While original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) tend to drive the technological evolution of mining equipment toward lower-carbon options, engineering consultancy SRK Consulting director and principal consultant Andrew van Zyl says the company assists clients to “understand exactly how these solutions impact indices like cost, productivity and mine plans”.

For example, the introduction of new technology into a feasibility study impacts the confidence of the modifying factors linked to resource and reserve determination.

“We include a range of power generation options available in our technical studies and we track the technologies and their potential advantages and risks. Our due diligence studies include a review of the energy options that the client has selected, and to assess questions of cost and reliability, for instance,” he elaborates.

He further emphasises the importance of clients understanding how the various elements of their operations contribute to their carbon footprint, and what they would need to change if they are to meet their targets. SRK’s multi-disciplinary expertise allows the company to explore options for reducing emissions and plotting a path that aligns with emissions targets, in this regard.

As such, a key advantage of SRK Consulting’s international footprint is that the company can assemble teams which incorporate global experience on the latest developments and interventions.

This experience, Van Zyl explains, gives the client detailed insight into energy options that would have the best impact for their operating conditions.

“The diverse disciplines that we engage would range from expertise on the latest environmental requirements and responsible sourcing guidelines, to new energy technologies successfully applied in mines.”

This is also critical when considering that the energy transition is a rapidly developing field, thereby making it very valuable for colleagues to communicate across countries and practices.

“Many of the innovations are being applied for the first time, so it is vital to have insight into their efficacy and potential. These interventions also often only take place initially in one or two locations, so having people involved in mining projects globally and sharing this knowledge across our practices is a real advantage,” Van Zyl notes, adding that by comparing notes with fellow engineers and scientists around the world, “it is easier for the company to cover all the bases and to provide the resulting insights to clients”.

COVID-19

As waves of Covid-19 infections affected national regulations, Van Zyl says the new normal has meant complying and adapting to changing scenarios and risks. For SRK, this has meant a mix of remote and office-based working, based on the operational profile of each of the company’s departments.

“Avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach, the company aims to balance our engagement with clients and colleagues while keeping risks of infection as low as possible. There are many intangible benefits of being in the office together, which we try to maximise,” Van Zyl says.

During the lockdowns, SRK was able to develop innovative ways of engaging virtually within the business and with clients, and the company has more recently been enjoying getting back to some face-to-face engagements and site visits.

However, travel restrictions mean that the company has had to rely more on colleagues in other international offices to conduct site visits, a benefit of which meant the company was building an even closer collaboration.

“In many ways, this time has helped us integrate better across our global footprint. Looking forward, we see the organisation using virtual communication platforms to give work flexibility, while maintaining the important benefits of a physical presence with clients and colleagues where it is manageable and safe,” Van Zyl comments.

Looking ahead, SRK Consulting is staying relevant by constantly evolving its expertise to serve those minerals most in in demand.

“With a depth of skills in base metals like copper and cobalt, and precious metals including platinum and gold, we are also developing broader expertise in minerals like lithium where expertise was previously more localised. Our work with tailings storage facilities is particularly busy as clients move towards compliance with the Global Industry Standards on Tailings Management,” Van Zyl tells Mining Weekly.

In terms of energy transition, SRK Consulting is also involved in the European Union-funded RE-SOURCING project, which is a multi-stakeholder platform that aims to promote responsible sourcing of raw materials across global mineral value chains.

The context of this work is the European Green Deal to tackle the growing threat of climate change and environmental degradation; the project develops roadmaps for renewable energy, mobility, and electric and electronic goods. There is also considerable stakeholder engagement to facilitate this process with SRK specifically involved in the key regions of Asia and Africa.

Overall, SRK Consulting has a global presence of 45 offices across every continent, and it employs more than 1 500 people.

In Africa, the company’s offices are located in Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo and across South Africa.