Tracy Hancock

https://staging1.creamermedia.com/

Tracy Hancock

Tracy Hancock is Creamer Media Contributing Editor for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

W Africa key for processing expert

14th October 2022 Minerals processing expert Maelgwyn Mineral Services Africa (MMSA) is growing its West Africa installed base of 29 Aachen High Shear reactors through the installation of four more units. “Mining in West Africa has grown significantly over the past couple of years and MMSA has been a part of this... →

Coal waste could boost REEs supply

30th September 2022 The information derived from a study published this year on the mineralogy and distribution of rare-earth elements (REEs) in Waterberg coalfield high-ash coals could assist with a new concept of logging coal seams by considering the REE elemental composition of coal, rather than just its energy... →

COAL CONCENTRATION A Clean Coal Technology research group study to characterise the associations, distributions and concentration of rare earth elements in coal focused on the Waterberg basin, in Limpopo, a region hosting about 40% of South Africa’s remaining coal resources

Gugulethu construction is still on track to kick off this year

30th September 2022 Construction of the almost R600-million opencast phase (Phase 1) of coal exploration and mining company Canyon Coal’s Gugulethu colliery is planned to start this year, subject to market conditions and the availability of export trains. Canyon Coal, a subsidiary of private investment company... →

MINING MUSCLE Seven 90-t excavators and 21 60-t articulated dump trucks to mine the Gugulethu project, which is set to produce single RB3 product for export

Wilec products conductors of green energy transition

25th September 2022 With power generation and electric vehicles (EVs) presenting the greatest demand for Gauteng-based manufacturer Wilec’s oxygen-free copper rod, and enamelled and covered conductors, the company is positioned to play a significant role in Africa’s green energy transition. “Wilec has produced... →

Amendment Bill fails to recognise safety practitioner profession

23rd September 2022 The continued failure to recognise the safety practitioner profession is yet another disappointing aspect of the poorly drafted Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Amendment Bill 2020, says law firm Klass Looch Associates managing member, advocate Raynard Looch. “Unlike the Mine Health and... →

RAYNARD LOOCH Managers and supervisors are an integral and essential part of an employer’s health and safety management system and deserve statutory recognition

Be careful of relying only on screening tests

23rd September 2022 Substance abuse continues to be a significant problem for employers in South Africa; however, substance abuse testing equipment supplier ALCO-Safe MD Rhys Evans notes that some employers are trying to base disciplinary action on the results of screening tests alone. “A large number of companies... →

RHYS EVANS The number of local companies undertaking substance abuse tests incorrectly is equal to those which are undertaking them correctly

Valve demand up amid mining uptick

16th September 2022 Demand from the Zambian mining industry for valves, and actuator technology manufacturer AR Controls’ product offering, is stable and increasing since Hakainde Hichilema became the seventh President of the country in August last year, says AR Controls CEO Julien van Niekerk. “Demand is relatively... →

JULIEN VAN NIEKERK Zambia is now poised to become one of Africa’s largest nickel producers with FQM’s commissioning of the Enterprise mine

Distribution deal favouring pumps supplier

16th September 2022 Engineering products supplier Integrated Engineering Services (IES) has been responsible for servicing pumps specialist Integrated Pump Technology’s growing customer base in the Zambian mining sector since January this year. Accounting for about 30% of the submersible pumps market in the country,... →

A ROBUST RANGE Grindex has been active in Zambia for the past 25 years, with its range of drainage pumps capable of handling water with abrasive solids up to 12 mm in size

MMDA review expected to be extensive

16th September 2022 Law firm Webber Wentzel expects the review of Zambia’s Mines and Minerals Development Act (MMDA), No 11 of 2015, to take a considerable amount of time to complete, as the current government addresses the challenges hindering the mining industry’s already significant contribution to the country’s... →

MMADIKA MOLOI The proposed changes to the Mines and Minerals Development Act are expected to encourage development at all levels of the mining sector and sustained investment in small-scale and gemstone exploration projects

Tripling Zambia’s copper output ambitious but attainable best-case scenario

16th September 2022 Key prerequisites need to be in place if Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is to tap into the potential developmental benefits of the “oil of Zambia” by tripling the country’s yearly copper output in the next ten years, says Zambia Chamber of Mines CEO Sokwani Chilembo. “Tripling the country’s... →

SOKWANI CHILEMBO Things have been heating up in the exploration sector, with a couple of dozen prospects in the thick of second and third round earn-in negotiations, listings and capital raisings

