South Africa – These results received by Botswana Diamonds were modelled to an estimated grade range of 20 to 270 cpht at a bottom cut-off grade of 0.6 mm, with the largest stone being a white transparent crystal diamond falling in the -1.18+0.85 mm sieve.

The modelling took cognisance of the results from the earlier bulk processing of surface and near surface material. The wide range in the estimated grade reflects the small sample size.

The kimberlite concentrate was recovered from the nine core holes drilled on Frischgewaagt where both magmatic kimberlite (associated with dykes) and volcanoclastic (associated with pipes) were recently discovered.

Johannesburg-based mining consultancy The MSA Group undertook the microdiamonds analyses and the modelling was undertaken by Dr JJ Ferreira, a world renowned expert in micro diamond assessment.

40 km of detailed ground based geophysics is nearing completion on both Frischgewaagt and the adjoining properties with a second drill programme planned to commence in July.

Frischgewaagt is on a 6 km kimberlite dyke/pipe complex averaging 1.34 m in width.  The project is also 2 km along strike from the nearby Marsfontein mine which was 0.4 ha in size producing at an average grade of 172 cpht at a bottom cut off of 1.2mm. Marsfontein achieved a payback of capital in under four days.

“This is an excellent result and shows the potential of Frischgewaagt,” says Botswana Diamonds chirman John Teeling.

“We need more drill samples to refine the grade estimate. This will be done in the coming months. Earlier work indicated diamond values of over US$200/ct. The geophysics work which is almost complete and the drilling to follow is targeted to produce an Inferred Resource by the end of the year.”

The post Botswana Diamonds recovers 223 microdiamonds at Vutomi appeared first on Miningreview.com.

PwC’s 13th annual review of global trends in the mining industry is based on the financial performance and position of the global mining industry as represented by the Top 40 mining companies by market capitalisation.

Credit image: MinSpares

The post The top 10 mining companies act as a proxy for the performance of the mining industry appeared first on Miningreview.com.

Authors: Jackwell Feris and Allan Reid from Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr

The South African government faces a real risk of being challenged in court and in the extreme case in international investment tribunals for potential breaches of the guarantees under applicable bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and/or multilateral investment treaties based on certain of the provisions of the Reviewed Broad Based Socio Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry, 2016 (Revised Mining Charter 2017).

The Revised Mining Charter 2017 could, in respect of certain provisions thereto, result in BIT guarantees for qualifying foreign investors being infringed.

The retroactive application of the Revised Mining Charter 2017 to existing mining right holders, in particular the increase of the black economic empowerment (BEE) threshold from 26% to 30% for existing rights holders could prima facie be a BIT violation.

The requirement to maintain a 30% BEE ownership regardless of the disposal of shares by BEE shareholders during the tenure of the existing mining right (so-called “once empowered always empowered” concept) – may also constitute a BIT violation.

The retroactive application of the Revised Mining Charter raises serious legal concerns, as it appears to violate the presumption against the retroactive application of the law, particularly as rights have vested.

The Revised Mining Charter 2017 contains an express provision that existing rights holders must ensure compliance therewith, as opposed to only making such requirement applicable to future rights holders.

In order to give legal effect to the obligations being imposed by the Revised Mining Charter 2017 the Minister of Mineral Resources will need to ensure that the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill is passed as law to elevate the Revised Mining Charter 2017 to a legal obligation for existing right holders.

In doing so, any non-compliance with the Revised Mining Charter 2017 by existing rights holders would be deemed a breach of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, No 28 of 2002, as amended (MPRDA), sanctionable by a suspension or termination of such right in accordance with s47 of the MPRDA.

The Chamber of Mines’ rejection of a meeting request by the Department of Mineral Resources to attend the Mining Industry Growth, Development and Employment Task Team on 15 June 2017 shortly before the release of the Revised Mining Charter 2017 is a clear indication that the Chamber of Mines and certain of its members are planning to challenge the Revised Mining Charter 2017 on a number of fronts.

The move appears to be strategic, as any meeting with the Department of Mineral Resources during the release of a controversial Revised Mining Charter could be viewed as a “tacit endorsement” by the industry in respect of certain of the provisions thereto.

There is a critical imperative in South African to ensure real, sustainable and inclusive broad based black economic empowerment and transformation. To achieve that it is similarly imperative to adopt policies and legislation which are not inconsistent with the rule of law, particularly the presumption against retrospective application of laws.

In that regard the South African government must guard against policies and legislative changes which expose South Africa to legal challenge and will result in further divestment from a sector of the economy that is important to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth, in a time when real economic growth is required.

There is a real risk that mining companies aggrieved by the Revised Mining Charter 2017 will not only challenge the South African government through domestic courts, but international investment tribunals for breach of guarantees in terms of existing BITs or multilateral investment agreements. In these types of investment disputes the biggest loser will be the South African people as:

• Millions of Rands will be incurred to defend policy decisions
• Any adverse award to a qualifying investor exposes the national revenue fund to billions of dollars in future economic losses payable to the investor, and
• No direct or indirect financial benefit accrues to the South African people in the form of jobs, economic development activities and no revenue collection from the investor for government’s socio-economic initiatives from mineral resources which could have been mined.

