case in point. Whereas most electronic detonators rely on only one basis of safety for logging and testing the detonators, AXXIS will now have two. “This allows us to use low voltage, which is below the firing sensitivity of the fuse head, during programming and testing of each detonator from a handheld logger,” he said. “This inherently safe method for programming and testing ensures the detonators are inert while people interact directly with them.” Should a higher voltage be applied by a different device, the second safety measure ensures that detonators are safe through their split power supply – so that the main firing capacitor cannot be charged during programming and testing. Security is provided by robust communication protocols between detonators, loggers and blast boxes. “The blast command has added reliability cross-checks, thus preventing the risk of uncommanded initiation,” said Dhoorgapersadh. The key logger principle is another important security feature in AXXIS and allows a blast to proceed through the process from testing all detonators in the blast to charging the firing capacitors, and firing the blast. The key logger authorises the system to continue through the stages of blasting using PIN numbers, while only one key logger can be used on each blast. He noted that BME’s electronic detonation systems were tested in line with SANS 551 tests for detonator safety and were accredited in terms of ARP SANS 1717. ■

SHE COLUMN ASPASA

SMALL-SCALE MINING © ISTOCK – DenBoma

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES By Nico Pienaar – director at Aspasa

What do small-scale miners mine? There are many commodities that are mined in smaller opencast mines in South Africa. One example is that of aggregate and sand, also known as gravel and sand. These two products are the most mined minerals in the world. When combined with cement and water, they are the basic building blocks for large infrastructure developments across the globe. Then there is clay mining, which is used to manufacture clay bricks, used to build houses and other structures. So we have four commodities, i.e. aggregate, sand, lime and clay. There is also salt, dimension stone, lime, and a host of other lesser-known minerals. What is interesting to note is that building

Mining illegally means that you are pilfering from the state. – PIENAAR So why are health, safety and environment relevant to this subject? The mining industry, which reports to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), is an industry heavily regulated by legislation, including the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 28 of 2002 (MPRDA). This legislation deals with the acquisition or rights to conduct reconnaissance, prospecting and mining. The problem in South Africa is that there are many people who think one can just start mining – unfortunately this is not true as the minerals of the country belong to the state. Therefore mining illegally means that you are pilfering from the state, similar to those acts of theft that the Zondo Commission has heard testimony of. Also linked to the MPRDA are the Royalty Act, the Mining Titles Registration Act and the Health and Safety Act. www.samining.co.za

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materials manufacturer Lafarge Holcim is considered to be a significant “mining house”, consisting of divisions of mining and processing aggregate, sand and cement. The South African Diamond Producers Organisation is also made up of a number of smaller diamond digging operations.

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he mining industry in South Africa is often viewed as a single entity, based on pictures of massive headgears, reading about illegal mining, watching the news and seeing the values of minerals that are financial generators, i.e. gold, platinum, iron ore and coal. Yes, these are important minerals that uphold the economy and are a significant employer and tax contributor to the South African economy. However, a part of the mining industry that is often overlooked or not fully appreciated are the smaller opencast mines that are spread across the country. All operations add value to the economy, be it to the smaller towns or communities. This article serves to highlight the importance of the smaller mining entities and the value they add to both the economy and the communities in which they operate.

Mining contributes to the economy.

Are there other sources or relevant laws affecting the mining industry? Yes, there are others also impacting on the process of mining. For instance, there is the Law of Contract, which is a contract between the DMRE minister and an individual or a company to mine. But given that the mineral belongs to the state and the surface land belongs to the individual or company, there have been instances where the individual or company has been unwilling to have interference on his/her property. The mining industry is also affected by the “common” law of South Africa – the principles of which are derived from the Roman Dutch law. This means that each law plays a role in those judicial interpretations upon legislation such as the MPRDA. Then the law of delict is also relevant to mining. The example here is where downstream landowners may have a claim in delict of damages as for pollution of water by a mining company upstream. ■

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

SEPTEMBER 2021

WOMEN IN MINING ADVERTORIAL

DIVERSITY

IS KEY TO TRANSFORMATION

By Hendrietta Sarila: natural scientist and chairperson of women in mining at Ivanplats

t’s 23 years since the promulgation of the Employment Equity Act (No. 55 of 1998) in South Africa. However a lack of diversity and inclusive workplace environments remain a key issue for the mining sector. One of the key challenges in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is the failure to employ women from diverse backgrounds across all levels of decision making within organisations. The mining sector has come a long way, but there remains much to be done. As an industry, we need to keep creating workplaces that are free of any form of discrimination. At Ivanplats, we believe that our success relies greatly on our diversified team. We strive to provide safe, inclusive workplaces where growth and progression are fostered and everyone feels important and needed. It’s important to provide equal opportunities in order to ensure that those who are underrepresented, particularly women and people living with disabilities, are not only represented, but can succeed and thrive. In 2015 we established a Women in Mining initiative with the mandate to promote development, growth, and sustainable transformation of women. This programme sets development and training targets, measures the number of women in our workforce, and seeks to ensure that women are adequately represented in technical positions, and are developed and afforded procurement opportunities. “We are of proud of our women, women underground, and women in management building the biggest new mine in South Africa,” says chairman Robert Friedland. The business case for diversity is well established. Workforce diversity also enables companies to look at challenges from multiple perspectives, better equipping them to identify innovative solutions. Any organisation that strives for success must set implementation parameters for diversity and inclusion by asking three questions: Why diversity?