Coal waste a solution to cost-effective natural gas storage

14th September 2022 Activated carbons derived from South Africa’s coal wastes present a cost-effective adsorbent for adsorbed natural gas (ANG) storage and transportation amid growing global pressure to reduce the environmental impact of the country’s coal waste. “Coal dumps can not only potentially spontaneously... →

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT Process lines could easily be designed and established in proximity with local coal wastes or collieries to produce activated carbons for cost-effective adsorbed natural gas storage and transportation

Hawk launches 230 V single-phase, hot-water pressure washer

11th September 2022 High-pressure pumps manufacturer Hawk has expanded its hot water range with the launch in July of a 3 kW single-phase, diesel burner hot-water pressure washer that is ideal for removing stubborn grease and grime. “The unit complements our existing hot water range, which comprises the 380 V and... →

Transformers to be installed at local gold mine

2nd September 2022 Gauteng dry-type transformer specialist Trafo Power Solutions is on track to supply three transformers to a local underground gold mining operation for commissioning this month, despite the challenges manufacturers have been facing globally. While there is a global shortage of raw materials, from... →

DAVID CLAASSEN Oil-cooled transformers are progressively being replaced with dry-type transformers, which are increasingly being specified for new projects

Motor manufacturer helping to reduce load on grid

2nd September 2022 In focusing on energy efficiency, Zest WEG, a subsidiary of Brazilian motor and controls manufacturer WEG, is helping the South African mining industry reduce its load on the country’s fragile energy generation system through the uptake of its products. For example, the company started... →

EDUARDO WERNINGHAUS Zest WEG is dedicated to bringing the most efficient products in its portfolio to the African market to assist customers in lowering total cost of ownership

BEKA Schréder launches new LEDTEC LED lowbay

28th August 2022 Gauteng-based lighting manufacturer BEKA Schréder has launched a new light-emitting diode (LED) lowbay with a circular economy three-star rating as part of its LEDTEC range. Known as the LEDTEC, the light can be surface-mounted with optional lugs for centre-beam mounting or by mounting holes to... →

Eskom losing skills to overseas utilities

26th August 2022 The continued flight of highly skilled and experienced technical staff from State-owned power utility Eskom to the local private sector and overseas power utilities is concerning, but also flattering, says Stellenbosch University engineering dean Professor Wikus van Niekerk. “These engineers,... →

BULK UP STORAGE As part of its plan to end load-shedding, South Africa should invest in another pumped-storage scheme system, such as Ingula, as part of its effort to avoid future energy storage challenges

Utility on track for 2050 target

26th August 2022 State-owned power utility Eskom is on track to ensure that the country’s electricity sector achieves net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with an increase in sustainable jobs, should its Strategy 2035 continue to be effectively implemented, says Eskom Just Energy Transition (JET) GM Mandy... →

GOOD AND READY Eskom has 5 GW of grid capacity ready to go, but is finalising studies to ensure that the next tranche of land it offers is suitable for renewable-energy developments and has access to grid capacity

S Africa needs electricity intervention now

26th August 2022 South Africa needs to promptly implement small interventions to ease the pressure on the national electricity grid, requiring an investment of between R50-billion and R100-billion, while longer-term initiatives to stabilise the power system are rolled out, says Stellenbosch University Faculty of... →

SAMPSON MAMPWHELI By reintroducing energy efficiency and demand-side management programmes, the country can reduce pressure on the grid within six to eight months

Multifunctional security tech can boost productivity

19th August 2022 While response to the new technologies needed for South Africa’s mines of the future are mixed, decision-makers are gaining a better understanding of how one device can serve several functions to boost productivity amid a changing mining landscape, says Sweden-headquartered video surveillance... →

BEYOND BASIC Axis’s camera technology can introduce and improve operational efficiencies at a mine, beyond basic security functions

EVDS supports productivity

19th August 2022 Mining houses are increasingly realising the value of using emulsions in underground and surface blasting applications, and the addition of an emulsion vertical delivery system (EVDS) further contributes to the ever-growing strategy of improving and increasing productivity and efficiency. “The... →

DEBOTTLENECKING DELIVERY The emulsion vertical delivery system contributes to efficiency, as it frees up cage time, consequently enabling mines to not only increase hoisting capacity but also productivity

Demonstrations of new versatile dozer a hit

19th August 2022 The K-Series 1050K crawler dozer from heavy equipment manufacturer John Deere has received positive reviews following demonstrations at various mining sites across South Africa. Focused on improving productivity and uptime, and reducing daily operating costs, the 1050K was launched locally on May... →

