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Puma Energy’s Africa head calls for urgent development of energy infrastructure on the continent

Published: 10 May 24

Puma Energy Africa head Fadi Mitri has issued a call to action to the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) to urgently develop the continent’s energy infrastructure. ARDA is the pan-African organisation for the downstream oil sector.

Analytics software improves water management

Published: 10 May 24

TalbotAnalytics, software as a service (SaaS), developed by water solutions provider Talbot, uses data and artificial intelligence (AI) to enable mining operations in South Africa to efficiently use data from smart water meters to manage and improve mine water utilisation and treatment processes. Using a holistic approach, TalbotAnalytics enhances water-risk measures and improves water security for mining operations. This ensures the mines are future-proofed in terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance, water management and system efficiency. TalbotAnalytics also guarantees that water operations and optimisation functions are cost-efficient using Talbot’s capital expenditure and operational expenditure models.

An image of the Jadair Settler/Clarifier System

Water clarification technology eliminates settling ponds

Published: 10 May 24

Advanced water clarification technology solutions on offer from water recycling and concrete reclaiming systems developer Jadair International – such as its Settler/Clarifier System – are enabling mining operations to resolve issues such as water loss in settling ponds, in turn, reducing the need for water replacement and lowering the requirement for clean-ups and maintenance. For mines and quarries that process dimensional stone, gold, crushed rock, sand or aggregate, washing these materials is a crucial step in supplying clean, high-quality products.

New dewatering pumps enhance mine water management

Published: 10 May 24

Although effective pump systems for water drainage are available on the market, the high sediment load of up to 5%, varying acidity value of mine water and the considerable energy consumption of dewatering pumps continue to pose a challenge to Australian plant manufacturer Murray Engineering. To address its heavy-duty requirements, the company has enlisted NEMO SY progressing cavity pumps, from German supplier NETZSCH Pumpen and Systeme, for their dewatering systems.

An image of World Wide Industrial and Systems Engineers MD Muhammad Ali

Virtual training key to cost-effective skills development

Published: 10 May 24

The mining industry is increasingly turning to virtual reality (VR) training to equip employees with essential skills in a simulated environment that mimics real-life conditions while reducing risks, reports consultancy firm World Wide Industrial and Systems Engineers MD Muhammad Ali. VR training simulates physical environments, such as underground or at height, providing a realistic experience that helps workers understand various safety hazards and operational tasks more effectively.

An image of mining consultants at a site

Hosted learnerships allow for collaborative skills development

Published: 10 May 24

Hosted learnerships play a crucial role in addressing the skills gap in the mining sector, particularly in areas with high unemployment rates, by upskilling local talent, providing additional workforce and offering employment opportunities outside the sector, says training services provider Training Force MD Daniel Orelowitz. While skills development is essential in various industries, businesses may not have the capacity, availability or ability to take on learners to meet their obligations. Conversely, other businesses may have available roles, but not necessarily sufficient funding to take on learners, he adds.

Consultancy concludes water project

Published: 10 May 24

Multidisciplinary consulting firm SRK Consulting recently completed a project involving mine water, in West Africa, which started with characterising the key aquifers at the mine. Thereafter, SRK developed a dewatering system based on site testing and numerical modelling, followed by a water balance flowsheet for the client, says SRK principal hydrogeologist Ismail Mahomed.

An image of trainees at Menar's Gugulethu operation

Diversified miner focuses on community upskilling

Published: 10 May 24

Johannesburg-headquartered diversified resources investment company Menar’s subsidiaries are prioritising youth empowerment through providing skills training, learnerships, internships and bursaries aimed at communities located close to its various operations. “Education’s unmistakable power is showcased when real lives are transformed, leaving a long-lasting impact for host communities,” Menar says.

Unlocking social and environmental benefits through tailings retreatment

Published: 10 May 24

The retreatment, or remining, of mine tailings can provide usable land, provide profits for companies and clean the environment by moving the reprocessed tailings to more advanced and well-managed facilities. Owing to changes in legislation, tailings need to be stored in facilities that are better managed and controlled than historical facilities. This means that the tailings from remined sites are sent to new tailing storage facilities (TSFs), said specialist consulting engineering firm Jones & Wagener environmental engineering closure and rehabilitation associate civil engineer Alice Harvey.

A black and white image of a hand under a tap with a trickle of water

Water a hurdle in Africa’s development - expert

Published: 10 May 24

Water scarcity poses a significant hurdle to Africa's growth and development, with climate change and deteriorating infrastructure intensifying the challenges, says advisory and analytics firm Frost & Sullivan consultant Hannro Steenekamp. He explains that South Africa’s ongoing water crisis, where about half of Johannesburg's population of over 5.5-million people have been without water or have experienced shortages for weeks, serves as a dire warning.