From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

Sibanye-Stillwater has invested R43-million into the construction of a new Simulacrum undergrounding mining training facility at the University of Johannesburg’s Doornkloof campus. Darren Parker tells us more.

Darren Parker:

The R43-million Sibanye-Stillwater Simulacrum mining facility at UJ’s Doornkloof campus in Johannesburg was built in 2020 and 2021 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The training facility incorporates a vertical shaft, mine tunnels, stope environments, a rescue chamber and extensive virtual reality infrastructure to replicate underground mining conditions.

Sibanye-Stillwater chief regional officer South Africa Dr Richard Stewart…

Darren Parker:

Stewart noted that there were both similarities and differences between the newly established Simulacrum at UJ and the existing Sibanye-Stillwater Digital Mining Laboratory at Wits University.

Sibanye-Stillwater chief regional officer South Africa Dr Richard Stewart…

Darren Parker:

The Sibanye-Stillwater Centre for Sustainable Mining was launched alongside the Simulacrum, aimed at fostering postgraduate research and integrating Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.

This centre will focus on advancing mining efficiency and sustainability, with Sibanye-Stillwater committing R12.75-million to fund its operations from 2024 to 2026.

Sibanye-Stillwater chief regional officer South Africa Dr Richard Stewart…

Darren Parker:

The collaboration between Sibanye-Stillwater and UJ has spanned over a decade, marked by an investment of more than R55-million into research, technology development and practical training initiatives for mining students.

Since 2013, Sibanye-Stillwater has invested more than R2-billion in education to support the development of skilled professionals.

Sibanye-Stillwater chief regional officer South Africa Dr Richard Stewart…

Sashnee Moodley:

Retailer Pick n Pay has, in partnership with reverse vending machine provider Imagined Earth and beverage manufacturer Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, introduced more reverse vending machines in the retailers’ stores to incentivise recycling. The initiative is now also integrated with Pick n Pay’s Smart Shopper rewards programme. Sabrina Jardim tells us more.

Sabrina Jardim:

Through this latest partnership with Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, Pick n Pay has rolled out an additional 16 machines in Gauteng, bringing the total to 30 machines nationwide.

Pick n Pay hopes to introduce a further 15 machines in the coming year, with the aim to eventually have a reverse vending machine in every third store.

Each machine can store between 650 and 750 waste items and accepts recyclable items such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles, milk bottle containers and cans. The machines notify the waste management provider when they need to be emptied.

The collected waste is sorted off-site and sent to the correct recycling facilities.

Imagined Earth MD Justin Needham…

Sabrina Jardim:

The machines, which identify recyclable products by barcode and shape, reward users using the Imagined Earth mobile app.

Customers can bring their recyclable items, with barcodes, to Pick n Pay when doing their grocery shopping.

Once shoppers scan the barcodes of their empty recyclable bottles or containers, the machines identify the type of recyclable product being presented using AI software. This service extends to any type of plastic, glass or tin product.

Thereafter shoppers enter their mobile numbers on the screen and follow the prompts and earn Smart Shopper points once they have linked their card in the Imagined Earth app.

Imagined Earth MD Justin Needham…

Pick n Pay sustainability manager Steffen Burrows…

Sabrina Jardim:

Imagined Earth pays out the recyclable value of an item to the customer, and this is digitally paid in full each time a customer recycles an item in the RVM. This price will fluctuate depending on the value paid by waste management facilities.

Customers need to link their registered Smart Shopper card in the Imagined Earth app to claim their reward from the RVMs in Pick n Pay. The value from the recyclable item will then flow directly onto the customer’s Pick n Pay Smart Shopper card and can be used at till points.

Smart Shoppers who have linked their registered Smart Shopper card in the Imagine Earth app can also select Smart Shopper as their reward when recycling items in other Imagined Earth RVMs not in a Pick n Pay store.

Imagined Earth MD Justin Needham...

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.