Robyn Wilkinson

https://staging1.creamermedia.com/

Robyn Wilkinson

Robyn Wilkinson is a Creamer Media Writer for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Equipment advancements improve water, electricity use

9th September 2016 In conjunction with engineers Carleton Engineering Services, pump manufacturer Hawk High Pressure Pumps has designed a new stope water jetter, which is traditionally used by the mining industry to move rock with water. The new design, which was first introduced in 2011, is gaining popularity in... →

One of world’s largest peristaltic pumps at Electra

9th September 2016 Since pump and agitator manufacturer Afromix introduced its AFX peristaltic hose pumps range at Electra Mining Africa 2014, yearly growth in demand for its pumps has increased by between 20% and 30%, Afromix MD Eugene Els tells Mining Weekly. →

EUGENE ELS The AFX150 is one of the largest peristaltic pumps available in the world

Cost benefits of crushers for Zambian copper mines significant

2nd September 2016 Designer and manufacturer of diversified mining processing equipment MMD Mineral Sizing Africa is designing customised underground sizing stations for underground copper mines in Zambia. →

INNOVATIVE DESIGNS MMD is pairing equipment to produce innovative, custom-designed systems for underground copper mines

Government support needed to foster partnerships

2nd September 2016 While policies prioritising trade between South Africa and China have been adopted at an official level, further government support is needed on the ground to stimulate partnerships between businesses in the two countries and increase Chinese investment in South Africa, says international law... →

KATHLEEN WONG The signing of memoranda of understanding at the Focac suggest a willingness to further opportunities for South Africa–China partnership.

South Africa-China partnerships benefit valves industry

2nd September 2016 The valve industry provides a key example of a flourishing South Africa-China partnership, as joint ventures are increasingly being undertaken between Chinese manufacturers and South African importers for the design, manufacture and distribution of high-quality specialised valves, says... →

Focus on innovation provides opportunities for trade

2nd September 2016 China’s thirteenth five-year plan – from 2016 to 2020 – includes a clear prioritisation of innovation, which is likely to increase the country’s interest in importing technologies from outside, including from South Africa, says advisory services provider KPMG local China practice in South Africa... →

NEW TRADE OPPORTUNITIES China’s economy is undergoing a shift that is likely to increase the country’s interest in importing innovative technologies

Surface miners to take over mining landscape in South Africa

26th August 2016 Mining solutions provider Wirtgen South Africa (SA) is engaged in extensive talks with various mining companies about solutions for their greenfield and existing mines. Surface miners are set to change the opencast mining industry in South Africa, as they have done worldwide, by addressing the... →

MODERNISING OPENCAST MINING Wirtgen surface miners offer an alternative mining approach that will benefit the South African coal mining industry

New retractable dust-suppression system easy to operate, maintain

26th August 2016 Environmental management solutions provider I-CAT this year introduced a retractable stockpile dust ring (R-SDR) for dust suppression at conveyor discharge points, which can be fully automated and allows for easy maintenance. →

SIMPLIFYING MAINTENANCE I-CAT’s retractable stockpile dust ring makes the dust-suppression system easy to access for maintenance

Australian mining safety solutions introduced locally

26th August 2016 Having proven its ability over 12 years in the Australian market to greatly reduce the dangers of a hazardous mining environment, mining safety solutions provider Nautitech this year started introducing its range of safety products to South Africa, trialling its products at some major operations. →

ALEX LESTER The mining industry is facing the challenge of increasing productivity without compromising on safety

Pneumatic tech significantly improves equipment performance

26th August 2016 South African start-up Magnevane, assisted by consulting firm Deloitte, is introducing a design that significantly improves the performance of pneumatic engines by using high-powered magnets in air motor applications. →

BETTER PERFORMANCE, LOWER COSTS A chainsaw retrofitted with Magnevane’s pneumatics technology performed 600% better than before