PUSHING POWER John Deere’s 1050K delivers the optimal power-to-weight ratio to provide the traction needed to push more material

Geophysical sensor remains unmatched

19th August 2022 Mining and infrastructure solutions company Orica has yet to see anything similar to its RHINO autonomous drillstring-mounted geophysical sensor on the market since introducing the first version in Canada in 2018, says Orica digital solutions VP Raj Mathiravedu. RHINO responds to the rock only,... →

ROCK RESPONSIVE The RHINO autonomous drillstring-mounted geophysical sensor provides a reliable source of information about the rocks being drilled, unaffected by the bit, rig or driller

Manufacturers feeling pressure as payment delays continue

5th August 2022 Local valve manufacturers continue to struggle with delayed payments from the mining industry, which comprises 55% to 60% of the South African valve manufacturing market, says South African Valve and Actuator Manufacturers Association chairperson Pam du Plessis. Implemented during the Covid-19... →

OVER BORDER OPPORTUNITIES South African manufacturers are looking to export their valves in light of the volatile local business environment as the rest of Africa presents huge opportunities

Local demand lower than rest of Africa

5th August 2022 The demand for valves specified for mining applications in the rest of Africa is much higher than demand in South Africa, says valve manufacturer RGR Technologies MD Marinus Ras. “New underground mines are starting to come on stream in certain parts of the continent, where greenfield construction... →

CUTTING COSTS RGR Technologies has developed products that are less costly to manufacture as price is the determining factor when mining companies procure equipment and not local content

Replacement valves supplied to gold and coal mines

5th August 2022 South Africa-based valve manufacturer LVSA Group completed the manufacturing of valves for a Ghanaian gold mine and a South African coal mine last month. The orders, comprising of knife gate, pinch, diaphragm, and RSV gate valves for slurry applications, were placed in April, says LVSA marketing... →

MANUFACTURING FOR MINES LVSA Group started manufacturing valves for mining applications in 2020 and recently delivered locally manufactured valves to two African mining operations

Commodities surge boosts demand

5th August 2022 The global increase in commodity prices is motivating local mines to spend capital on new and existing projects, while the long delivery times of imported products have shifted their focus to South African-manufactured valves, says slurry-related valves manufacturer Abrasive Flow Solutions (AFS)... →

SUPPLY STRATEGY AFS offers better lead times compared with those associated with imported products, by carrying more stock of components that generally have a lengthy lead time

Orders for cost-effective Dezzi MG80T continue to roll in

31st July 2022 Demand for the Dezzi MG80T motor grader from KwaZulu-Natal specialised heavy earthmoving machinery manufacturer Dezzi Equipment has steadily increased since its launch in 2001, with minimal advertising, says Dezzi MD Carl Gutzeit. “We normally carry stock of two to three units. However, we have... →

Bioeconomy could support S Africa’s energy needs

22nd July 2022 Amid unstable power supply, the development of a wood bioeconomy could help support South Africa's energy needs while ensuring that the country meets its carbon emission reduction targets, says University of Pretoria Graduate School of Technology Management senior lecturer Schalk Grobbelaar. The... →

SCHALK GROBBELAAR Bioenergy can be used as baseload power supply and is typically used in thermal power plants

Telemetry critical for sustainable water infrastructure development

22nd July 2022 Digitally transforming water supply and treatment plants can elevate the water and wastewater sector’s operational effectiveness for increased sustainability, says energy management and automation specialist Schneider Electric Anglophone Africa software leader Johan Potgieter. In South Africa,... →

TELEMETRY TRAJECTORY Digital technology connects and improves the full life-cycle management of water treatment systems

S Africa offers pragmatic solution but still far from sustainability

22nd July 2022 While South Africa offers the rest of Africa practical examples of sustainable infrastructure development, there is still much that needs to be done before the country achieves a sustainable transition, says Stellenbosch University Centre for Sustainability Transition professor Desta Mebratu... →

ON TRACK TO TRANSFORMATION? South Africa is one of the leading countries in Africa’s renewable energy transition, but much must still be done before the country achieves a full-scale transition towards a more sustainable, inclusive, climate resilient economy

Falcon rotary cutters’ local content still significant after almost 40 years

17th July 2022 Since being introduced in 1985, the traditional rotary cutters in the Falcon range – consisting predominantly of the Slasher and trademark-protected Haymaker – still maintain local content upward of 90%. Initially comprising 100% local content by necessity, owing to political sanctions, over the... →

