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Rio Tinto secures future of NZ aluminium smelter, acquires full ownership

Published: 31 May 24

Commodities giant Rio Tinto announced on Friday that it would keep New Zealand’s sole aluminium smelter operational until at least 2044, following the completion of new 20-year electricity supply agreements. The Tiwai Point smelter, owned and operated New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS), has secured these contracts with key energy providers.

Air passenger demand continues to grow strongly, reports IATA

Published: 31 May 24

Global air passenger demand continued to increase in April, in year-on-year (y-o-y) terms, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. (IATA was the representative body for the global airline industry.) Total passenger demand was up 11%, with international demand rising 15.8% and domestic demand increasing 4%. Total capacity rose 9.6%, with international capacity increasing by 14.8% and domestic capacity by 2.1%. The total global load factor in April was 82.4%, which was a one percentage point (ppt) increase, y-o-y. The international load factor was 82.2% (up 0.7 ppt) and the domestic load factor reached 82.6% (a rise of 1.5 ppt).

Nigeria secures $500m World Bank loan for electricity sector

Published: 31 May 24

Nigeria has secured a $500-million World Bank loan for its electricity sector to boost power distribution, after last month's hike in tariffs for top consumers in Africa's most populous nation. The Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), the country's privatisation agency, on Thursday said the loan was approved by the World Bank in 2021 and included the government's borrowing plan this month after achieving some milestones.

UKZN student support services manager Dr Saloschini Pillay

UKZN using automated solution to monitor, support students' academic and holistic wellness

Published: 31 May 24

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has piloted an automated student academic and holistic wellness solution among 9 000 students in the College of Health Sciences and aims to roll the solution out to the entire university of 53 000 students, UKZN student support services manager Dr Saloschini Pillay has said. The automated student wellness and academic transformation (SWAT) programme evolved from the Teaching and Learning and Student Support Services, and the Academic Monitoring and Support programmes the university put in place in 2005 to support especially first-year students through regular engagement.

An image of a mineworker in an underground mining operation

Mine consultancy offers software suite for streamlining mine management

Published: 31 May 24

On the back of mine health and safety remaining an international talking point, mining industry operational software solutions provider Mineware Consulting has developed an innovative AI-powered feature aimed at transforming risk mitigation processes in the mining industry. With a spotlight on mine health and safety, the company notes that significant efforts are being poured into the management and mitigation of risk to personnel, as well as work stoppages resulting from health and safety incidents.

Acquisition boosts asset, fleet management solutions

Published: 31 May 24

Mining technology solutions provider Datamine aims to expand its asset and fleet management solutions for mining, industrial and construction operations, through its parent software development company Vela’s acquisition of Samtech – a Latin America-based fleet management, machine performance and telematics software and hardware provider. Datamine will also be responsible for the global distribution of Samtech’s products to mining industry players, including the overarching monitoring system for all equipment types. These products are likely to complement Datamine’s Sodep Minetrack dispatch solution.

An image of a plant in the digital twin format

Digital twins as test beds for planning

Published: 31 May 24

Digital twins can, and should, be used by mine operators as a “testing ground for analysis and scenario planning”, as well as to provide real-time feedback through Internet of Things (IoT) sensors as a means to optimise production, reports Geospatial solutions company 5DGEO principal and professional land surveyor Chris Kirchhoff. The company equips South African mines with digital twins – a digital profile of the current and historical behaviour of a physical asset and related processes – to streamline mining operations and enhance various processes by using three-dimensional (3D) scanning, drone-mapping and mobile laser-scanning to process real-time, on-site 3D data into information that can be easily interpreted, he says.

ESSENTIAL EXPERTISE
Engineers bring essential expertise in geotechnical engineering, risk assessment and regulatory compliance

Consultancy drives mining standards innovation

Published: 31 May 24

By prioritising safety, sustainability and efficiency, mining consulting company Baletsema Mining Services MD Bokang Kelepa says the company adheres to international safety and environmental standards, and that through employing a skilled workforce, it is adept at navigating the complexities of modern mining. This holistic approach, he explains, ensures that Baletsema continues to contribute positively to the mining industry while setting benchmarks for quality and responsible mining practices.

EVOLVING LEGACY
SRK Consulting's approach has adapted to evolving needs, incorporating new factors into the core of its technical decision-making processes

Enhancing mining sustainability through tech expertise

Published: 31 May 24

Amid an industry-wide shift towards more sustainable mining practices, engineering consultancy SRK Consulting says that the significance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in mining has evolved over the past few decades from basic monitoring to now include a wide range of complex aspects such as biodiversity preservation and water stewardship. The firm’s guidance through increasingly complex regulatory and environmental landscapes has enabled it to provide services in mining, hydrology, geology and environmental and social sciences, which MD Andrew van Zyl says “indicates a trend towards the interconnectedness of these disciplines”.

The above image depicts Manta Freight Logistics CEO Michael Tziranis

Single point-of-contact for efficient logistics

Published: 31 May 24

A streamlined freight logistics management process, offered by integrated freight logistics solutions company Manta Freight Logistics, is being positioned as a possible solution to combat ongoing port logistics issues in South Africa, as well as the rest of Africa. Through Manta Freight Logistics’ freight management processes, customers are assigned a single point-of-contact when dealing with freight consignments, thereby simplifying the management protocol, aiding in operational efficiency and contributing to fewer administrative duties needing to be performed by multiple, different people in different departments.