Indaba preview
Marcin Wertz
Partner and principal mining engineer – SRK Consulting
SRK Consulting ( SA )
What does the term ‘ modernisation ’ of mines mean , and what opportunities do modernisation offer ?
One of the key aspects of modernising mines is achieving better productivity through automation , especially in our underground mechanised mines . In these operations , it normally takes workers a very long time to reach the workplace from surface . Automation can extend the length of working shifts , which have for many years been eroded by increased travelling time to the working face .
The automation of certain underground activities will also provide opportunities to make mines safer . In applications where machines can undertake certain tasks , this will lead to fewer people being required underground and , specifically , fewer people in those places underground that could be unsafe .
With the employment of advanced communication and information technology , there has been considerable progress in monitoring operations from a distance and detecting early signs of problems . This allows faster reaction times , as managers can make decisions in real-time rather than waiting for manual reports at the end of a shift . As this process is enhanced by the growing power of the ‘ Internet of Things ’ ( IoT ), the control function can also become more readily automated . IoT turns a mine into a network of physical devices ( vehicles and other equipment ) embedded with electronics , software , sensors , actuators , and network connectivity — enabling these objects to collect and exchange data .
How should mine managers and operational managers prepare for the future , and what are the major changes they should start introducing ?
Mechanisation and automation are likely to lead to fewer people on mines , but the roles required to run a modern mine will increasingly require not just a higher level of skill , but also new skill sets in which traditional engineering disciplines will be augmented by modern IT or computer-related skills . Managers are already needing to adapt their staff requirements to include a broader range of abilities within both the professional and other levels of the mine .
Mine managers can also expect to be spending more of their time on stakeholder-related issues , such as engagement with government departments responsible for safety , social , or environmental compliance , for instance .
Which aspects of mining should we prioritise when we talk about modernisation ? What are the challenges and the opportunities in what we refer to as ‘ modernisation ’?
There is often resistance among various stakeholders to new technologies . Trade unions , for example , may see mechanisation as a means of reducing employee numbers on the mines . Getting buy-in therefore needs to be prioritised when new technology is introduced , as stakeholders need to consider that modernisation is imperative to extend the life of mine and thereby to preserve jobs .
What is your vision for the ‘ mine of the future ’?
There have already been a number of developments that are turning visions of the ‘ mine of the future ’ into reality . Advances in rapid development in hard rock mines have been made using prototypes capable of reaching development rates of 20m or more per day . These are fairly high-cost solutions , but have the potential to improve productivity and reduce operating costs . They also require the mine to be designed with tunnel profiles to accommodate the machines ’ turning radius .
Battery technology is also improving rapidly for use in underground haul trucks and scoops , with the advantage of reducing the high ventilation costs associated with diesel equipment .
Increasing digitisation of communication technology has allowed access to real-time data , location tracking , data management , and the creation of tools that can optimise how mines are planned and managed .
Managing ‘ big data ’ will be a key feature of the modern mine , as this information needs to feed dynamically into varied applications such as resource block models , mine optimisation strategies , and integrated hydrogeological and geotechnical models . Cloud-based systems are becoming popular options for storing and managing such data .
With the Mining Indaba coming up in February , what are the major issues in the mining industry that you would like to be discussed , even if it is on other platforms ? ( In South Africa , Africa , and globally , respectively .)
The single biggest challenge to South African mining is the lack of investment , arising mainly from the sector struggling with profitability . These forums need to continue raising the policy and procedural obstacles that are preventing explorers , miners , and investors from entering the sector or from continuing their involvement — which is leading to a shortage of significant greenfield projects .
There seems to be a dearth of new exploration projects in South Africa specifically . Do you feel this is the case in the rest of Africa as well ? Do you think it is a global concern ? If it is , what are the reasons for it ?
Aggravating the difficult economic climate has been the procedural difficulty of obtaining exploration permits in South Africa . One of the country ’ s oldest and most established mining companies recently engaged in litigation with the DMR over the non-granting of a number of exploration permits . The cost of obtaining permits is also prohibitive , and time delays in receiving permits make it difficult for start-up explorers — whose position is made more onerous by the Mining Charter ’ s ownership requirements at exploration stage .
In your opinion , which constraints are preventing investments in global , African , and South African mining projects ?
South Africa recently dropped again on the global rankings in terms of ease
FEBRUARY 2018 MINING MIRROR [ 19 ]