The Covid-19 pandemic has encouraged geological services provider Minrom to focus on streamlining its in-house systems and enhancing its remote management capabilities, says Minrom senior geologist Graham Duncan.

He emphasises that these enhancements will enable mining companies working with Minrom to use more streamlined, remote management systems for projects.

These services include a client feedback portal, prospecting and mining licence management system, and remote photographic core logging software. Duncan adds that the company focused its improvement drive on specific aspects, particularly streamlining remote drilling, logging, and project management capabilities.

Minrom provides mineral exploration, geological and groundwater-related services for the mining industry. Duncan says that typically much of this work requires personnel to be on site.

Its improved offerings, however, have enabled the company and its clients to continue to work on projects remotely. While the pandemic has made remote work necessary owing to physical distancing and travel restrictions, Duncan enthused about the benefits wrought by improved remote capabilities.

“Proposals between two parties are conducted quicker and more efficiently, processes are more automated, and it is easier for clients to get feedback on the mining projects in which they are involved.”

This is vital for exploration work including drilling, logging, and sampling, which will be easier to conduct remotely.

He explains that the improvements made to the clients feedback portal Minrom Live, released last year, have been vital.

Duncan says the portal will enable clients to instantly access project-related information, documentation and files, including weekly and monthly reports, as well as real-time updates on projects.

An important aspect that has been improved is the core-logging system, which now includes using photographs and quality-control checks of the samples collected from drilling on an exploration project or mine, which assists analysts working remotely. This saves in both logging time and potential costs of getting personnel to and from site.

Further, the company’s exploration and mining licence management system, released this year, helps mining companies to manage all aspects of mine licences and regulatory requirements. It also helps to ensure that mining, exploration and prospecting companies meet the requirements for their mining licences.

Additionally, Duncan emphasises that the system provides a full record of all licensing and permit documentation on one platform. This will enable companies to keep close track of multiple licences, and to keep licences up to date.

Minrom also conducts geology training courses, and Duncan notes that these have been updated and improved on to further assist remote work.

He also explains that systems with remote capabilities have become crucial for mining companies active in places such as Africa and the Middle East, as many mines are located in remote regions that are difficult to access on a regular basis.

Referencing an example of when Minrom’s remote capabilities have served the company and client well, Duncan discusses a Saudi Arabia-based mining project the company is involved in.

The silica project began initial exploration stages last year, and most of the mined material is destined for export.

Working through a selected local geological team in Saudi Arabia, Graham stresses that Minrom’s remote management systems and capabilities have allowed for interaction with the client, with minimum disruptions to operations, during lockdowns in both countries.

“While it takes a bit more time to discuss specifics, we are able to establish those connections, and help them to keep the project going. We can provide all the necessary supporting services and structures, communicate how processes on the mine need to be done, and monitor those processes.”

Minrom’s involvement began right from the inception stages of the project, which has since progressed to the resource estimation and beneficiation testwork stage, which is required before the mine planning is concluded.

Joburg Indaba

Duncan says Minrom will showcase its new and updated systems, structures and services to clients and other attendees through the Joburg Indaba, which will be held virtually on October 7 and 8.

The event will serve as an important opportunity for Minrom to network and interact with clients and partners.

While the event will be held as an online discussion, owing to restrictions on large gatherings, Duncan argues that this could set a precedent for the industry going forward.

“We can do business digitally, as video conferencing platforms have taken a significant leap forward. South Africa tended to lag behind the rest of the world in this regard, likely owing to the large systems already in place in the mining industry, which companies are reluctant to overhaul.

Necessity, however, has dictated that digital interaction is needed. It’s opened up opportunities for us to connect with, and catch up to, the rest of the world,” he concludes.