Nadine Ramdass

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Nadine Ramdass

Nadine Ramdass is a Creamer Media Senior Writer for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

National Infrastructure Plan offers blueprint, but capacity concerns weigh

12th November 2021 A common thread throughout the second Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA), held on October 6 and 7, is that the fiscus, as well as the State’s professional capacity, is constrained. While the SIDSSA updated the public on the progress of projects under the... →

Company celebrates one year

5th November 2021 Specialists in the design and slurry related valves manufacturer Abrasive Flow Solutions (AFS) is celebrating its first year of business. “AFS was established by the Engineering Solutions Group (ESG) of investment holding and management company Invicta Holdings Limited, as part of the group’s... →

RUBBER LINING FACILITY With up to 10m in length capacity autoclave

Valves manufacturer aims for Africa expansion

5th November 2021 Valve manufacturer Dynamic Fluid Control (DFC) aims to extend its global footprint to include a stronger presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through partnerships with local DRC suppliers. The South Africa-based company will primarily focus on supplying valves in the thriving DRC... →

TUMI TSEHLO Steel industry strike has tremendous impact on industry

New opportunities in strained industry

5th November 2021 The partnership between industrial valves supplier Process and Allied Contracting Equipment (PACE Valves) and Australia-based specialist flow control solutions company Proeger, is helping to meet the African market’s growing need for high-pressure backfill valves amid a challenging local valve... →

DUMP VALVES PACE Valves also provides on-site support services for clients apart from manufacturing and supplying valves

Coating solutions extend valves life span

5th November 2021 High technology spray coating specialist Thermaspray offers the distinct technologies of thermal spray, laser cladding and Teflon for application of coatings on new or refurbished valves. These technologies provide a suite of benefits, tailored to every application for every customer, says... →

LASER CLADDING Laser cladding is a unique process ensuring that valve components do not become distorted

Local-content policies need fine-tuning

5th November 2021 While the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has worked closely with the valve manufacturing industry and industry bodies to boost the industry and local content, policies addressing local-content requirements do not adequately address the requirements of various manufacturing... →

LOCAL IS LEKKER Local content calculations need to be simplified

Covid accelerates 4IR, women in mining progress

22nd October 2021 Women have gradually become formal participants in the mining industry, which has resulted in their having to deal with various challenges, and although the industry has improved in its identifying and dealing with these issues, the biggest game changer is the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).... →

4IR UNLOCKS OPPORTUNITIES Rapid adoption of 4IR is increasingly creating opportunities for women in mining

Studies show women benefit from modernisation

22nd October 2021 As more women join the mining industry in a professional capacity, more research and studies are analysing the various obstacles they have to contend with, as well as how employers can address these. Such research is instrumental in helping the historically male-dominated industry adapt so that... →

WOMEN IN MINING Companies need to identify how high-risk occupations can be re-engineered to accommodate women

Targeted assistance improves workplace vaccination success

22nd October 2021 Mining industry employers’ organisation Minerals Council South Africa champions vaccines as being integral to curbing the transmission of Covid-19 and protecting people. The Minerals Council is following the approach of saving lives and livelihoods, which is linked to assisting with vaccine access. →

DR THUTHULA BALFOUR Minerals Council provided resources to help vaccine efforts

Commitment to Zero Harm unwavering

22nd October 2021 The Minerals Council South Africa, and its member companies, remain unwaveringly committed to ensuring every mineworker returns from work unharmed every day through the goal of zero harm, says Minerals Council safety and sustainable development head Dr Sizwe Phakathi. In terms of safety... →

DR SIZWE PHAKATHI Minerals Council believes it is possible to achieve Zero Harm

Vaccine campaigns tackle hesitancy

22nd October 2021 Having administered the vaccine to over 200 000 people to date in the mining industry, mining industry employers’ organisation Minerals Council South Africa is confident that the industry will meet its vaccination targets. The achievement is encouraging for the sector having encouraged mass... →

NIKS LESUFI Unions are critical in getting employees to accept vaccinations

Plans to tackle transport risks

22nd October 2021 Mining industry employers’ organisation Minerals Council South Africa has remained steadfast in its goal of Zero Harm. However, as of September 23, 2021, 40 fatalities were reported compared with 32 during the same period last year. Along with fall-of-ground (FoG) incidents, transport and... →

ACHIEVING ZERO HARM Along with FoG incidents, transport and machinery related challenges have contributed to fatalities

Explosives tech aims to humanise mining

15th October 2021 The lack of new investment in the form of new mining projects has resulted in little growth for the explosives industry, and while the expansion projects of existing operations have helped the industry somewhat, greenfield projects can facilitate more significant growth. The mining explosives... →

MINE I-TRUCK Tele-operated mobile mixing unit mixes and delivers down-the-hole explosives

Explosives growth follows industry growth

15th October 2021 The African explosives sector remains steady, owing to an increase in African mining opportunities and positive market conditions, says BME Southern African Development Community (SADC) MD Ralf Hennecke. With the growing interest in battery minerals such as lithium and cobalt, there is a further... →