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

Hendrietta Sarila.

What kind of diversity? And how much diversity? Once these parameters have been set, they should be turned into action through documented policies and targets. Women in key roles: Marna Cloete, Ivanhoe Mines president: “The diversity and inclusion of our executive committee, and the entire company, is a true reflection of our rich South African culture that always strives for unity and freedom in our daily lives.” Patricia Makhesha, Ivanplats executive VP of sustainability special projects: “We are tremendously proud of the growing diversity of our workforce, and we strongly believe that diversity is the key to nurturing talent and driving innovation at our operations.”

Lack of diversity and inclusive workplace environments is a key issue for the mining sector.

Mmasaku Mohale.

Alinah Mawilah.

– SARILA Mmasaku Mohale, senior manager: community relations, is passionate about community development and stakeholder engagement, and is the voice of the company’s host communities and champion for skills development of women and young girls. She implements skills development projects with an emphasis on inclusion and local employment, as well as continued opportunities for women and girls. Alinah Mawilah, HSE data administrator, started her career as a negotiator in the finance and credit management sector, and is part of the company’s dynamic safety and risk management team. When she’s not working at the mine, she volunteers at Lebone Special School. Kholofelo Maleka, artisan assistant, is a young local electrical engineering

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Helen van der Nest.

graduate from the company’s host communities of Mokopane. She received an internship opportunity from Ivanplats and is now part of its team of engineers and artisans. Helen van der Nest joined Ivanplats 14 years ago as a bookkeeper, and was recently promoted to accountant. She believes that no role is too small or too big, and that everyone plays an important part in the organisation’s success. ■

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SA Mining, South Africa’s oldest mining magazine, has been providing insight into the local, Southern African and African mining space for 125 years.

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES

TLT-TURBO AFRICA

EXTENDS PRODUCT RANGE Ventilation fans and systems manufacturer TLT-Turbo Africa has extended its auxiliary and booster fan range to include variants that are able to provide flexibility to clients on all underground ventilation performance requirements, the company said. Following the launch in 2019 and the success of the TLT-Turbo auxiliary and booster fan range from the mining industry, TLT-Turbo Africa noticed a trend emerging of mining companies focusing on energy-efficient solutions for ventilation. Based on enquiries received, TLT-Turbo identified a gap in the mining ventilation market as demand increased for fans in the

size range of 1 600mm to 2 000mm in diameter. “With the mining sector starting to move away from large-scale, end-oflife surface fan installations to smaller, more scalable and movable ventilation installations, it became clear that this niche will become more relevant in the future. “TLT-Turbo Africa decided to bridge this gap in our offering by extending our current standardised auxiliary and booster fan range to include 1 800mm and 2 000mm variants,” said Vusi Madlopha, TLT-Turbo Africa head of sales and business development.

1 600mm to 2 000mm TLT-Turbo extends diameter of its ventilation fan range

HIKVISION LAUNCHES NEW SECURITY ANALYSER

TOTAL EQUIPMENT EXPANDS VERMEER REPRESENTATION

Total Equipment, a full-line Vermeer Industrial dealer headquartered in Puerto Rico, recently acquired the rights from Vermeer Southeast to represent the Vermeer Industrial product line in over 20 islands south of Cuba, from Jamaica to Trinidad & Tobago, the company said. As Vermeer Caribbean expands its territory, the dealership will offer the full line of Vermeer industrial equipment and full-service operations in the region. “Total Equipment and Vermeer Southeast have been great partners known for providing dependable support to Vermeer customers across the Caribbean islands for some time,” said Herb Waldhuetter, managing director of Vermeer Latin America.

SA MINING INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

SEPTEMBER 2021

Video surveillance equipment supplier Hikvision has developed a new security analyser ISD-ST204D, which is based on artificial intelligent technology to empower the traditional X-ray inspection systems. The security analyser is equipped with improved threat identification capabilities and is able to recognise more than 15 classes and more than 50 kinds of threats including guns, knives, gas spray cans, liquid bottles, batteries and more, the company said. All security inspection devices are managed on Hikvision products’ management platform (HCP). X-ray inspection systems and walk-through person-screening devices are no longer standalone systems. All device information, baggage- or person-checking data and alarm information is uploaded to the HCP Hikvision products’ management platform. Security managers can check total data in the control room. Security data reports including X-ray images with threats, real-time videos, and daily security analysis reports are provided.

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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.

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