AMD technology a hot topic in South Africa

26th August 2016 Finnish specialist in hydrometallurgical treatment technology Global EcoProcess Services Oy (EPSE) launched a treatment for acid mine drainage (AMD) in South Africa in July, which it claims is a cost-effective, one-step process that can integrate with the existing technology and equipment used by... →

Photo by Duane Daws
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Acid mine drainage, which has a high sodium content, has a negative effect on agricultural land when it is discharged into rivers that are used for irrigation

Mining company weathers market volatility to further zinc project

12th August 2016 While very few mining companies are implementing new projects as they struggle to navigate a volatile commodities market, zinc miner Vedanta Zinc International is developing its Gamsberg zinc project, in the Northern Cape. →

Photo by Duane Daws
RIGHT TIME AND PLACE Vedanta’s new Gamsberg project is well positioned to take advantage of the global zinc supply shortage

Nickel market swings into undersupply

12th August 2016 After several years of surplus, the nickel market moved to deficit in the second quarter this year and, with the price of the commodity now above $10 000/t, a smaller portion of global nickel producers are now cash negative, research and consultancy group Wood Mackenzie nickel markets principal... →

SEAN MULSHAW A continued drop in the world’s nickel supply will result in the price of the commodity rising above the current $10 000/t in the medium term

War on illegal copper exports wages on

12th August 2016 Illegal scrap copper exports continue to place South African manufacturers that use the metal under pressure to maintain the profitability of their operations and so retain their labour force, says Copper Development Association Africa (CDAA) executive chairperson Evert Swanepoel. →

SCRAP IN DEMAND South African scrap merchants are being offered top prices for copper scrap by overseas buyers, possibly prompting illegal exports

Advancing base metals recovery from platinum production

12th August 2016 State-owned research organisation for the minerals industry Mintek is partnering with platinum producers in South Africa to improve the recovery of base metals associated with platinum-group metal (PGM) production. Mintek GM Peter Craven notes that the challenging economic environment is... →

WITHSTANDING FINNISH WINTERS Only the heat-generating bioleach reactors are located outdoors at the Mondo plant, as they can withstand the extreme temperatures

Copper heading for supply deficit

12th August 2016 The protracted period of lower commodities prices, which started during 2011, will leave a legacy of limited new capital for exploration and development spend in the mining sector, including the copper industry, which is moving towards a supply deficit, says research and consultancy group Wood... →

AFRICAN ADVANCEMENT Restarting the Kamoto/KOV project in 2017 will contribute to a yearly increase of 6.2% in copper supply from Africa over 2015 to 2019

Zinc price to reach cyclical high in 2018

12th August 2016 The outlook for the zinc market over the next few years is positive, with the price forecast to reach a cyclical high of more than $3 800/t in 2018, says research and consultancy group Wood Mackenzie zinc markets principal analyst Jonathan Leng. →

JONATHAN LENG New zinc projects will boost Africa’s mined zinc output in an undersupplied market

Increasing demand for gasket installation

5th August 2016 Having identified a need in the market for the correct installation of gaskets at industrial plants, supplier of sealing products and services Klinger Mzansi is offering a Joint Integrity Management Service in addition to its product line to help increase the safety and efficiency of plants. →

Power builds to continue despite decreased demand across industries

29th July 2016 Despite a decrease in demand for energy from the mining and related industries, construction, engineering and mining contractor Murray & Roberts Power & Water platform CEO Steve Harrison believes that the power station builds at Medupi, in Limpopo, and Kusile, in Mpumalanga, will continue to... →

MEDUPI POWER STATION Unit 5 at Medupi first fired on oil in June

Concentrated solar plants valuable for South Africa

29th July 2016 As baseload plants, concentrated solar plants (CSPs) are highly sought after in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), says infrastructure operations and maintenance (O&M) company Invest in Africa Holdings (IIAH) director Gabriel Reeder. →

MULTIPLE BENEFITS The Bokpoort concentrated solar plant is providing significant economic and social development for the iKheis municipal community

