Company Announcement - Many existing mines are now faced with the dilemma of how to reduce their operating costs and improve productivity in ever more challenging geological and operating conditions. Capital investment in the procurement of new equipment, development operations and modern processing plants will not alone result in the desired effect if the mine itself is not geared to provide the required output. Optimisation of the mine design is an essential and additional element in achieving the desired goals.

Moreover the stability of mine structures, such as pit slopes, shafts or roadways underground play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of the operations. Insufficient analysis of the possible consequences caused by geological conditions or technical circumstances of the operations have tarnished the image of the mining industry at large in the last few years, be it the gas explosion at Pike River, 33 miners trapped for two months at Copiapo, Chile or the latest mine fires in South Africa.

Today’s modelling tools in combination with operational experience allows simulation of  most operating conditions and the risks foreseen in future operations. Dieter Wittenberg, Head of Mining Engineering at DMT says: “Nobody knows the mine better than the people working there for a number of years. Yet often the experience of the operator needs the support of dedicated specialists using modern tools in order to reduce the ‘trial-and-error’ approach and justify the improvement ideas they have when in front of the various stakeholders. By combining geotechnical numerical modelling with the complex gas, water and self-combustion risk management tools applied, DMT has improved the efficiency of mining coal at extreme depths of up to 1500 m for many years now. We have also used our knowledge and techniques in many challenging projects in iron ore, potash, chromite and other deposits, adding considerable value to these operations.”

David Smith, Mining Director of DMT Consulting in UK said that “applying advanced mining engineering techniques at the feasibility study stage has also become more and more essential for projects that are yet to be financed. The close scrutiny of financing opportunities and increased investor awareness of the risks of mining demands the development of technically and cost efficient solutions in order to satisfy the increased expectations of stakeholders for a return on their investment . A number of ‘brownfield projects’ in logistically attractive locations have faced mine design challenges that could only be resolved by applying detailed engineering analysis of past operations and the future plans.“  

Depth Counts in South Africa
The mining conditions of South Africa aresome of the most demanding in the world with operations at depths exceeding 3500 m. This has resulted in a host of innovative-suppliers having developed some of the most modern equipment available worldwide, specifically for South African underground mines . However, the introduction of innovative equipment technology cannot solve all of the productivity issues in South Africa, particularly as in some cases the conditions in the mines themselves may not be conducive to the application of state-of-the-art solutions. “This is why our focus is always to take the mining engineering experience of the DMT Group, gained in various parts of the world, and apply it to the specific local conditions. We are quite sure the excellence of the operations we service across the globe can be provided to the South African industry for the benefit of local mine ope