February is Mining Indaba month. Not unsurprisingly given the state of the mining industry, this year’s event was quieter than normal, with both the number of delegates and exhibitors down on previous years. There were nevertheless some interesting presentations by industry leaders, some of which we report on in this issue, as well as a keenly awaited welcoming address by the Minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane.
Although the Mining Indaba is not normally the platform for the launch of new equipment or new mining methods, JSE-listed Master Drilling broke the mould this year by introducing its innovative new Blind Shaft Boring System (BSBS) which – it believes – could cut the time to sink shafts in half. The system is said to offer numerous advantages over conventional sinking methods and can be used to create shafts of between 10 and 14 m to depths of up to 2 km.
Our project coverage in this issue includes a report on Northam Platinum’s Booysendal platinum mine on the Eastern Limb of the Bushveld Complex. As we relate, the mine is a fully mechanised room and pillar operation which is not only performing strongly in terms of achieving its mining targets but is also operating very safely.
Look out in our Editor’s Comment page, incidentally, for an account of SRK: 40 years in the deep end, a new book celebrating SRK’s four decades of operation. It was launched at a function organised to coincide with the Mining Indaba and details the story of the multi-disciplinary consulting group from its formation in Johannesburg in 1974 right up to the present.
Asanko starts producing a month ahead of schedule
Asanko Gold Inc, listed on the TSX and NYSE, has announced first gold production of approximately 400 ounces from Phase 1 of the Asanko Gold Mine (AGM) in Ghana. This follows the successful commencement of operations of the entire processing facility one month ahead of schedule.
Kipushi mineral resource estimate exceeds expectations
Ivanhoe Mines, listed on the TSX, has announced the receipt of a new, independent, mineral resource estimate for its historic, high-grade, Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-lead-silver mine in the DRC. Kipushi is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines and Gécamines, the state-owned mining company.
New machines set to strengthen Babcock’s ‘footprint’ in mining
There are exciting developments underway at Babcock. The company, which is the Southern African dealer for Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), has introduced to the local market the Volvo EC750D excavator, Volvo’s biggest excavator yet, and expects to be launching more Volvo machines in the coming months, including a new 60-tonne articulated hauler.
Booysendal – modern and mechanised
Modern Mining recently visited the highly mechanised Booysendal platinum mine, which its GM, Willie Theron, describes as a “model mine which is setting new benchmarks for the industry and which has the potential to become the biggest PGM producer on the Eastern Limb of the Bushveld Complex.”
Experienced hand at the helm of WorleyParsons RSA
The new head of WorleyParsons RSA, Francis McNiff, is no stranger to the South African operation as he is already Regional Managing Director, Sub Saharan Africa for WorleyParsons and has been based in South Africa for the past three-and-a-half years.