The post Investor sentiment of the revised Mining Charter 2017 at breaking-point appeared first on Miningreview.com.

Trysome Auto Electrical CEO, Eddie Smith and Hexagon Mining president, Hélio Samora strengthened the long-standing collaboration between the organisations by signing a new agreement at Trysome Auto Electrical’s head office in Johannesburg, South Africa in April.

The partnership ensures the continued availability of Hexagon Mining’s SAFEmine suite of collision avoidance solutions in the South African market. It also means strengthened service and support for Hexagon Mining’s wider portfolio of integrated solutions. Besides collision avoidance and fatigue monitoring, these solutions include proven technologies for surveying, design, fleet management, and production optimisation.

Trysome Auto Electrical has represented Hexagon Mining in the sub-Saharan African region since 2008. Today, the flagship collision avoidance system (CAS) is running in more than 25 000 mining vehicles in more than 60 mines worldwide. Samora and Smith agreed that renewed collaboration is good news for customers in South Africa.

“Deadlines are looming for many mines to comply with South Africa’s new safety regulations, so this is a timely agreement between our companies,“ says Samora.

“CAS and our new vehicle intervention system (VIS) will help customers protect their people and equipment, as well as meeting those deadlines.“

Under new laws, mines will soon be compelled to enhance safety for all trackless mobile machinery, such as haul trucks.

Smith called the companies’ relationship an ‘ideal partnership’.

“Hexagon’s international experience and Trysome Auto Electrical’s 26 years of African market expertise, infrastructure, and footprint are ideally suited for customers facing second-phase legislation. With over 150 skilled technicians and a team of specialist engineers, Trysome Auto Electrical is well geared to meet local demand.”

Feature image credit: Hexagon Mining

(SAFEmine traffic awareness simulation)

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Tanzania – The bulk sample programme forms part of the MoU signed between Magnis Resources and ROSATOM in January for the project financing of its Nachu graphite project and offtake of its jumbo flake graphite.

Magnis Resources' Nachu tenement is located in the South East of Tanzania

The signing of the MoU earlier this year was a significant development for Magnis Resources as it positions the company alongside a highly-regarded group and world leader in the construction and operating of nuclear reactors. Larger flake graphite, which the Nachu project will produce, is a key material used in nuclear reactors is highly sought-after, which makes Nachu strategically important to ROSATOM over the longer term.

Funded by Uranium One (U1), a wholly owned subsidiary of ROSATOM, the programme is expected to require approximately 18 t of ore and aims to produce Super Jumbo, Jumbo and battery feedstock from this.

The ore will be extracted from drill sample to give a full representation of the ore body and minimise any risk from localised variability. Most of the drill sample is already available with concentrate to be produced in Australia and sent to U1 for testing.

“The initial graphite samples provided to us by Magnis were unlike anything we have seen in the past. We are interested to complete the bulk sampling programme and move into a binding agreement,” says U1 director Vladimir Hlavinka.

Magnis Resources chairman Frank Poullas said he looks forward to progressing the company’s current relationship with U1 towards a binding offtake.

The post Magnis Resources begins bulk sample programme with ROSATOM appeared first on Miningreview.com.

Following this point, a final decision on the project's development will be made, says Randgold Resources chief executive Mark Bristow.

Speaking at a media briefing to mark the start of the annual three week review of Randgold Resources’ exploration projects in Senegal, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic on Congo (DRC), Bristow said the company’s recent discovery of the nearby Sofia deposit, which has been incorporated in the project, had significantly increased Massawa’s viability, as its low-cost, high-recovery ore would enhance the overall economics.

“As things stand today, Massawa has a mineable reserve of 2.6 Moz and the project has an internal rate of return of 18% at a gold price of $1 000/oz, which is a little short of our investment criteria of a 3 moz reserve and a 20% IRR (internal rate of return). The detailed drilling required for the feasibility study as well as our continuing exploration of extensions to and satellites around the known ore bodies should get the project across the line,” he said.

“In that case, Massawa will become the sixth mine Randgold Resources will develop and our first in Senegal. It will also be the first of the three new projects we plan to deliver over the next five years.”

Bristow pointed to Massawa as a further example of Randgold Resources' long-term planning and perseverance. The company started exploring in Senegal in 1995, the year the company was established. It discovered Massawa in 2004 and afterwards spent a long time getting to grips with the geological and metallurgical complexities of the ore body and has spent $85 million to date evaluating and advancing its Senegal portfolio.

While developing Loulo, Tongon, Gounkoto and Kibali, Randgold Resources kept the work on Massawa going as well, and the project finally moved to centre stage with the discovery of Sofia in 2016.

“We are also looking beyond Massawa with our sights set on expanding our exploration portfolio and continuing our search for additional discoveries and development opportunities in Senegal.”

The post Randgold Resources to conclude Senegal-based Massawa feasibility study in mid-2018 appeared first on Miningreview.com.

Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics offers a number of different airborne geophysical services that includes gradient magnetic and radiometric, time-domain electromagnetic (EM) and gravity surveys as well as value-added data processing and interpretation.

