Pimani Baloyi

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Pimani Baloyi

Pimani Baloyi is a former Creamer Media Writer for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Company strengthens local presence

17th October 2014 German headquartered multinational machine tools manufacturer TML Technik in July stated that it is strengthening its presence on the African continent through growing its distributorships in South Africa. TML Technik South Africa (SA) first opened shop in Benoni, Johannesburg in 2008 and now... →

Portfolio committees satisfied with Medupi progress

7th October 2014 Parliament’s portfolio committees on Public Enterprises and Energy are satisfied with the progress made on construction at State-owned power utility Eskom’s Medupi power station in Lephalale, Limpopo. Members of the joint committees conducted an oversight visit to the station this week to assess... →

Medupi

Symposium to focus on mine safety

3rd October 2014 Local nonprofit organisation the South African Flameproof Association’s (Safa’s) symposium, which will take place on November 13 in Secunda, Mpumalanga, will focus on mine safety and preventing hazardous explosions. Safa representative Dion Abrahams tells Mining Weekly that the yearly symposium... →

Photo by Bloomberg
ENSURING SAFETY Flameproofing is an important aspect in mining that ensures the safety of mineworkers and a mining company’s assets

Company introduces battery-powered lifts onto local market

26th September 2014 Vertical transportation systems manufacturer Otis introduced its Gen2 Switch range of lifts, which boasts ReGen technology, in May, making the Gen2 systems 75% more energy efficient than conventional systems, states the company. Otis Southern Africa MD Segren Reddy tells Engineering News that,... →

SEGREN REDDY Otis South Africa was awarded the 2014 Diamond Arrow Award at the Professional Management Review Africa Awards

Lack of skills weaken lift service offerings

26th September 2014 South Africa’s lift-servicing industry faces the challenge of not being able to offer all the required service offerings, owing to a lack of highly skilled technicians and an influx of foreign-manufactured products, says lift inspection body Lift Auditor CC owner Willem du Toit. He tells... →

Photo by wikimedia commons
LIFTS INDUSTRY The local lifts industry has to deal with a lack of adequately skilled labour

Company modifies pumps range to meet miner’s requirements

12th September 2014 Local pumps manufacturer Cemo Pumps last month delivered the first set of GE812 pumps to gold miner Gold One’s Modder East mine, on Johannesburg’s East Rand, says Cemo Pumps MD Gregory Cohen. The GE812 is a modification of the GE088 designed to meet the miner’s specifications. “The GE088 was the... →

GE812 Instead of having several stages of pumps at each level of a mine, the GE812 can manage the full workload of an entire mine

Pumps company grows product portfolio, focuses on R&D

12th September 2014 Scotland-headquartered specialist slurry equipment solutions provider Weir Minerals has been focusing on enhancing its growing pump portfolio by ongoing investment in research and development (R&D) with a focus on improving material technologies to increase wear life and offer clients a lower... →

WEIR HEAVY BAY FOUNDRY The facility is strategically located near the deep water port of Coega, thus positioning it to support global heavy bay foundry requirements

Local supplier, exclusive distributor

12th September 2014 Newly established Boksburg-based pumps supplier Integrated Pump Technology was named in June as the exclusive Southern Africa distributor for the world’s third-largest submersible pump manufacturer Grindex AB, which is based in Sweden. Integrated Pump Technology GM Klint Bawden tells Mining... →

BRAVO RANGE Bravo pumps can operate over the complete pump curve, not just one specific duty point, which means that it can be used in numerous applications within its range

Local pump manufacturers expand

12th September 2014 Johannesburg-based pump manufacturers APE Pumps and Mather+Platt, owned by India-based multinational pumps manufacturer WPIL, have bought factory space alongside their existing pump factory as part of efforts to expand their portfolio as pumps suppliers. APE Pumps and Mather+Platt sales GM... →

APE MULTISTAGE PUMP The pump boasts pressure-boosting, fire-fighting and water-circulation functionalities suited to the mining industry