Mines opting for solar security lighting

15th July 2022 Many African mines are opting for solar-powered perimeter lighting so that their security is not compromised during power failures, says luminaires manufacturer BEKA Schréder export manager Paulo Mamede. “Demand also depends on the mineral being mined, with security being stricter at gold and... →

QUALITY CONTROL Low quality imports are one the most pertinent challenges that BEKA Schréder faces when working in Africa

Artisanal, small-scale miners still underserved

15th July 2022 Artisanal mining has grown substantially in sub-Saharan Africa over the past 20 years despite being an underserved market where accessing capital, markets and expertise is challenging, says specialist blockchain platform provider Minexx CEO Marcus Scaramanga. Minexx helps artisanal and... →

UNLOCKING VALUE Minexx’s involvement in Rwanda is expected to not only benefit artisanal and small-scale miners through access to capital but also government through taxation

Mine water, waste skills deficit amid green mining transition

15th July 2022 The global green mining transition, which is driving a significant increase in demand for effective water and waste management in the African mining market, has highlighted a skills shortage, says WSP in Africa Earth and Environment MD Ralph Heath. “We can’t hire enough people and we are not... →

THE SHOW MUST GO ON WSP has continued to work for mining companies across Africa while adapting to the challenge of keeping water and waste facilities operational remotely amid the Covid-19 pandemic

SA’s mining future rests on exploration turnaround

15th July 2022 The popular Junior Indaba, held in Johannesburg last month, highlighted once again that South Africa is losing ground on the exploration and junior mining front – with exploration being discouraged by a range of factors. Unlike many other jurisdictions, it appears that South Africa does not... →

ACTION NEEDED Unless exploration increases very quickly, there will be a real lack of projects to replace the mines facing closure in the next decade

Demand outstrips tyre supply

15th July 2022 The African mining market’s demand for tyre solutions provider Bridgestone Southern Africa’s product has increased substantially and is exceeding supply, owing to global tyre supply constraints, says Bridgestone Southern Africa off-the-road business segment manager Nathan Fouche. “On the back of... →

DRIVING PRODUCTIVITY The real value comes from measuring the increases in mine production and reduced downtime when using a Bridgestone product

Lining installation under way

15th July 2022 Civil engineering construction services provider ICON Group is currently progressing with work at a gold mine in Burkino Faso, where it is installing 200 000 m2, 1.5 mm high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lining as part of the construction of a greenfield tailings dam. The country is the... →

INSTALLATION TEMPO The ICON team is able to install about 5 000 m2 to 10 000 m2 of lining a day during favourable conditions

Company automating Gabon manganese mine

15th July 2022 Pretoria-based automation company Iritron is involved in an expansion project at a manganese mine in Gabon. Owner Comilog is the world’s second largest high-grade manganese producer, says Iritron CEO Alwyn Rautenbach. Adhering to system architecture, Iritron is supplying control systems, motor... →

ENHANCING EFFICIENCIES Iritron is supplying Camilog's mining operation in Gabon with control systems, motor control centres and network panels

HPS HV212 EOD drilling system making mines more profitable

3rd July 2022 Orders for Potchefstroom drilling equipment supplier HydroPower Systems’ (HPS’) HV212 EOD hydrovessel drilling system are increasing as acceptance of the technology grows on the back of proven success stories. Recognised at Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa’s 2022 Innovation Awards... →

Gold miner’s journey producing results

1st July 2022 After 14 months, South Africa’s largest gold producer by volume, Harmony, is just under halfway through its humanistic transformation journey called ‘Thibakotsi’, which aims to embed a culture of safety across its operations, says investor relations head Jared Coetzer. “The most significant... →

PROMOTING PREVENTIVE SAFETY Much of the progress Harmony has made regarding its lost-time injury frequency rate is owing to the identification of leading indicators, which will help prevent accidents before they occur

Alignment breeds success

1st July 2022 There seems to be a misperception that if South Africa mechanises and/or digitises its mines, all the country’s problems will disappear, according to business management consultant company OIM Consulting. But this is not the case, states OIM Consulting MD Arjen de Bruin, whose company has been... →

OPERATIONAL FIRST Gold Fields acknowledged the significant role OIM Consulting played in the turnaround of South Deep, OIM Consulting’s first underground mine experience

About

Engineering News is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa
Polity

Newsletters

Sign up for our FREE daily email newsletter

Receive daily sector news alerts

More

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Engineering News is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options

Subscribe