Having been in operation since 2003, Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics has an excellent safety record while collecting more than 4.7 million line-kilometres of data for a client base across the majority of Africa as well as in the Middle East and Canada that includes most major mining companies, many junior exploration companies, government departments/ ministries and NGO’s.

“Safety, efficient operations and excellent data quality are all of utmost importance, representing the foundation and key values that underpin all aspects of the company,” emphasises Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics MD and commercial manager Simon Bosch elaborates.

The company’s fleet of aircraft comprises seven turbine Air Tractors (six 502B’s and a 504) and two PAC P-750 XSTOL aircraft.

All aircraft are carefully prepared and equipped with the latest state-of-the-art instrumentation to enable the acquisition of the best quality data in challenging environments at the lowest safe ground clearance, down to 20m.

The PAC P-750 has eXtremely Short Take-Off and Landing (XSTOL) capabilities and a proven track record of good geophysical survey performance which provides superior stability even at low-speed. This allows the aircraft to even undertake survey roles usually reserved for helicopters.

Meanwhile, the Air Tractor crop duster excels in all aspects as a rugged and very reliable performer on geophysical surveys owing to its ability to operate out of short poorly maintained airstrips, salt pans and farm roads, which makes it a direct competitor to helicopters in the survey environment.

The aircraft is optimally suited to operations in remote areas with long ferries and rugged landing strips and also has a similar wing-span to the more commonly used Cessna Caravan, but a larger load capacity and an endurance of up to 12 hours.

Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics have a Class II and Class III Aircraft Operating Certificate with N1, N2, G3 & G16 Type Air Services licenses.

Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics also maintains its own aircraft as an approved Aircraft Maintenance Organization (AMO 1301) and prides itself on taking a proactive approach to aircraft safety as well meeting all Civil Aviation requirements, both local and in the countries in which it operates.

Servicing Central Africa’s mining industry

Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics’ latest large project – covering approximately 75% of Angola and comprising 1.2 million line-kilometres – was awarded in 2014, and forms part of the Angolan Ministry of Mines’ country-wide Planageo mapping project.

The project is already showing fascinating new insight and understanding of the geology and mineral prospectivity hidden beneath the extensive Kalahari sand cover in Angola.

Similar regional-scale projects are being planned in other African countries.

Meanwhile, Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics has also recently signed an agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo government to map large areas within the country and this data will become available to the public in the near future.

Why undertake geophysical mapping?

Because spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratios improve dramatically when flying height is reduced, low-level data provides significantly better information for kimberlite detection, base and precious metal exploration, litho-structural and geo-hydrological mapping, as well as for mine planning or sterilisation of exploration blocks.

For the same reason, regional surveys are typically planned at the same height as more detailed work, to facilitate later fill-in and data merging, and thus avoiding duplication and keeping costs low.

Large-spacing tie-line surveys have also been flown with multiple base stations and ultra-long continuous lines, to tie in different historical and industry airborne survey data sets. Illustrating this is the 10 km grid flown over Botswana – a project undertaken for the government of Botswana.

Increasing and improving its service offering

Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics offers standard gravity surveys with its PAC P-750 aircraft equipped with GT-2A gravimeters and wing-tip mounted magnetometers. The company will soon also offer full-tensor Lockheed-Martin airborne gravity gradiometry (AGG) services.

A basic off-time, time-domain EM system is also being developed on the robust, efficient and safe Air Tractor platform. The development program is ongoing and early tests are now being flown to fine-tune the system, which will ultimately be well-suited to cost-effective large-scale geo-hydrological mapping of groundwater resources to aid regional and local water supply and management in remote areas such as southern Angola.

As a value add, the advanced data processing and interpretation work offered by Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics' very experienced geophysicists, ranges from basic first-pass data enhancement and integration, through litho-structural mapping, to more detailed 2.5D and 3D modeling and exploration targeting using state-of-the-art software.

The post Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics helps governments attract mineral industry investment appeared first on Miningreview.com.

Multotec Manufacturing worked closely with Vedanta Zinc International’s Black Mountain zinc mine in the Northern Cape while developing the product to enhance safety in its milling plant.

Holder of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy’s prestigious Health and Wellness Award, Black Mountain Mining had been looking for a solution that would reduce the risks associated with the manual handling of mill rods.

Each rod measures almost five metres in length and weighs up to 240 kg.

Rod mills are used extensively as primary mills in many mines, with the rods acting as grinding media. As the rods wear down, new ones have to be introduced regularly to ensure grinding efficiency is maintained.

According to Jannie Genis, technical sales representative at Multotec Manufacturing in Cape Town, the concept for the rod charger was developed in close consultation with the plant engineering and production personnel at Black Mountain, and leveraged the substantial mechanical engineering expertise within Multotec.

“The Multotec Cape Town branch, under the leadership of Vivian Rocher, put together a team that took the concept into the design stages, customising the unit to exactly suit the site plan at Black Mountain,” says Genis says.

“After input and suggestions from the customer, we were able to advance the project to manufacturing stage in Cape Town, where complete construction took place.”

The charger went into operation at the mine in mid-2016 and has effectively eliminated all manual handling of mill rods, successfully achieving the project goals.

