Tracy Hancock

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Tracy Hancock

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

Positive mining developments halted by Covid-19

17th July 2020 Before the Covid-19 outbreak, major mining companies indicated that, for the first time in many years, government and the mining industry were having meaningful dialogue that could realise positive outcomes, says diversified infrastructure and services construction company Concor Construction CEO... →

Moma to move 7 000 t plant along newly built road

17th July 2020 The construction of a purpose-built, 23-km-long, 66-m-wide road for the relocation of wet concentrator plant (WCP) B and its dredge at the Moma titanium minerals mine, on the north-east coast of Mozambique, is on track to be completed in the third quarter of this year, says Ireland-headquartered... →

BEN BAXTER The initial key challenge of moving WCP B and its dredge was the construction of the road, which started in August 2019

Less demand for outsourced labour

17th July 2020 There has been a sharp decline in demand for labour for mining-related construction projects amid the Covid-19 outbreak, with some projects on hold, as mines focus on their core business. This is according to technical recruitment company Oxyon director Pierre Bekker, who tells Mining Weekly that... →

SUITABLE SOURCE It is ideal to outsource staffing requirements to a compliant provider that will manage fixed-term contracts and ensure compliance with Mining Charter III

Food-waste composting aid manufacturer Bokashi Bran eyes US market

10th July 2020 With more local residential and commercial kitchens using the Bokashi Bran food-waste composting system and the product readily available from building material retail outlets Builders Warehouse and Chamberlains, as well as online stores, environmentally concerned bokashi manufacturer Bokashi... →

Mines focus on existing assets

10th July 2020 Few of the capital projects planned for the development of new African mines will go ahead this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant uncertainty, says project management, engineering and consulting company Wood’s mining and minerals business development manager for Europe, the... →

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY Wood has received requests from Ghana’s gold mines, owing to the high gold price

Mining without Covid-19 safeguards harmful to communities

10th July 2020 Keeping mining operations Covid-19-free is crucial because all mine personnel return to different communities, which can extend the spread of the infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 over long distances, says global design firm Stantec global mining business line leader Jon Treen. “Several... →

SAFETY MATTERS Masks make up and important part of personal protective equipment in the age of Covid-19

Workforce plan invaluable in crisis

10th July 2020 Having an actionable and implementable workforce plan in these uncertain times is more important than ever, says workforce development solutions provider Immersive Technologies Europe, Middle East and Africa and Commonwealth of Independent States regional VP Johan Stemmet. “It is core to any... →

BREAKING BOUNDARIES The Remote Training Station solution enhances physical distancing while preserving quality outcomes and learning engagement

Coronal capping design being completed for Namibian mine

10th July 2020 Rope access specialist Skyriders is preparing to install a new coronal capping, with its design in the process of being finalised, for two smokestacks at a mine in Namibia. The company secured the contract earlier this year, having had previous experience with this client in 2018 when it... →

TIME’S UP The coronal capping structures for two smokestacks had reached the end of their service life, and it was deemed necessary to replace them

Smart solution to Covid-19 business recovery

10th July 2020 The online Smart Mining resource centre from digital solutions innovation hub Axora has piqued the interest of African mining companies, particularly those in South Africa. Axora chief commercial officer Dr Nick Mayhew says these companies mainly mine precious metals. →

NICK MAYHEW The Covid-19 pandemic is causing an acceleration of digital transformation across the mining sector

Compressed air expansion project completed at Mozal smelter

10th July 2020 South African engineering, procurement and construction company Lesedi has completed the upgrade of the compressed air installation plant at diversified mining and minerals company South32’s Mozal aluminium plant, as part of its expansion increase project. The system is currently functioning as... →

COMPRESSED AIR EXPANSION PROJECT Lesedi upgraded the compressed air installation plant by adding an extra compressor with its own heat of compression dryer

African interest in reclaimer chain

10th July 2020 Southern African bearings and power transmission products distributor Bearings International (BI), a member of Hudaco Industries, is working closely with the manufacturers of the reclaimer chains in its product portfolio to penetrate the African market. BI product manager Frikkie Ras tells Mining... →

CLAIMING OPPORTUNITY Bearings International has seen a gap in the market for reclaimer chains in Southern Africa

Dale Automation emergency ventilator could create jobs amid crisis

26th June 2020 While South Africa faces significant job losses amid the Covid-19 outbreak, engineering company Dale Automation expects to create 50 to 60 additional jobs should it receive the necessary medical approvals to proceed with the manufacturing of its prototype emergency ventilator. The device is not... →

Subsea cable to improve connectivity in Africa

26th June 2020 Submarine communications network supplier Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) has been appointed to build the 37 000-km-long 2Africa subsea cable – one of the largest subsea projects globally, which will connect 23 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. "We are honoured by the trust of our... →

CONNECTING AFRICA The 2Africa subsea cable will be the most comprehensive subsea cable to serve Africa and the Middle East

