JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Australian mining-refuge chamber manufacturer MineArc Systems has opened its first Africa-based facility in North Riding, Johannesburg, in a move that High Commissioner for Australia Graeme Wilson believes demonstrates a show of confidence in the local mining industry by the Australian private sector.

“Australia is a good partner to South Africa, as it is a global mining superpower that has invested heavily in the continent.  The opening of this facility is a great example of an Australia-based mining equipment, technology and services (Mets) company expanding its footprint into Africa,” he said at the facility’s launch this week.

The official opening of the facility, which had become MineArc’s third-largest global operation, came shortly before the company was due to deliver the first of 17 MineArc CoalSafe refuge chambers to South Africa-based Anglo American Coal’s New Denmark colliery, in Mpumalanga.

The refuge chambers at New Denmark would serve as an advanced safety feature of the mine, with each capable of safely housing up to 16 miners for up to 48 hours in the event of an underground emergency, such as a fire or toxic smoke and gas release. 

Specifically designed for use in coal mines, each CoalSafe chamber operates a patented liquid carbon dioxide-powered technology that powers the refuge chamber’s life support systems – including air-conditioning and carbon dioxide scrubbing – thus regenerating the air inside the chamber.

MineArc GM Mike Lincoln said there was a “determination” in Africa to bring mine safety to the top of the agenda and in line with global best practice in terms of safety legislation and technology. 

“The New Denmark contract is justification of this. Work on the Anglo chambers is already well under way at the new facility and we’re already dealing with back-orders from other clients,” he commented, adding that the centre had the capacity to deliver up to ten complete refuge chambers a month. 

Expounding on the influence of Australian Mets companies in Africa, Wilson added that companies such as MineArc were active in over 27 countries on the continent, having spent more than A$1.6-billion in research and development in these markets in the last year.

He held that Africa remained “interesting” for Australian commercial interests.

“The continent offers unexploited resources, vast tracts of arable land, a young, consumer-driven population and ever-improving governments. To validate this, at last count, there were 250 Australian mining companies active in over 43 countries,” he said, confirming that the country’s interest in the continent was set to continue.