“There is now no need for any person to be in the mill to guide the rods into place,” says Genis.

“Only two people are involved: one to operate the unit, and one to check that the rods feed smoothly into the mill.”

Another significant advantage is the reduced time taken to conduct the rod charging; the complete process has been cut down from over an hour to just about 25 minutes.

This means more production time and has also allowed the more frequent charging of rods, from twice a week using manual methods to three times a week now leading to better grinding efficiency.

“The customer expressed its satisfaction with this solution, as it addresses both safety and ease of use, while enhancing the productivity and efficiency of the mill operation,” says Genis.

Feature image credit: Multotec Manufacturing

Preparing to load the rod charger on a truck for delivery to Black Mountain mine.

The post Rod charger from Multotec enhances safety at Black Mountain mine appeared first on Miningreview.com.

This development from LignoTech is achieved through the use of natural organic polymers that overcome the hydrophobic nature of fossil fuels and binds coal particles – reducing their release into the air.

Globally, the mining, stockpiling, transportation and processing of coal receives negative media attention due to the public health and environmental concerns regarding the release of particulate matter (PM), especially during transportation.

Historically, large volumes of water are added to coal piles and rail cars to reduce the evolution of these PM’s with limited success.

With sub-Saharan Africa becoming increasingly water scarce, access to this resource becomes more difficult thus necessitating the urgent introduction of a viable alternative.

Carefully controlled tests, at wind speeds of up to 50 km/h, show a massive 96% reduction in the loss of coal particles smaller than 4 mm in diameter, as shown in the graph.

Transport via rail exposes the Dustex P/Coal agglomerates to excessive vibration which can facilitate the reformation of fine particles. Analysis of the trialled material however, indicates the formation of a robust crust with a thickness of up to 14 mm.

Force/impact studies also reveal that the crust formed withstood crush strengths of 10.9 kgf, ensuring the integrity of the application, as shown in the graph.

In addition to these attributes, the long chain organic polymers decompose upon coal firing and are readily biodegradable.

Dustex is a binding additive that suppresses the formation of dust.

It is particularly effective in preventing gravel loss on non-tarred roads. This in turn, improves road safety, makes travelling more comfortable, and decreases vehicle operating costs and cost of road maintenance.

LignoTech South Africa – “Find Solutions Naturally”

www.dustex.co.za

Tel: +27 39 9736000

Feature image credit: LignoTech

A Dustex trial application at Kansanshi copper mine In Zambia.

The post LignoTech and Dustex P: A novel solution for the suppression of coal dust appeared first on Miningreview.com.

By Warren Beech, ‎Partner and Head of Mining at Hogan Lovells (South Africa).

Many of these shared a safety theme – and concern that, despite a commitment to zero harm, and the reduction in the number of fatalities year on year,  there was for 2016, only a nominal improvement.

The year on year improvement, seems to have stalled. A review of the number of fatalities since 2012 indicates that between 2012 (112 fatal accidents), 2013 (94 fatal accidents), 2014 (84 fatal accidents), and 2015 (77 fatal accidents), there has been a significant downward trend in the number of fatal accidents.

The question therefore is why this trend did not continue in 2016 and, for that matter, in the first month of 2017 (four fatalities).

It seems that there are two primary contributing factors which are distinguishable, but should be treated holistically.

The first is an attitude towards health and safety.

Until the desire or motivation to comply with health and safety standards and procedures, and act in the best interests of fellow workers, is internalised, the approach or behaviour towards health and safety, is concerning.

Safety should always be a priority in working towards a zero harm environment. Photograph courtesy of Anglo American

It seems that the current approach to health and safety is externally driven – if an employee believes that they will not get caught out, a “go around it” approach is adopted towards compliance with standards and procedures.

A good example is an employee that drives to the mine, far exceeding the speed limit, and then complies with the speed limit on the mine, because of the greater prospects of being caught out and penalised for non-compliance to the mine speed limit.

Internalisation of behaviour means that an employee will comply with the speed limit on the way to the mine and on the mine because it is in the interests of health and safety of all employees to do so, and not because they may be caught.

The second reason is the significant impact that the disruption to the “mining rhythm” has had as a result of mine stoppages, restructuring programmes, retrenchments, and placing shafts on care and maintenance.

The impact on crew members who know one another intimately cannot be underestimated.

The absence of crew members and the changes to the supervisory structures can create a vacuum which impacts on the approach of the crew members to health and safety.

The impact of instability created by political, commercial and employment insecurity undoubtedly has an impact on health and safety, and it is essential for all stakeholders in the mining industry to work together to address these underlying causes.

The post Mining safety: Zero harm is achievable in our lifetime with holistic buy-in appeared first on Miningreview.com.

Such is MSA Africa’s confidence in the new harness that it carries a ten-year lifespan.

“This high-specification, competitively-priced fall-protection harness gives users the comfort and knowledge that they are selecting the best PPE that will not let them down when they need it most,” comments Nicolas Abry, business development manager, fall protection, MEAIR, MSA Middle East FZE.

“We want to ensure that our safety solutions are available to as many users as possible, and therefore have developed a product that offers MSA Africa’s standards at the best total cost of ownership,” elaborates Alastair Hogg, MSA Africa director for fall protection sales and business development, international.