Solar gaining traction in South Africa

29th July 2016 Adequate, reliable and affordable electricity supply remains a challenge in South Africa for businesses and homeowners, and solar energy is gaining momentum as a key area of focus to provide solutions for these challenges. →

KARAGLEN SHOPPING CENTRE The installation of 1 250 units of solar modules at the centre in Edenvale is one of the biggest solar projects of its kind completed in Gauteng to date

S Africa renewables sector growing well

29th July 2016 Engineering firm Arup associate director Mariaan Woest believes that the renewables sector is growing well in South Africa, with Arup selected as a consultant on many of the projects approved in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). →

MARIAAN WOEST Micro hydros are the way forward in terms of electricity on a more localised scale

Restructuring a must to sustain price, mine-site costs revealed

22nd July 2016 Despite the current rally in demand for iron-ore, the current price is not sustainable, as the market still requires restructuring on the supply side to support the higher price, says UK-headquartered online data, analysis and advisory services provider Timetric. Timetric senior analyst Cliff... →

LOW STRIP RATIOS KEY South Africa struggles to remain cost competitive because of high iron-ore strip ratios

Proven proficiency benefits operations

22nd July 2016 Globally, low commodities prices are putting pressure on mining companies to ensure that all aspects of their operations are performed at the highest standard possible, including the proficiency of their laboratories, says support services provider to laboratories in the mining sector Qotho... →

IMPROVING CREDIBILITY Qotho's iron-ore proficiency testing scheme enables iron-ore laboratories (mine and commercial) to check the quality of their performance against that of competitors and peers

Mining solutions provider expands in CIS countries

22nd July 2016 Despite globally depressed iron-ore prices, there are still opportunities for the supply of minerals processing solutions in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries like Russia and China, says mining equipment specialist Osborn Engineered Products export director Martin Botha. →

MINING WORLD RUSSIA Johannesburg-based Osborn cemented its presence in Russia by exhibiting at the event this year

Significant iron-ore supply-demand imbalance persists

22nd July 2016 Internationally, the iron-ore industry continues to battle constrained operating conditions, caused by near-static demand and a surplus supply of good-quality iron-ore, negatively impacting on the iron-ore price, says mining consultancy The MSA Group head of geology Dr Brendan Clarke. →

MAJOR STRATEGY Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have countered low iron-ore prices by increasing production volumes at their mines

Maximum value must be derived from mines, especially in challenging market

22nd July 2016 State-owned research council for the minerals industry Mintek is investigating the recovery of iron-ore waste material, in the form of fines, in an attempt to help mines extract the maximum possible value from their operations. →

Expos still valuable in a difficult market

22nd July 2016 Industry expos remain an important platform for forging business connections, showcasing technology and discussing solutions to the challenges currently facing companies in the iron-ore sector, says exhibition organiser Mining & Technical Exhibitions (MTE) operations manager Andrew Macnamara. →

UPBEAT REPORTS Many attendees of the Kathu Mining and Technical Expo reported that they remain positive about the industry’s outlook

Iron-ore market likely to stay in oversupply

22nd July 2016 Despite China’s commitment to reducing its crude steel production capacity, the iron-ore market remains oversupplied and this is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, says engineering consultant Core Consultants CEO Lara Smith. →

New Australian iron-ore project will meet long-term demand

22nd July 2016 While there is no doubt that the iron-ore industry’s operating conditions have been challenging, Australian iron-ore miner Iron Road believes that the long-term industry fundamentals are sound and that its new Central Eyre Iron Project (CEIP) is well placed to weather near-term cyclical weakness. →

Photo by Robert Lang
ANDREW STOCKS Taking action to enhance efficiencies across iron-ore operations is critical

New header designs to be showcased at Power-Gen Africa

8th July 2016 Engineering, manufacturing, construction and maintenance services provider Steinmüller Africa will showcase two header models at this year’s Power-Gen Africa event, which will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from July 19 to 21. →