Manufacturer prioritises quality and service

12th September 2014 Johannesburg-based heavy-duty slurry pump manufacturer Pump and Abrasion Technologies is developing several new products and materials that will benefit the company’s existing and prospective clients, says sales and marketing director James Pienaar. He tells Mining Weekly that the company is... →

Zim-focused gold miner aims for midtier status

5th September 2014 Zimbabwe-focused London-based gold miner Metallon Corporation is implementing a five-year strategy to become a midtier gold producer of 200 000 oz of gold per year by 2016, says Metallon CEO and deputy chairperson Mzi Khumalo. He tells Mining Weekly that the strategy involves reducing costs,... →

HOW MINE The mine was responsible for half of Metallon Corporation’s 2013 production

Zimbabwe among the ten worst mining investment destinations

5th September 2014 Canada-based research organisation the Fraser Institute has placed Zimbabwe among the world’s ten worst mining jurisdictions, according to its 2013 Mining Survey, which tallied responses from about 4 100 global mining company executives and managers. Zimbabwe ranked 106 out of 112 for its... →

MINING IN ZIMBABWE The Fraser Institute ranked Zimbabwe among the ten worst mining jurisdictions in 2013

Standby capacity for SA mines

5th September 2014 Harare-based mining equipment supplier Machinery Exchange, in expectation of a time when Zimbabwe’s mining industry can live up to its full potential, prioritises staff training, the supply of quality services and world-class equipment and keeping abreast of global trends in its sector, says... →

BRENDAN & GEOFF REILLY Machinery Exchange has trained its staff and ensures that it keeps abreast of global mining trends

Zim wants minerals processed locally

5th September 2014 Zimbabwe is proceeding with plans to ensure that the minerals mined in-country are also processed in-country, instead of in South Africa or Europe, which is the current norm. As part of this process, Zimbabwe levied a 15% tax on rough diamonds and platinum concentrate exports in January to... →

ANGELICA KATURUZA The indigenisation policy is the best thing to have happened to indigenous Zimbabweans

Multicurrency trade spurring Zim growth

5th September 2014 Zimbabwe’s mining and agriculture sectors have been on a growth path since the government adopted a multi-currency regime in 2009, which has enabled mining companies to sell their commodities in US dollars, like mining companies in other parts of the world, says global information company IHS... →

Photo by Bloomberg
MULTI-CURRENCY REGIME The use of multi-currencies in Zimbabwe has led to a relative growth in the country’s mining and agriculture sectors

Fire protection workshops for professionals a success

22nd August 2014 Cape Town-based fire-protection technology provider DoseTech last month hosted its third four-day course, the 2014 storage tank and associated facilities fire hazard management workshop, at coal miner Sasol Mining’s Secunda fire training centre, in Mpumalanga. DoseTech MD Michael Feldon tells... →

TRAINING DoseTech offers extensive training on fire protection

New product range grows company market share

22nd August 2014 Environmental solutions provider I-Cat has increased its market share and strengthened relations with its existing client base since acquiring the local agency of fire suppression solutions provider Firetrace International and becoming the official Southern African distributor of the... →

Company expands fire protection services

22nd August 2014 JSE-listed electronics group Jasco is expanding its fire-detection and fire-suppression market reach in South Africa, says Jasco fire-protection head and founder of former fire-protection solutions provider Firecare Tony Balanco. Balanco tells Engineering News that the expansion started with the... →

Company integrates security and fire protection systems

22nd August 2014 Fire-protection solutions provider, Tyco, provides fire-protection products that are integrated into a building’s security management systems, states Tyco integrated fire & security South Africa sales leader Cedric Greeves. He tells Engineering News that the local branch of the global company,... →

CEDRIC GREEVES Tyco provides fire-detection extinguishing systems that are integrated into the security system of buildings

NDP boosts steel construction sector

15th August 2014 The implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) – government’s long-term strategy for building infrastructure, creating employment opportunities and developing the country – will create ample business opportunities for the local steel construction industry, says steel construction... →

PAOLO TRINCHERO The National Development Plan provides ample opportunity for the steel construction industry