The V-FORM harness can be tailored to requirements, with a three- or five-point adjustment.

The V-FORM harness is the first product available in the new V product range, named after the iconic V-Gard safety helmet developed by MSA Africa in 1962, and trusted by tens of millions of PPE users across the globe.

Additionally, the V-FORM harness makes outstanding work-at-height safety accessible to all by delivering MSA Safety’s market-leading standards at an exceptional price.

Designed to be comfortable, light and easy to use, it combines simplicity with safety in a streamlined harness that can be fastened securely, and released quickly. An intuitive design ensures correct fitting first time, every time.

The harness can be tailored to requirements, with either a three-or five-point adjustment. It features a high-visibility alert to show if the equipment has been used in a fall, and a sub-pelvic strap for more even weight distribution.

Certified to take 140 kg, the new harness is extremely comfortable to wear and work in all day. This is due to advanced manufacture and materials optimising durability.

A Velcro cover protects the harness label, while end users can choose between Qwik-Fit or bayonet leg straps.

The V-FORM waist belt can be attached onto a harness for work positioning. What is more, putting the harness on has been simplified by means of colour-contrasting thigh and torso straps.

Feature image credit: MSA Africa

Earlier this year MSA Africa introduced its Latchways Personal Rescue Device.

The post MSA Africa launches high-specification, competitively-priced fall-protection harness appeared first on Miningreview.com.

But any non-compliance with the numerous safety regulations will have the opposite effect.

“This is why we, at SA French, take as much of the administrative load as possible off our customers’ shoulders when it comes to lifting-related safety compliance,” says Brenden Crous, SA French’s manager for safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ).

“Our expert knowledge ensures that we cover all the bases with the necessary procedures and documentation, so that everything is on hand for inspection.”

Crous highlights that a Department of Labour inspector may consider a site shutdown if there are any significant gaps in compliance, leading to costly and inconvenient delays.

“Both our product lines, Potain tower cranes and SA French construction hoists, involve high risk activities, so one of our main priorities is to control the risks associated with working at height,” he says.

“All areas of risk in relation to tower crane or hoist safety procedures must be identified, assessed and mitigated so that our customers are not exposed to that risk.”

He highlights the importance of the fall protection plan, which must be compiled by a competent person with the necessary training and experience.

The plan must address all risks relating to working from a fall-risk position, and provide procedures and methods that eliminate the risk of falling.

While tower cranes must comply with both the Driven Machinery regulations and the Construction regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), construction hoists must also meet OHSA’s Lift, Escalator and Passenger Conveyor regulations as they can carry both passengers and materials.

“These stringent requirements demand compliance with a range of South African National Standards relating to the construction, installation, maintenance and operation of passenger conveyors,” says Crous.

He emphasises that any construction related equipment which is used to move people must be registered with the Department of Labour before it can be legally installed.

SA French facilitates these various procedures and permissions by working closely with qualified and independent inspectors, who themselves must be legally and professionally recognised in terms of their scope of expertise and operation.

Feature image credit: SA French

The post Crane, hoist safety vital for optimal efficiency and production rates appeared first on Miningreview.com.

Mining Review Africa is searching for mining companies, service providers and/or their personnel who are/have demonstrated their commitment to uplifting and improving the mining industry through thought leadership, innovation and industry excellence from across the African continent.

This prestigious, first-of-its-kind mining publication acknowledges excellence across the mining sector in Africa. Use this opportunity to be recognised for your contribution to building and developing our industry.

• Most investment-friendly investment country in Africa
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Submit your nomination for consideration today!

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Tanzania - The grant of the environmental certificate by the Minister of State of the Vice President’s Office represents the completion of another major milestone in the project’s approval process and is a key pre-requisite for the granting of a mining licence and will remain valid for the life of the project.

The environmental certificate also marks the successful completion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Report. Tanzania’s environmental regulator, the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), set the guidelines and requirements of the study that is behind the EIS Report which was led by a Tanzanian environmental consulting specialist.

The study included multi-disciplined seasonal environmental and social baseline studies and extensive stakeholder consultation.

Strong support for the development of the Fungoni project was received at a local village, District, Regional and National level during the stakeholder meetings.

The Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) remains on track for completion this quarter. The environmental certificate and a feasibility study are key documents required as part of an application for a mining licence. Strandline Resources intends to lodge this application upon completion of the DFS.

Strandline Resources MD Luke Graham said securing the environmental certificate for Fungoni is a major milestone in the company’s strategy to become a low-cost mineral sands producer in the near term.

“We would like to thank the Tanzanian authorities for their support at Fungoni and we look forward to completing the DFS shortly and lodging the application for the mining licence.”

“At the same time, the exploration programmes at our other mineral sands prospects are continuing as part of our strategy to develop a pipeline of projects with varying timelines, production scales and products.”

The post Strandline Resources secures environmental certificate for Fungoni project appeared first on Miningreview.com.

Mine VIS is an additional layer of safety on top of the Hexagon Collision Avoidance System, (CAS) helping to avoid incidents, injuries, and fatalities. Mine VIS manages traffic in the pit and, by reacting when and if operators do not.