DOUBLE SALT EMULSIONS Highly stable formulations are robust and provide optimal blasting outcomes

Machine learning can enhance manufacturing productivity

8th October 2021 The South African manufacturing sector is diverse and contributes 11.8% to gross domestic product and 10.3% to employment. Although these figures are small, compared with the figures of other countries, embracing machine learning could enhance the sector and assist in its growth, says University... →

Load-shedding hinders holistic growth

8th October 2021 For custom plastic injection moulding company Bambisana Plastics, a subsidiary of Bambisana Holdings, the biggest challenges it has to contend with are labour and electricity. However, despite these challenges, along with the effects of the pandemic, the company has managed to not only avoid... →

BAMBISANA PLASTICS FACTORY Load-shedding is the biggest challenge the company faces

Quality expertise extends component longevity

1st October 2021 Conveyors are the veins of many operations, as they are used to transport materials efficiently and effectively, which makes proper expertise when sourcing conveyors and its components, as well as quality maintenance, key to ensuring reduced cost and extended equipment longevity, says industrial... →

CONVEYOR BELTING Mining operations are moving towards working closely with suppliers

Quality components reduce downtime

1st October 2021 For any operation, including the mining sector, unscheduled breakdowns are one of the main challenges that affect production. To reduce the odds of breakdowns, mines need to ensure their equipment and components are geared towards their operations’ requirements. Application-specific fluid power... →

Trend towards decarbonisation discouraging coal investment

17th September 2021 South Africa’s coal production, sales and exports reached a plateau some years ago; however, the lockdown last year caused a noticeable decline. The main reason for this local decline is that the industry had reached the ‘coal cliff’ years ago, says advisory firm XMP Consulting senior coal... →

ROSEMARY FALCON South Africa has to catch up in Clean Coal Technologies

SOE challenges hamper growth

17th September 2021 The South African coal industry is broadly divided into domestic and export consumption. Export coal is sold primarily to India and China markets while coal for domestic consumption is mainly sold to State-owned electricity utility Eskom. The export market currently generates better prices when... →

ANDREW LANE There is a big opportunity for public and private sector cooperation on the delivery of infrastructure

Infrastructural challenges impede coal industry

17th September 2021 South Africa is a major coal-exporting country, with its coal sector also providing baseload capacity for the country. However, infrastructure challenges negatively impact on the local industry, says coal exploration and mining company Canyon Coal COO Clifford Hallatt. Locally mined coal is... →

DE WITTEKRANS COAL De Wittekrans project will create 430 jobs

Novel solutions improve costs

10th September 2021 The South African mining industry “insists on value for money”, which has led to companies’ analysing entire life-cycle costs when making buying decisions, says pumps manufacturer, supplier and solutions company Centex Africa MD Theo Philippou. The increased attention to detail has resulted in... →

LILY PAD The Lily Pad pumps water without creating vortices in water

Mines’ transition pushes industry to adapt

10th September 2021 The South African mining industry’s expansion and adapting in line with global demands requires the pumps industry to expand accordingly by offering various and robust pumping solutions for versatile applications, says pumps distributor Vansan SA’s marketing coordinator Riëtte Kotzé. Pumps are... →

SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS Various factors need to be considered when choosing a pump

Local manufacturers struggle to secure business from miners

10th September 2021 The local mining industry fails to consider smaller, local manufacturers’ products, which have the potential to extend the life of equipment, reduce wear and tear and, consequently, decrease downtime, says pumps supplier Pumps for Africa co-owner Dennis Winslow. Companies are not prepared to give... →

TUFFEE IMPELLER The impeller increases cost savings while also reducing electricity costs

Local supplier mitigates mines’ supply chain challenges

10th September 2021 The global disruption of supply chains has resulted in the local pumps industry having to increase stockholding to assist in mitigating production losses and increasing operational efficiency at mines. The lead times of imported spare parts and finished products, as well as other aspects of the... →

PONTOON The potoons are designed to float submersible pumps with a total mass of up t0 800kgs

Rare helium supply opportunity unlocked

27th August 2021 While the South African helium market is small, helium is sought after in the international market, which has created a good opportunity for dual-listed helium, liquid natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas producer Renergen’s Virginia gas project, in the Free State. Helium is found at a... →

VIRGINIA GAS PROJECT Average helium found in the Free State is 3.4%

Fully developed legislation needed

27th August 2021 The legislation has not caught up with where the gas industry needs it to be, says gas producer Renergen CEO and MD Stefano Marani. Technical aspects that are critical to companies’ decision-making have not yet been addressed, with industries in the gas sector consequently unable to develop to... →

GAS EXTRACTION Renergen is the only onshore petroleum rights holder in South Africa

