Mining in focus
The CMTI MT1000 is a versatile machine that can be equipped with
any two attachments, such as a sweeper, scraper, and dozer with
an 850kg dozing capacity.
Underground equipment ready to enter Gold Fields’ South Deep
mine, one of the most mechanised mines in South Africa.
prolong the lives of these operations
by up to 25 years,” says Burger.
Cleaning PGM back-ends
Apart from Burnstone, the ULPs were
also introduced at Sibanye-Stillwater’s
PGM operations in Rustenburg.
The technology is used to clean the
back-ends of underground mines, where
as much as 30% of daily production in
the PGM industry ends up due to poor
blasting practices. Some PGM mines,
for example, will clean a maximum of
80m2 per day using a crew of about
30 people, as opposed to the required
200m2 per day at yields of 4.5g/t.
CMTI Group’s machines are
currently being operated from the
gulley as part of the first phase of
the development programme. The
second phase will entail operating
the ULPs from the surface and
eventually off site. This supports
the drive by the South African
mining industry to remove workers
from potentially harmful working
environments, while substituting
low-skilled employment prospects
with skilled jobs that are safer and
more secure. As mining companies
continue chasing the deep ounces,
they are demanding more operational-
specific solutions, and South African
manufacturers are obliging.
“This is probably what has made
Master Drilling different from other
drilling and technology companies.
Besides being prepared to take risks,
we focus on the needs of a specific
mine, and tailor-make solutions
according to a mine’s specific
challenges,” says Pretorius. Despite
perceptions to the contrary, South
African mining companies — and
now its local equipment manufacturers
— are still one of the global leaders
in the quest to mechanise and
modernise an ancient industry. b
MARCH 2018 MINING MIRROR
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