It ensures safety rules are followed.

Mine VIS is a significant enhancement to the Hexagon safety portfolio that can save customers from the costly consequences of accidents. It improves CAS by taking control of a machine if the operator does not react appropriately to a CAS warning.

The Hexagon CAS provides drivers of large vehicles with 360°-proximity detection at any speed and in all conditions via cabin display units. It is installed in more than 25 000 vehicles in over 60 mines worldwide.

The Hexagon Mine VIS can take control of the machine in certain defined situations if the operator does not react appropriately to the initial CAS warning. The system can act depending on the situation, either by inhibiting propulsion, activating the retarder, or applying the service brake.

True to Hexagon’s integration strategy, Mine VIS can also be used in conjunction with the company’s fatigue-detection, alerting, and reporting solution, FatigueMonitor.

It uses the same sensors and user interface to protect the customer’s initial investment. Hexagon Mining worked closely with an OEM to realise this vision of a last-resort system that mitigates the consequences of a collision.

Mine VIS is being installed in Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen mine in South Africa. The company contacted Hexagon Mining after conducting an extensive risk assessment of its operation to understand major risks.

Together with the customer, Hexagon Mining defined a step-by-step approach to develop a solution.

Mine VIS is timely in South Africa where government regulations will compel surface mines to implement such systems on heavy machine equipment by June 2019.

Feature image credit: Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore

(Sishen mine).

The post Hexagon launches vehicle intervention system for safer mines appeared first on Miningreview.com.

The interdict proceedings are just the first step in what is likely to be a protracted review process of the Mining Charter, says Vanessa Jacklin-Levin, partner at Dentons South Africa.

“We currently have two processes running in parallel—an application for an interdict and an application for judicial review,” Jacklin-Levin explains.

“The interdict application has been brought by the Chamber of Mines to halt the implementation of the Mining Charter pending the outcome of its application for judicial review of the Charter.”

The Department of Mineral Resources has agreed not to move forward on the implementation of the Mining Charter in the meantime.

Both parties have agreed to ask for the interdict application to be heard in September, which will give the department time to file its answering affidavit in opposition to the interdict application.

The Mining Charter is thus on ice until the interdict application is concluded but many people are not sure about what comes next.”

If the court grants the interdict, implementation of the Mining Charter will remain suspended until the review process is completed.

If the interdict is not granted, the department could technically go ahead with implementation—but that would be risky as the review would not be complete by then.

It seems unlikely that the department would proceed with implementation of the Mining Charter with the review unconcluded.

The process of judicial review is the Chamber of Mines' real goal, and the interdict application is a separate process to obtain interim relief until the review is concluded.

The judicial review is based on section 33 of the Constitution, which confers rights to just administrative action, and the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000 (PAJA), which gives effect to the section 33 rights.

Under the PAJA an application for judicial review must be lodged within 180 days of the applicant’s becoming aware of the decision (which would be 15 June, when the Charter was published) or from the date on which internal remedies were exhausted.

In the normal course the Chamber of Mines has until 12 December to deliver its affidavit and notice of motion for the review, but in its interdict application it has asked the court to order that the review must be brought within 60 days of the granting of its interdict application.

“We know that the Chamber of Mines is going to apply for a review because that is specified in its interdict application,” she comments.

“We should understand that the review is not a trial—no oral evidence is led, and the court will simply rely on affidavits from the various parties and heads of argument on the law.”

What can the review achieve?

The court could declare invalid the minister’s decision to promulgate the Charter on any of various grounds set out in section 6 of the PAJA.

If so, it could order him to reconsider the decision or possibly even replace it with the court’s own decision.

The PAJA also allows for an order of damages (which may form part of separate proceedings).

If the court does find that the Mining Charter is the result of unjust administrative action, says Jacklin-Levin, it will most likely order the minister to reconsider the decision and begin the process of consultation all over again.

“Our jurisprudence indicates that the court would substitute its own decision only in exceptional circumstances, and an award of damages in such a matter seems highly unlikely,” she says.

“But while the review process is likely to be lengthy, and will further delay a new Mining Charter, we should all welcome this evidence that our constitutional system is working – that is, providing a way for disputes such as this to be ventilated and resolved.

It’s very important that the Mining Charter receives buy-in from all stakeholders, or it simply will not achieve the desired transformation.”

Feature image credit: Wikimedia

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Cote d'Ivoire – This marks a 1.5 Moz increase in the indicated mineral resource base at the Ity mine on which the November 2016 feasibility study was based and is a result of significant exploration efforts in the first half of the year.

In light of this strong resource growth, an updated reserve estimate is expected to be published in September as part of an optimisation study,  which is expected to be based on a circa 4 Mtpa gravity circuit/carbon-in-leach (CIL) plant, an increase from the previously contemplated 3 Mtpa plant, to better capture the value created from recent exploration success.

Exploration efforts

Ahead of the optimisation study, exploration efforts since the beginning of the year have been mainly directed at increasing indicated resources on known deposits through in-fill, delineation, and extension drilling, with up to eight rigs deployed. More than 31 000 m of diamond drilling were conducted, with efforts mainly focused on Daapleu, Bakatouo, Verse Ouest, Colline Sud and Mont Ity/Ity Flat deposits.