Cables for corrosive conditions

26th June 2020 Industrial equipment supplier BMG’s extensive portfolio of Tsubaki Kabelschlepp cable carrier systems and safety cables includes S/SX steel cable carriers, which have been designed to carry heavy mechanical loads in harsh environments, including corrosive conditions. “The S/SX series comprises... →

OPTIMISED GEOMETRY The link design of the S/SX series allows contaminants found in harsh environments to fall through the system when the cable carrier is in motion

Aeris Mask copper filtration face mask takes off

12th June 2020 The “slide-in” copper filter inserts for cloth masks manufactured by South African startup Aeris Mask in accordance with government guidelines have had massive interest, with the company selling its first units days after it finalised commercial production runs in mid-May. “We are now launching a... →

Energy efficiency part of futureproofing assets

12th June 2020 Local building owners are looking to futureproof their assets for the secondary market, and reduce operating costs across all sectors, including the commercial, office, retail, industrial and residential sectors. This is according to independent nonprofit organisation Green Building Council of... →

GRAHAME CRUICKSHANKS The rate of energy efficiency-related retrofits is high in commercial office, retail and industrial spaces

Great demand for infection control across Africa

12th June 2020 The demand for infection control solutions manufacturer SteriTech’s products has increased significantly across Africa since the Covid-19 outbreak, but so have the company’s lead times. “Demand in the rest of Africa existed prior to the outbreak and was steadily growing at a rate just slightly... →

SOUGHT-AFTER SteriTech has increased its production capacity twenty-fold to meet demand across Africa

Cogen technology heating up in Africa

12th June 2020 South Africa needs to realise that the rest of Africa is becoming more business friendly, and it may no longer be the sole gateway to Africa, which is showing noticeable demand for co-generation (co-gen) technology, says heat generation technology specialist Steam Generation commercial director... →

PLANTATION POTENTIAL Steam Generation receives many enquiries from Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, which is known for its tea plantations that present potential for the supply of biomass and co-gen technology

Africa still viable for business

12th June 2020 It is possible to work in most African countries, provided there is an investor-friendly fiscal regime, the correct asset, a diverse management team and a flexible execution strategy, says mining consultancy Madini’s Andries Cilliers. Madini has supported African mining projects for the past 20... →

Photo by Credit: Alufer Mining
GUINEA-FOCUSED Madini is focused on Guinea, where it has been involved from first drill hole through to production at Alufer Mining’s Bel Air Mining bauxite project

Covid-19 compounds challenges in Africa

12th June 2020 The legislation put in place amid the Covid-19 pandemic is compounding the “exceptionally challenging” business environment already faced by companies when operating in Africa, where each country presents its own challenges, says Macsteel Exports senior branch manager Adrian Isemonger. He... →

AFRICAN REACH Macsteel Exports supplies sub-Saharan Africa with the broadest range of carbon steel, stainless steel, specialty steels, aluminum products and value-added processes to all industry sectors

Expedited change in stainless steel industry expected

29th May 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic will have long-term ramifications, including permanent change in the South African stainless steel industry, Southern African Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda) acting executive director Michel Basson tells Engineering News. “The stainless steel industry could... →

ADDED STRESS The national lockdown has compounded the challenges faced by the already stressed stainless steel industry

Lockdown further strains stainless steel recycling

29th May 2020 Prior to the national lockdown, South Africa’s stainless steel recycling industry was under strain, facing a dramatic drop in available recycling material and increasing input costs, says Johannesburg-based stainless steel recycler Cronimet director Bernard Maguire. The stainless steel recycling... →

SIGNIFICANCE OF SCRAP The cost of recycled stainless steel is much less than that of virgin primary alloys

R&D on hold to keep doors open

29th May 2020 Stainless steel cylinder manufacturer Jooste Cylinder & Pump Company has implemented various measures, such as delaying research and development (R&D) projects, to assist staff as much as possible and “keep the doors open” amid the Covid-19 crisis. “Jooste re-invests much of its income in new... →

Crisis highlights sense in sourcing locally made First Cut blades,welding consumables

28th May 2020 Covid-19 has brought with it doubts and concerns about supply chain security, availability of stock and lead times, says First Cut’s Consumables Division director, Gary Willis. The pandemic has caused companies accustomed to ordering international private-label products to re-evaluate their... →

Effective mine closure vital amid current economic crisis

21st May 2020 The depressed economic climate emanating from the global Covid-19 pandemic is expected to increase requests about the authorisations process →

EDS Systems developing first South African carbon tax tool

19th May 2020 Software developer EDS Systems is developing the first cloud-based carbon tax tool tailored to the South African market, in response to the introduction of the country’s Carbon Tax Act last year, and has entered the final stages of quality assurance. “There are many carbon tax calculators online,... →

EDS Systems developing first South African carbon tax tool

15th May 2020 Software developer EDS Systems is developing the first cloud-based carbon tax tool tailored to the South African market, in response to the introduction of the country’s Carbon Tax Act last year, and has entered the final stages of quality assurance. “There are many carbon tax calculators online,... →