Powerline association growing steadily

15th August 2014 Steel construction industry body the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction’s (Saisc’s) newly launched Powerline Association of South Africa (Polasa) has grown exponentially and registered more than 30 members since formation in August last year, says Polasa chairperson Gary Whalley.... →

POWERLINES Saisc founded a powerline association last year to consolidate the sector’s voice

LSFB method adds to skills set

15th August 2014 Light-steel-frame (LSF) franchised construction company and engineering service provider Silverline Group has had to prioritise workforce training to ensure the transfer of quality LSF building skills in a country that has a long history of brick and mortar construction. Silverline project... →

SCARCE SKILLS South Africa’s brick and mortar construction industry dates back to 1656 and companies have to create thier own pool of skilled labour

Awareness of steel building method growing

15th August 2014 The South African construction community is becoming more aware of the advantages associated with the innovative construction method of light-steel- frame building (LSFB), which has led to a 21% growth in the sector, says Southern African Light Steel Frame Building Association (Sasfa) director... →

JOHN BARNARD Builders are becoming more aware of the advantages of light-steel-frame building

Canadian miner expands West African operation

1st August 2014 As part of its aim to expand its West African presence, Canada-based TSX- and ASX-listed gold miner Endeavour Mining announced in June that it started production at its Segala underground mine, in south-western Mali, which comprises half of the Tabakoto deposit’s total resources. Endeavour has... →

PRECIOUS YELLOW METAL The price of gold has been on the decline since 2013

NPO tackles high TB rate at SA gold mines

1st August 2014 Shedding light on the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic that continues to pervade the global mining industry, international nonprofit biotechnology company with a mission to develop TB vaccines, Aeras, released a documentary highlighting the need for governments, mining companies, unions, health... →

UNDERMINED CRISIS All stakeholders need to get involved to help prevent the spreading of tuberculosis across Southern Africa’s gold mining sector

West Africa-focused gold miner prioritises community empowerment

1st August 2014 London- and Nasdaq-listed gold miner Randgold Resources aims to ensure that communities surrounding its mining operations benefit from the proceeds of mining the natural resources, says CEO Mark Bristow. He tells Mining Weekly that the company has built schools, clinics and homes for... →

MARK BRISTOW The Boyz on Bikes recently raised $1.6-million through their fourth trans-Africa charity bike ride to raise money for Africa’s poor

Increased demand from Asia despite price decline

1st August 2014 Gold exploration projects continue to attract significant investor interest, mostly owing to Asian markets’ increasing demand for the yellow metal, despite the commodity’s price decline, says mining consultancy The MSA Group. Although the 21% decline since the beginning of 2013 has had a negative... →

EXPLORATION IN SAUDI ARABIA EXPLORATION IN SAUDI ARABIA Gold explorers are looking to the underexplored territory of north-east Africa and the Arabian peninsula

Gold miners need to focus on cost accounting

1st August 2014 With gold mining companies looking for ways of reducing costs amid the recent price decline, implementing area cost accounting analysis will help mining companies that do not already use this information to identify the profitable and non-profitable areas of their mining operations, says mining... →

ANDY CLAY Cost accounting enables mining companies to identify the different costs associated with different grades and other mining parameters

Increased demand for South African smelting tech

1st August 2014 As Africa’s mining industries consider new methods of processing precious metals and base metals, the demand for South African induction-heating technologies on the continent is increasing, says induction-heating solutions company Hot Platinum. Hot Platinum MD Ali Brey tells Mining Weekly that... →

GOLD MELTING This high volume system melts up to 2 t of gold at a time

Company takes new hydraulic range to mine operations

18th July 2014 British high pressure hydraulic tools manufacturer Hi-Force has attended a series of roadshows to showcase some of its newly launched hydraulic solutions, as well as other mining-specific products, at various mining sites across Africa. These solutions include the HBR series of spring-eye bust... →

HYDRAULIC SOLUTIONS Hi-Force’s HBR range of replacement toolkits offer 18 t of hydraulic power when operated at the maximum working pressure of 700 bar

Pneumatics manufacturer to attend international expo

18th July 2014 Representatives from the local branch of German pneumatic solutions provider Airtec Pneumatic, including MD Michael Wendemuth and two other employees, will this year attend the yearly Motek specialist international trade fair for production, assembly and automation and mechatronic, which will... →