Ity mine drilling targets

In parallel, initial drilling also took place on several other exploration targets in the vicinity of the Ity mine and the Le Plaque discovery, which was announced earlier this year. This exploration programme will be pursued during the second half of 2017, following the integration of pending analysis results.

Compared to the resource inventory used to build the 2016 feasibility study, a total of 1.5 Moz of indicated resources were added, with the main increases coming from the discovery of Bakatouo (+704 000 oz), and additional Indicated resources outlined at Daapleu (+384 000 oz), Mont Ity / Flat (+189 000 oz), and Verse Ouest (+187 000 oz).

Other nearby targets

In the first half of the year, initial exploration drilling, for which the results are still pending, also took place on several other exploration targets in the vicinity of the Ity mine and on the Le Plaque discovery which was announced earlier this year.

This area, located within 5 km from the current Ity mining complex, represents a small portion of the 80 km corridor controlled by Endeavour.

This exploration programme will be pursued in the fourth quarter 2017, after the end of the rainy season and the integration of pending analysis results, with the main focus on delineating a maiden Inferred Resource at the Le Plaque discovery.

Going forward

“Our exploration team has done exceptional work over the past months which has led to a significant increase in the resource base at Ity ahead of the optimisation study,” says Endeavour Mining, executive VP of exploration and growth Patrick Bouisset.

“These results and the numerous other identified targets, on which initial drilling reconnaissance is currently being conducted, further demonstrate the prospective nature of the greater Ity area and our confidence in delivering against our 5-year exploration strategy disclosed last November.

“We believe that the 80 km Ity corridor that we control is among the most prospective areas in West Africa and we look forward to building on our exploration success,” says Bouisset.

Sébastien de Montessus, president and CEO of Endevour Mining says that under Bouisset’s leadership, Ity has been transformed from a 20-year operation nearing the end of its life into an asset that now has the potential to be one of our flagship operations.

“Our ability to quickly grow the indicated resource demonstrates the robustness of Ity, as well as the quality of our exploration team. We now look forward to announcing the results of the optimisation study and making a formal investment decision in September, following which we will transition the construction team from Houndé to Ity later this year,” he says.

Exploration activities in the second half of 2017 will focus on follow-up extension drilling on existing deposits, delineating a maiden resource at the recently discovered Le Plaque area, and drilling several other near-mine exploration targets.

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This landmark shareholding agreement strengthens Veolia Water Technologies South Africa’s compliance with new Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment regulations as a high level contributor, and demonstrates its continued commitment to local empowerment and transformation.

“We were looking for a local development partner with strong project experience in the water treatment markets,” explains Gunter Rencken, MD, Veolia Water Technologies South Africa.

“In Ceracure, with whom we’ve had a less formalised working partnership for about four years, we have a hands-on, active BBBEE partner with a thorough understanding of our core business and the water treatment market.”

This close alignment in corporate vision lays the basis for a synergistic approach to increased business development in both South Africa and Africa.

“With this partnership in place, we can confidently amplify business development avenues and enhance our project reach in the municipal and industrial markets,” Rencken continues.

“In addition to demonstrating Veolia Water Technologies South Africa's seriousness to transformation and social development, it also means we’ll be able to supply water treatment solutions encompassing a broader scope of works,” explains Langa Nxumalo, MD, Ceracure.

“Together, we can advance our technical and business capabilities, offering a superior and integrated solution for water treatment projects. This ‘one plus one is equal to three’ strategy will allow better project execution in line with client requirements.”

The partnership will also see Veolia Water Technologies South Africa taking an active approach to expanding Ceracure’s business capabilities.

“We are assisting Ceracure with achieving a higher CIDB grading, and have planned for a structured transfer of technology and skills of our water treatment expertise to Ceracure,” Rencken explains.

The company’s shareholding arrangement with Ceracure represents an important pillar of the company’s new vision that is enhancing the water solutions specialist’s delivery of highly efficient, low-footprint water treatment technologies in South Africa and Africa.

Alongside the BBBEE deal are a range of recent organisational and technological innovations that have streamlined the company’s manufacturing, distribution and service networks across the region.

Veolia Water Technologies South Africa is now positioned as a key technology and manufacturing hub for Veolia’s new range of standard engineered products and systems as well the company’s range of Hydrex speciality chemicals.

“We are excited to welcome Ceracure on board, and look forward to a fruitful synergy with them as we continue to tackle Africa’s water treatment challenges,” Rencken concludes.

Feature image credit: Veolia Water Technologies South Africa

Ephraim Mbokoda, projects director Ceracure; Patrick Couzinet, CEO Veolia Water Technologies Africa; Pierre Ribaute, executive vice president Veolia Water Technologies Europe and Africa; Arnaud Gisclon, deputy MD Veolia Water Technologies South Africa; Hazel Gunguta, operations director Ceracure; Benoit Beneteau, executive director Veolia Water Technologies Africa; Langa Nxumalo, MD Ceracure; and Gunter Rencken, MD Veolia Water Technologies South Africa.

