Nadine Ramdass

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Nadine Ramdass

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

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... →

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

SIDS sparks private sector interest

16th July 2021 The launch of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development System (SIDS) programme, as well as the roll-out of the projects already approved within the system, has sparked renewed, albeit cautious, optimism from private-sector investors who are keen to participate in infrastructure development,... →

MATHIEU DU PLOOY Approved projects encourage private sector optimism

Draft mandate clarifies TWG’s directive

16th July 2021 The mandate document submitted by the agricultural and agroprocessing sector’s Technical Working Group (TWG), clarifies the core mandates of the sector’s group. This is in line with the Sustainable Infrastructure Development System (SIDS) objectives of facilitating sustainable development. The... →

LAUNCH OF GRAIN EXPORT Long-term sector growth can increase exports

Infrastructure development requires funding and skills

2nd July 2021 The state of South Africa’s water infrastructure varies across the country, with a range of institutions responsible for its management, says South African Institution of Civil Engineering (Saice) Water Engineering Division chairperson Abri Vermeulen. Most is still in a fair condition but it is... →

ABRI VERMEULEN All institutions and individuals have a role in proper water management

PPPs can resuscitate infrastructure

2nd July 2021 Private-public partnerships (PPPs) can help improve South Africa’s water infrastructure and create opportunities for the introduction of technological advancements in the sector, says water solutions company Veolia South Africa GM Chris Braybrooke. The South African water infrastructure is in a... →

DURBAN WATER RECYCLING PROJECT DWR is a success model for PPPs

Climate uncertainty threatens water security

2nd July 2021 Apart from water infrastructure related challenges, the reliability of South African water supplies is threatened by increasing climate uncertainty. “For a country such as ours, water supply infrastructure developed organically over time, in step with population growth, reliable (if variable)... →

GISELA KAISER Root problems need to be fixed

Technology can improve infrastructure

2nd July 2021 Embracing and implementing technological solutions can improve South Africa’s water infrastructure and systems, which are currently in a “state of disarray”, says water treatment solutions company Watericon process engineer Pako Khutsoane. The infrastructure is in “complete disorder”, owing to... →

TREATMENT IN THABAZIMBI Smaller plants can help improve water infrastructure

Strong policy needed to grow a green biofuels industry

18th June 2021 To ensure that the South African biofuels industry grows sustainably, World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) Bioenergy programme manager Tjaša Bole-Rentel says there needs to be a differentiation at policy level based on each biofuel’s environmental impact. Biofuels have the potential... →

BIOFUEL POWERED DELIVERY VAN Biofuels can burn cleaner but are not climate neutral

Biofuels framework is inadequate

18th June 2021 Although the biofuels regulatory framework aims to provide guidance and regulation for the industry and its processes, its falling short in several areas could inhibit its growth in an already challenging environment, says Wits Business School African Energy Leadership Centre director Professor... →

LWAZI NGUBEVANA South Africa’s biofuels growth needs a clear, supportive framework

Association offers value to stakeholders

18th June 2021 Stakeholders in the biofuels and biogas industry can advocate for better legislation and connect with other stakeholders by being active members of associations such as the Southern African Biogas Industry Association (SABIA). The association also makes it possible for stakeholders and interested... →

BIOGAS FACILITY ON FARM Anaerobic digestion converts hazardous organic waste

Localisation of equipment promotes price stability

18th June 2021 Rand volatility has a big impact on projects that require imported biogas equipment ,however the localisation of some equipment can help the biogas industry gain some stability, says organic waste solutions company Logical Waste director Jason Gifford. It was a good time to import equipment over... →

BIO-PELLETS FUEL IN A BOILER The right equipment is a key aspect for successful projects

Socioeconomic challenges threaten progressive laws

4th June 2021 Mozambique’s Mining Law and Petroleum Law are progressive and designed to attract investment to the country, but the impact of the declining economy since 2016, the Covid-19 pandemic and an insurgency in northern province, Cabo Delgado, have made it difficult for the country to reap the benefits... →

WARREN BEECH Government will need to take decisive steps to stimulate further investment.

Ruby mine recovery on horizon

4th June 2021 Insurgent attacks and Covid-19 have had a significant impact on the Mozambican mining industry, says Gemfields CEO Sean Gilbertson. The investment climate in Mozambique, particularly Cabo Delgado – which holds a lot of promise from an investment perspective, in terms of growth opportunities, and... →

ADRIAN BANKS Healthy ruby supply and demand are expected this year

Aid critical amid unstable climate

4th June 2021 Dual-listed Gemfields Mining subsidiary Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) – a joint venture (JV) with Mozambique-registered company Mwiriti – has prioritised humanitarian services amid insurgent attacks and illegal mining in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, in Mozambique. “Since the incidents of... →

MRM made 500 bulk kits with basic food products available for distribution

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