Photo by Bloomberg
CUSTOMISED SOLUTIONS Airtec Pneumatic’s solutions lower costs and reduce the demands of technical coordination, giving clients time to focus on their core business

Infrastructure deficit thwarting investment

11th July 2014 A lack of infrastructure in several African countries continues to hinder investment in new mining projects and efficient operations at existing mining operations, says multidisciplinary mining and engineering consulting firm SRK Consulting. Company chairperson and corporate consultant Roger... →

ROGER DIXON A lack of well-maintained infrastructure in many African countries remains a serious obstacle to new mining investment

Power supply deficit hindering African mining

11th July 2014 The deficiency in power generation on the African continent is impacting on the mining industry’s ability to reach its full production potential, thereby impacting on the industry’s ability to boost the continent’s economy, says Dubai-based temporary power solutions provider Altaaqa Global CAT... →

ROBERT BAGATSING Africa’s mining industry needs an immediate solution for its power supply issues

South African strike won’t affect global mining performance

11th July 2014 While South Africa remained the world’s largest platinum producer, industrial action in the local platinum sector – which lasted for five months and the longest in South African history – will not affect the market capitalisation of the world’s top 40 mining companies in 2014, said professional... →

Photo by Duane Daws
SA PLATINUM Industrial action which lasted for five months and the longest in South African history will not affect the outcome of PwC's 2014 mine report

Insufficient infrastructure a challenge for Africa

11th July 2014 African governments should prioritise infrastructure development to attract foreign investment to the continent, which boasts a wealth of mineral resources, says South Africa-based midtier mining consultancy Ukwazi Group. Company director Hugo Tukker tells Mining Weekly that the lack of... →

HUGO TUKKER African countries should work on creating standardised legislation that cuts across all mining operations

Commodity prices impact on mineral rents

11th July 2014 Mining companies operating in Africa need to understand that fluctuating commodity prices impact on mineral rents, says mining risk analysis company Eunomix MD Claude Baissac. Baissac was the guest speaker at an event hosted last month by Africa mining relationship facilitator the African Mining... →

Photo by Pimani Baloyi
CLAUDE BAISSAC It is better to leave minerals unexploited than to dig them out with zero benefits for anyone

Mining companies to follow holistic approach to infrastructure development

11th July 2014 Mining companies operating in Africa are starting to understand the importance of developing infrastructure that will not only enable easy access to their operations but also benefit their host communities, says newly established logistics and materials management consultancy Greiner Mendi and... →

Photo by Bloomberg
NECESSARY MEASURE Infrastructure development needs to be prioritised above everything else, including mining

African governments misjudge impact of volatile global commodity prices

11th July 2014 African countries that host mining projects have often sought to renegotiate contracts during periods of high commodity prices, when they should have seized those opportunities to develop the capital intensive projects that only high price environments make possible, says strategy and... →

Photo by Duane Daws
THOMAS WILSON Africa has the world’s largest unexploited high-grade mining assets

Women in mining still a challenge in SA

11th July 2014 Despite efforts to increase the participation of women in the mining industry, mining companies operating in South Africa face the continuous challenge of high turnover of women mineworkers and are dogged by hostile work relations between male and female employees, says transformation and... →

Photo by Duane Daws
SLOW TRANSFORMATION Employing women in the mining industry is still regarded as a compliance issue

Decline in new mining projects

11th July 2014 Last year saw a decline in the number of new mining projects worldwide, with Africa contributing 29% of the total, although these projects were small, on average, compared with the global norm, says global financial information provider SNL Metals & Mining (SNL). In its ‘State of the market... →

Sunlight harvester growing market share

27th June 2014 Sunlight harvesting systems supplier Light Sculptors reports that its services have been well received by the South African wine industry and food manufacturing industry. Light Sculptors is the first company to focus on developing and selling sunlight harvesting systems for the South African... →

FANIE NEETHLINGSunlight harvesting is the way to go for businesses that want to save on energy costs and preserve the environment

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