Finding good quality contractors a significant challenge

Among the many challenges facing the South African mining industry, such as strikes, skills retention and load-shedding, the challenge of employing and managing contractors seems to be significant,... 

More miners seeking contractor support for short-term planning

An increased number of mining companies are seeking support from contractors for short-term tactical planning, as opposed to only long-term, strategic and life-of-mine planning, says opencast and... 

Efficient rosters help mines to maximise employee time

An optimised employee roster increases a mining operation’s productivity, reduces labour costs, satisfies employee and union needs, meets regulatory requirements and ensures a healthy workforce,... 

Quality control leads to successful blasting results

Quality control is the most important factor in conducting blasting at an opencast mine, says environmental, opencast and civil drilling and blasting company DynaD director Chris Bester. He states... 

Downhole geophysics helps mines avoid costly mistakes

The profit margins of opencast mining have decreased, necessitating cost reductions while effcient production is maintained, says wireline-logging company Geoline Logging Services. Geoline manager... 

Mines increasingly depend on technology

As mining companies become increasingly dependent on technology to drive, manage and deliver large-scale opencast projects, they are starting to consider cloud-based systems for solutions, says... 

Dust prevention reduces downtime

To prevent operational downtime that, on average, can result in a loss of between $1 000/h and $3 000/h, materials handling companies must invest in dust prevention solutions that effectively... 

Air purifier selling well in small business sector

While air quality solutions company Solenco SA has mostly sold its Airvax air purifier to clients in the residential market, the company has noted an increased uptake from industry and small... 

Fine-particle engineering solution cost-effective for industry

Dust-suppression solutions provider 88Chemco is saving costs for clients in the mining, oil and gas, and plantation industries with its chemical technologies and engineering methods, including... 

Companies meet new emissions standards with smoke, dust solution

In response to the Department of Health’s new emissions standards that will come into effect this year, air-pollution control and dust extraction systems supplier Kentech is supplying smoke and... 

Company tackles haul truck dust emissions

International research, using human health and environment protection agency the US Environmental Protection Agency’s emissions factors for unpaved haul roads, indicates that haul trucks generate... 

Air Quality Act emphasises emissions control in South Africa

Since the implementation of the National Environmental Management Air Quality Act in November 2013, the importance of emissions control in South Africa has been increasing, says air filtration... 

Company completes R5.8m dust-removal system installation

Environmental management company I-Cat Environmental Solutions completed the installation of a R5.8-million ScrubMist dust-removal system at diversified miner Assmang’s Beeshoek iron-ore mine, in... 

Growing need for dust extraction benefits antipollution companies

Global public health institution the World Health Organisation’s 2015 statistics show that at least seven-million people worldwide die prematurely from air pollution-related diseases, which makes... 

Company helping mines to effectively identify mineable resources

Geological consulting company Gemecs is assisting exploration companies and mines with the successful identification of potential mineable in situ resources using geological modelling, says company... 

Focus shifting to operational improvement

Owing to ongoing commodity price pressure, many larger feasibility studies have been replaced by operational improvement and smaller opportunity assessment studies over the past few months, global... 

Mining companies advised to invest in the future

Despite tough conditions currently, mining companies should still invest in building their operations for the future, as “the cycle will eventually turn”, says consulting engineers and scientists... 

Effective wastewater treatment crucial

Wastewater treatment works at mines must provide a competitive solution for their capital expenditure and operating expenditure, says water treatment plants designer and developer Degrémont South... 

Innovation needed to remain relevant in changing environment

Mining houses and consulting engineering firms that continue to conduct business the way they have always conducted it will become irrelevant in the ever-everchanging environment, says  project... 

Economics, market analysis crucial for effective feasibility study

An effective mining feasibility study must provide not only the results of a geological evaluation or the development of mine plans, but also an analysis of the market and the fundamental economics... 

Project feasibility study for Golpu under way

Project delivery and consulting services firm WorleyParsons started working on the feasibility study for the greenfield Golpu gold project, in Papua New Guinea, last month. The project is owned by... 

Flooring industry needs to accelerate training

The flooring industry in South Africa must start investing in worker training, as government plans to make staff accreditation a compulsory requirement, says interior flooring supplier and... 

Quality concrete floors depend on contractor cooperation

Dividing on-site flooring responsibility between main contractors and subcontractors leads to poor-quality concrete floors, says cement and concrete industry body The Concrete Institute. Therefore,... 

Reformulated screed offers new benefits

The reformulated version of construction chemicals manufacturer a.b.e Construction Chemicals’ abescreed SLC P is being successfully applied at building projects countrywide, says a.b.e national... 

Expanded-aluminium grating and mesh prevent corrosion

Expanded-aluminium floor grating and mesh, manufactured by expanded-aluminium products manufacturer Ampliform ensures that end-users do not struggle with corrosion in outside areas, says Ampliform... 

DST, Mintek unveil cleanroom facility

The successful installation of a R13-million ISO 3 cleanroom and BSL3 laboratory at national mineral research organisation Mintek was proof that the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST’s)... 

South African mining industry committed to mechanisation

The South African mining industry is committed to mechanisation in its deep-level mining operations, with major gold and platinum producers having announced their intent to modernise their... 

Mining-induced earthquake research in final stages

Research institutions, led by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Japan’s Ritsumeikan University, are in the final stages of a research project aimed at gaining a better... 

Mechanised installation of mesh promotes underground safety

The mechanised installation of high tensile steel mesh in deep-level mines promotes safety, as it  reduces the risk of people being harmed while performing the same task, says engineering company... 

Research results in fewer incidents at SA deep-level mines

There have been major improvements in safety at South Africa’s deep-level mines over the past 19 years because of focused industry initiatives, as well as government-funded research and the... 

Innovative technology leading to increased deep-level mining

Deep-level mining is becoming more common as a result of innovative technology, says design and consulting professional services company Stantec. Stantec US and international mining VP Sandy Watson... 

SA deep-level mining industry to remain in doldrums

South Africa’s current outlook regarding the deep-level mining industry will remain negative, as the sector’s downward production trend is expected to continue, advisory firm Wood Mackenzie... 

SA mines benefit from sophisticated cooling methods

Major mining companies, such as platinum producer Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and gold miner AngloGold Ashanti, are benefiting from ventilation and cooling technology provided by cooling... 

More mining companies to benefit from drill rig simulator training

In response to the growing need for skilled drilling personnel, global training simulator provider ThoroughTec Simulation is increasing the number of its Cybermine blast-hole drill-rig simulator... 

Drill penetrates with more precision

Cutting tools developer Dormer Pramet in January launched a new solid carbide drill that increases drilling precision. The drill was specifically developed to overcome problems associated with... 

Company prioritises oil-contamination prevention, safety

To reduce the environmental impact of its projects, drilling services company Ubuntu Rock Drilling (URD) aims to prevent oil contamination as much as possible, company marketing manager Michelle... 

African drilling projects benefit from versatile equipment

African drilling projects are benefiting from using the versatile instruments and products produced by Italy-based drilling instruments designer DAT instruments, says sales manager Domenico... 

Upgraded rotary drill to be introduced to African market

Following the completion of product support training, machinery manufacturer Caterpillar’s upgraded MD6640 rotary drill is now commercially available, says Caterpillar surface rock drills... 

Challenging drilling project successfully completed

Integrated drilling services and equipment provider Boart Longyear last month completed another unique project using its dual-tube flooded reverse-circulation technique. The technique, used to... 

SA can become a bigger coal exporter

South Africa has the potential to export more coal, provided there is  rail infrastructure expansion and improvement in the country, says geology, mining and environmental consulting services...