Zambia resilient despite challenges

15th May 2020 The copper-dominant Zambian mining industry is resilient despite the impact of Covid-19, volatile commodity prices, a lack of foreign direct investment and poor, ill-advised government actions, says African Mining Network chairperson Yolanda Torrisi. Various larger companies, including China... →

BEYOND COPPER Exploration must be encouraged throughout Zambia – and not just for copper – to ensure the survival of the country’s mining industry

World’s largest emerald mine not exempt from pandemic

15th May 2020 The turmoil stemming from the global Covid-19 outbreak represents one of the most serious challenges that many companies face globally, and the world’s largest emerald mine, Kagem, is no exception, says emerald and ruby mining and marketing company Gemfields CE Sean Gilbertson. Kagem, in... →

RESTRICTED REVENUE Auctions accounted for about 93% of Gemfields’ 2019 revenue, but dates for upcoming auctions are uncertain

Chamber paints bleak future

15th May 2020 There remains no incentive for further investment in copper-rich Zambia’s mining industry, says the association for mining and allied companies Zambia Chamber of Mines (ZCM). In January, Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Barnaby Mulenga said government was upbeat about the... →

TRYING TIMES The already challenging operating environment in Zambia has been compounded by Covid-19

South Africa has duty to address SADC energy efficiency

8th May 2020 South Africa has a duty to make the energy efficiency knowledge accrued through the Industrial Energy Efficiency Project (IEEP) more accessible to the rest of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to help drive its economic development through globally competitive... →

ENERGY HEAVY South Africa’s industry consumes more than half of the energy used by the industrial sectors in all the remaining SADC States

Local energy not managed efficiently

8th May 2020 South Africa is not using its world-class renewable energy resources to drive energy efficiency, says independent conservation organisation World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) urban futures project manager Louise Scholtz. “If we were, South Africa’s Integrated Resources Plan 2019... →

TRANSFORMATIVE DEVELOPMENTS The decreasing cost of renewable-energy technologies, such as rooftop solar photovoltaic, are one of the developments transforming South Africa’s energy market

New label can improve consumer education

8th May 2020 The next challenge for the South African domestic appliance industry is the migration to a new energy efficiency label under the Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling (S&L) programme to improve consumer education. The label will simplify energy classes and provide explanations of... →

ON PAR The energy efficiency of domestic appliances in South Africa is generally of a high standard

UJ creates open-source, low-cost ventilators

6th May 2020 The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) is coordinating efforts to further develop open-source ventilators in response to initial reports that between 40% and 70% of South Africans could become infected with Covid-19, depending on the national... →

UJ creates open-source, low-cost ventilators

30th April 2020 The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) is coordinating efforts to further develop open-source ventilators in response to initial reports that between 40% and 70% of South Africans could become infected with Covid-19, depending on the national... →

Time to consider TES?

29th April 2020 The temporary employment services (TES) model keeps the construction engineering industry alive, providing manpower when required and relocating staff to other projects when demand for their skills decline. There is a huge market for TES in South Africa’s construction engineering industry, owing... →

Consider compliance when buying second-hand TMMs

24th April 2020 Mining companies buying second-hand trackless mobile machines (TMMs) on auction need to ensure that only proximity detection systems (PDSes) from suppliers that have been approved by the original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) are fitted to such machines when complying with the Mine Health and... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
SECOND-HAND SUPPORT Mines that decide to buy machinery on auction are those that have strong maintenance teams that can undertake on-site rebuilds

Upswing in online mining auctions expected

24th April 2020 Mining companies, like most industries, will investigate all methods of generating capital following the loss of trade caused by South Africa’s three-week lockdown to limit the spread of Covid-19, says South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA) chairperson John Cowing. Speaking to Mining... →

ONLINE APPEAL Online auctions have been pushed into the forefront of the auctioneering industry because of the Covid-19 outbreak

South Africa-born XinaBox chips in sub-zero Antarctica, space

20th April 2020 From collecting data in sub-zero Antarctica to rapid circuit prototyping on the International Space Station (ISS), South African modular “xChip” manufacturer XinaBox, pronounced "X-in-a-box", claims to be reinventing the way in which the Internet of Things (IoT) is approached while inspiring... →

Decarbonising of local power generation sedate

17th April 2020 Decarbonising South Africa’s electricity generation is no longer a technical challenge, it is a political and economic issue, says University of Pretoria Graduate School of Technology Management professor David Walwyn. The Integrated Resource Plan 2019 (IRP 2019) forecasts that it will take... →

RENEWED PROJECTION The growing appeal of grid-tied and standalone rooftop solar systems may alter the Integrated Resource Plan’s 30-year projection for the decarbonising of South Africa’s electric power generation

Suppression system averts oil transformer fires

17th April 2020 Mitigating risks on oil-filled transformers is a primary concern for various firms that make use of this high-value equipment. Although safety in the engineering of transformers is increasingly being improved, efficient fire-suppression technology that will mitigate the risk posed on the business... →

LOCALISED SUPPRESSION I-CAT has several installations of its localised suppression system scheduled for transformers in Mozambique and Ghana

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