REDPATH SA
was commissioned in mid-2013 by the owner of the mine to assist in the
expansion of the mine shafts through raise boring – a process of excavating circular holes
between two levels of a mine, without explosives.
In order to undertake this highly challenging task, Redpath SA Managing Director, Ockert
Douglas, says that the company is making use of the state-of-the-art Redbore 90 raise drill,
entirely designed and manufactured in-house by Redpath Canada. “The Redbore 90 is able
to meet the demand for wider diameter raises from 4.5m to 6m (depending on ground
conditions) and can reach depths in excess of 600m.”
According to Redpath Senior Vice President, Michael Kelly, the machine boasts a considerably
lower profile than similar raise drills, providing the end user with a cost-effective method
for boring large diameter raises underground, while minimising high costs associated with
underground excavations.
“In the past, the work that the 6m-high Redbore 90 is currently undertaking, would have
required a raise drill almost 9m in height. This height reduction ensures substantial savings
on operational space, which is restricted underground. It is cheaper to transport and can be
easily dismantled, ultimately ensuring safer and efficient equipment mobilisation,” he says.
The raise boring process begins with placing the Redbore 90 on the upper level of the two
levels that need to be connected. A small-diameter pilot hole is drilled to the level required.
Once the drill has broken into the opening on the target level, the bit is removed.
Entering
Contract mining firm, Redpath
Mining South Africa, is
undertaking its first-ever
African-based raise boring
project, to expand underground
shafts at a copper mine
in Zambia.
MQA-Accredited Training Centre
Redpath South Africa recently established a Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) accredited training
centre at its head office in Johannesburg, Gauteng, offering skills programmes, study assistance
and safe working procedures training for its employees. The company is set to officially undertake
theoretical and practical training by the end of 2013.
According to Redpath Mining South Africa’s General Manager – SHEQT,
Johan Jansen van Vuuren
,
“As an MQA-certified facility, the centre provides mandatory in-house induction training and safe
working procedures training to employees. There are MQA accredited skills programmes for selected
occupations, such as blasting assistant training; Competent A training - involving workplace safe
declaration and Competent B training - involving semi-skilled underground workers.”
The training facility will serve as an invaluable means of simulating ‘real-life’ situations, enabling
trainees to carry out the skills that they have learnt in a safe, yet practical and realistic environment.
Redpath SA will offer learnerships to learner miners and artisans, as well as study assistance for
various job-specific correspondence studies and job-specific training, such as computer literacy courses
and first aid.