LNG opportunities abound

27th August 2021 The anticipated decline of Mozambique’s Pande & Temane gasfields creates a need for new sources of natural gas for the local industry, says engineering services consulting firm WSP regional director Martin Mkhabela. “The quickest and most cost-effective option to fill the gap is through the... →

MARTIN MKHABELA Gas-fired power plants are cost-effective and dispatchable alternatives

Hydrogen a suitable greener alternative

27th August 2021 South Africa’s Gas Act defines “gas” as natural gas (CH4) and hydrogen (H2). Hydrogen will, in the future, be a suitable substitute for natural gas to support decarbonisation, says South African Oil and Gas Alliance (SAOGA) Gas Economy Leadership Group chairperson Craig Morkel. However, the... →

CRAIG MORKEL Imported LNG can start developing gas market

Battery minerals demand unlocks exploration

13th August 2021 Increased interest in the development of electric vehicles (EVs) and battery storage has created demand for the minerals required for their development. This, in turn, provides opportunities to explore such minerals, which ASX-listed exploration and development company Celsius Resources is... →

DRILLING AT OPUWO Opuwo project is in a politically stable region

Telecoms solutions solve connectivity challenges

13th August 2021 Mobile satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat aims to solve some of the Australian mining industry’s biggest connectivity challenges. Inmarsat products and services have been used across Australian mines for a long time, at every stage of the mining lifecycle, explains Inmarsat global... →

CONNECTED VEHICLES Connected vehicles many advantages to mining operations

Integrated mining, beneficiation approach to optimise production

13th August 2021 The parallel development of the Ngualla rare earth project and the Teesside Refinery project positions ASX-listed, Australia-headquartered Peak Resources to become one of the world’s lowest cost integrated rare earth producers, says Peak Resources MD Bardin Davis. Global decarbonisation... →

NGUALLA HILL The Ngualla project is one of the world’s largest and highest-grade rare earth deposits

Increased demand strains resources supply

13th August 2021 While the Australian mining industry is doing very well on a macroeconomic scale, increased demand and Covid-19-related restrictions have made it challenging to acquire the resources needed to explore and develop mining projects. The mining industry has had difficulty in the supply and acquiring... →

NICOLE GALLOWAY WARLAND Increased demand make it challenging for acquiring needed resources

Booming industry results in project delays

13th August 2021 The Australian mining industry is flourishing and is the core of the Australian economy, despite the ongoing pandemic. However, the sheer amount of work being done in Australia’s exploration and mining industries has impacted on laboratory processing times, resulting in long turnarounds.... →

DRILLERS REDUCED Current productivity has halved in some cases owing to Covid restrictions

Partner deemed fundamental for operator training

13th August 2021 Australia-headquartered global mining simulation technology solutions provider Immersive Technologies has been deemed fundamental in assisting Portuguese mining and construction firm Mota-Engil to fulfil its commitment to implement development programmes to upskill Gamsberg Black Mountain... →

Covid exacerbates retail sector challenges

30th July 2021 Amid the negative impact of Covid-19 on the retail property sector, real estate investment trust company Liberty Two Degrees (L2D) FD José Snyders says rental relief enables retail businesses to navigate the effects of the pandemic while ensuring that retail spaces remain appealing to the public.... →

JOSÉ SNYDERS Covid-19 has accelerated changes in the retail sector

Pandemic can spur innovation in property sector

30th July 2021 Although the pandemic has made it difficult for commercial and industrial property stakeholders to plan effectively for the future, this has led to great innovations, new approaches and renewed opportunities, says engineering services consulting firm WSP Africa regional director Johan Piekaar.... →

COCA COLA BREWERIES Retailers have to rethink supply chain

Industrial properties remain resilient

30th July 2021 The industrial real estate sector has shown resilience during a period that has proven to be most volatile for the office property and retail sectors, says JSE-listed real estate investment trust Redefine Properties national asset manager for industrial Johann Nell. The resilience is a result of... →

MASSMART Redefine’s new development houses Massmart

Commercial property industry set to improve

30th July 2021 The commercial property sector is set to improve once Covid-19 restrictions are eased and the South African economy has navigated its way through the harshest of the pandemic’s impact, says commercial real estate agency Black Pepper Properties director Simon Black. The office market has been... →

MASSMART PROGRESS Covid-19 has enhanced is the use of space

Retail opportunities abound in peri-urban areas

30th July 2021 Peri-urban areas have immense opportunities for investment in commercial properties, such as shopping complexes and warehouses for retailers, says 100% black-owned property development, management and investments company Akani Properties MD Zamani Letjane. “We saw opportunities in the property... →

AERIAL VIEW OF AUTUMN LEAF MALL Akani Properties complements peri-urban areas’ retail property sector

Methodology pertinent to economic growth

16th July 2021 The Sustainable Infrastructure Development System (SIDS) project methodology is important for development in South Africa because the country cannot afford to fund projects that do not have a good return, particularly from an economic and/or a social perspective, says Consulting Engineers South... →

CHRIS CAMPBELL SIDS can have great impact if used correctly and efficiently

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