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Ivanplats is cognisant that the long lamented ‘digital divide’ remains alive and well but an increasing number of companies are realising the benefit of fast-tracking digital access for their workforce and neighbouring communities.

Ivanplats’ Platreef platinum, gold and nickel mining project is based in Mokopane, in South Africa’s Limpopo province. Its operations are at the heart of a large community marked by socioeconomic challenges such as youth unemployment.

Ivanplats had sought permission from the Department of Mineral Resources to develop and implement a multi-faceted “Youth Digital Communication Project” in Mokopane Municipality as part of its social and labour plan.

This aims to digitally activate the external mining communities, local businesses, youth enterprises as well as their internal workforce to facilitate meaningful social and economic participation.

A spin-off for local unemployed youth is the opportunity to become providers of digital services in the area. With phase one in progress, 17 local youth enterprises have already trained over 3 000 community members to connect to locally-provided free WiFi and use online services through a zero-rated community portal aptly named Maru A Mokopane, or Clouds of Mokopane.

Maru A Mokopane offers zero rated access to opportunities, news, a local business directory, a feedback section, eLearning, online banking as well as 300 MB daily to search any other sites.

“We aim to build a common platform from which our internal and external communities can communicate and collaborate and have access to information such as news and alerts about matters that are important to them or present opportunities,” says Ivanplats MD, Dr Patricia Makhesha.

“At the same time, the community will have constant access to employment and procurement information at Ivanplats.”

Key stakeholders have expressed their enthusiasm for the project, which officially launched on Youth Day this year.

“Ivanplats is the most recent manifestation of our solution that is designed to help companies span the digital divide with meaningful, user-friendly and accessible digital services delivered via customised community portals,” explains CanPro MD, Liesel Kirsten.

“As our network of clients expands, we are also in a better position to foster collaboration between communities and engage other companies who wish to add value in particular locations by investing in digital services for their stakeholders.”

Feature image credit: Ivanplats

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1)    How excited are you about this year’s Nigeria Mining Week? What is new for 2017?

This year has presented with it new challenges in the Nigeria mining space as well as opportunities for growth in the sector. However, what I’m always looking forward to in the conference is the gathering of all stakeholders in the Nigeria mining industry coming under one roof to deliberate on the issues affecting the sector. This presents a good platform to drive policy in the correct direction. Building up to the event for 2017, we desire to have a fruitful discourse across board.

2)      What have been the main challenges for the mining sector in the last year?
The sector has seen very many small scale businesses both in the upstream mining operations and downstream export end of the value chain close down business as a result of the extremely harsh operating environment. Operators of tenements just cannot find the resources and infrastructural support they need to run their mines. The debilitating effect of a sector without intelligent data is obvious in the way industry participants slip into a high redundancy. This unpleasant trend needs be addressed with every means possible. As it were, the rhetoric from government about illegal mining needs be addressed via the strengthening of the various state mines offices with necessary tools to curb the menace.

3)      What have been the main accomplishments for the sector in your view in the last 12 months or so?
We must acknowledge the big strides achieved by the current leadership of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. They have been able to create a clear blueprint/vision for the sector through the mining roadmap. We have seen great improvements in the way the regulator engages with the operators and this has boosted confidence in the viability of the sector growth. It must be acknowledged also that the sector has recorded a double digit growth indices and contributed significantly to the GDP alongside Agriculture. These are indicators of good progress; however we desire to see a more rapid development along the whole mining value chain. This would only be achieved in partnership with investors and the dominant sector participants.

A piece of good news is the announcement of a N2.5billion support for the small scale mining companies, the N30billion approved for the ministry as well as the $150million world bank intervention fund for the sector.
The attention paid to the steel sector is also commendable but the steel sector needs to be made free of the legal entanglements it is bungled with presently.

The ministry of mines and steel development has successfully reinvented itself in the area of information dissemination via e-channels in contrast to the previous singular method (print media). This has helped incident reporting.

It is our desire to see results emanate from the inaugurated solid minerals development fund board as regards the management and operationalisation of the DFI funding provisions for the sector.

In order to achieve the 2025 target set for the mining sector’s contribution to GDP; the efforts by the federal government requires a complementary disposition from the state governments, otherwise the rapid development required to jolt the industry forward will remain elusive.

4)      What is your vision for this sector?
A sector open to all; where entrepreneurs can venture into having performed their due diligence studies of projects and secure the financial support as well as relevant regulatory agencies permits/licences to operate profitably and responsibly.

5)      How important is the Nigeria Mining Week as a meeting place for the sector?
It is actually beyond a meeting place. I would call the forum a mining business hub where virtually all the mining related issues come under one roof for open multilateral discourse with the aim of finding the best-fit path for a healthy growth of the sector. The organisers need to do more to bring problematic state governments to the spotlight for engagement on vital issues of enabling investment environment for legitimate mining companies.

6)      What will be SBOG’s message at the event this year?
The government at all levels should be very sensitive to and show empathy to the plights of legitimate mining companies operating within the Nigerian space. Because raising capital for mining investment is not cheap, therefore no investor with the requisite licences should be made to wait 1day more than is required for permits, licence upgrades, etc.

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