FLUCTUATING COAL QUALITY Steinmüller Africa has been investigating the impact of varying coal quality on boiler operations at Hendrina power station

Quality standards for grid-tied systems worth the wait

8th July 2016 The publication of Small-Scale Embedded Generators (SSEG) national standards for grid-tied systems are more than 12 months overdue, which is a noteworthy delay because of how crucial they are to advancing safe and cost-effective solar energy practices in South Africa, says advanced power product... →

CIS TECHNOLOGY Japanese-manufactured copper, indium and selenium (CIS) solar photovoltaic technology supplied by Sinetech

Event costs deter local companies

8th July 2016 The lack of emphasis on local innovation seems to be reflected in the pricing scheme of the Power-Gen Africa event, which favours international currencies more than the local one, says solar solutions provider Microcare Solar Components marketing manager Gareth Burley. →

FOCUS ON SOLAR Renewable energy will be a key focus at this year’s Power-Gen Africa event

Company supports impact of IPP projects in Africa

8th July 2016 Consulting, engineering, procurement and construction services provider Black & Veatch will support the evolution of independent power producer (IPP) projects already under way in South Africa. →

WEBB MEKO Independent power producers continue to strengthen Africa’s power systems and diversify the generation mix

Integrated LNG import and natural gas facilities poised to meet energy demand

8th July 2016 Consulting, engineering, procurement and construction services provider Black & Veatch liquefied natural gas (LNG) technologies VP Shawn Hoffart and power generation technologies VP and director Alap Shah will discuss the benefits of maximising the synergies of combined LNG import and natural... →

SHAWN HOFFART Integrating an LNG import facility with a power plant can increase the plant’s capacity

Microgrid solutions integral to sustainable power systems

8th July 2016 The economics of distributed power generation are changing rapidly and modern microgrid solutions are becoming an important part of sustainable, reliable and cost-effective electric systems, says procurement and construction services provider Black & Veatch distributed generation service area... →

JASON ABIECUNAS Microgrids are ideal solutions for remote communities with weak or no connection to the utility grid

Power-Gen Africa a valuable platform for consulting engineers

8th July 2016 Power-Gen Africa provides global engineering consultants WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff with a platform for the company to continue raising its brand profile in the consulting engineering network and to collaborate with like-minded industry players and explore potential new business opportunities,... →

PAUL GROTA African governments are prioritising power development in their respective countries

Import prices on steel not the best solution

1st July 2016 International trade credit insurer Coface credit analyst Kyle Mason says that government would do better to provide benefits to local entities using locally-produced steel than to further impose import and anti-dumping tariffs. →

Photo by Duane Daws
PROTECTING LOCAL STEEL Alternative options to import tariffs need to be explored

More support needed for local steel industry

1st July 2016 While government has increased import tariffs to protect the local steel market from low-cost Chinese imports, steel products manufacturer and supplier LionSteel CFO Pierre Willemse believes that more needs to be done to support the South African steel market. →

SUCCESSFUL ACQUISITION LionSteel CFO Pierre Willemse and Captial Star Steel CEO David Scheepers at the Capital Star Steel mill in Mozambique

Modernisation of steel plants crucial in South Africa

1st July 2016 Global metallurgical processing plant supplier SMS group’s South African MD, Pieter Bezuidenhout, says the modernisation of South African steel plants is crucial in boosting the industry’s ability to remain internationally competitive in a difficult economic environment. →

FURNACE WITH FUME EXTRACTION Modernisations such as these are crucial for steel plants to remain viable

Import tariffs harmful to end-user businesses

1st July 2016 Fasteners and aligned products manufacturer and supplier Impala Bolt & Nut MD Derek Cohen says attempts to protect the local steel market by introducing import tariffs have introduced additional costs for small end-user businesses that are trying to remain viable in a difficult market. →

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION Government incentives have supported development in the automotive sector, and could similarly benefit the steel sector if implemented

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