Utility on track for 2050 target

State-owned power utility Eskom is on track to ensure that the country’s electricity sector achieves net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with an increase in sustainable jobs, should its Strategy... 

S Africa needs electricity intervention now

South Africa needs to promptly implement small interventions to ease the pressure on the national electricity grid, requiring an investment of between R50-billion and R100-billion, while... 

Multifunctional security tech can boost productivity

While response to the new technologies needed for South Africa’s mines of the future are mixed, decision-makers are gaining a better understanding of how one device can serve several functions to... 

EVDS supports productivity

Mining houses are increasingly realising the value of using emulsions in underground and surface blasting applications, and the addition of an emulsion vertical delivery system (EVDS) further... 

Demonstrations of new versatile dozer a hit

The K-Series 1050K crawler dozer from heavy equipment manufacturer John Deere has received positive reviews following demonstrations at various mining sites across South Africa. Focused on... 

Geophysical sensor remains unmatched

Mining and infrastructure solutions company Orica has yet to see anything similar to its RHINO autonomous drillstring-mounted geophysical sensor on the market since introducing the first version in... 

Manufacturers feeling pressure as payment delays continue

Local valve manufacturers continue to struggle with delayed payments from the mining industry, which comprises 55% to 60% of the South African valve manufacturing market, says South African Valve... 

Local demand lower than rest of Africa

The demand for valves specified for mining applications in the rest of Africa is much higher than demand in South Africa, says valve manufacturer RGR Technologies MD Marinus Ras. “New underground... 

Replacement valves supplied to gold and coal mines

South Africa-based valve manufacturer LVSA Group completed the manufacturing of valves for a Ghanaian gold mine and a South African coal mine last month. The orders, comprising of knife gate,... 

Commodities surge boosts demand

The global increase in commodity prices is motivating local mines to spend capital on new and existing projects, while the long delivery times of imported products have shifted their focus to South... 

Orders for cost-effective Dezzi MG80T continue to roll in

Demand for the Dezzi MG80T motor grader from KwaZulu-Natal specialised heavy earthmoving machinery manufacturer Dezzi Equipment has steadily increased since its launch in 2001, with minimal... 

Bioeconomy could support S Africa’s energy needs

Amid unstable power supply, the development of a wood bioeconomy could help support South Africa's energy needs while ensuring that the country meets its carbon emission reduction targets, says... 

Telemetry critical for sustainable water infrastructure development

Digitally transforming water supply and treatment plants can elevate the water and wastewater sector’s operational effectiveness for increased sustainability, says energy management and automation... 

S Africa offers pragmatic solution but still far from sustainability

While South Africa offers the rest of Africa practical examples of sustainable infrastructure development, there is still much that needs to be done before the country achieves a sustainable... 

Falcon rotary cutters’ local content still significant after almost 40 years

Since being introduced in 1985, the traditional rotary cutters in the Falcon range – consisting predominantly of the Slasher and trademark-protected Haymaker – still maintain local content upward... 

Mines opting for solar security lighting

Many African mines are opting for solar-powered perimeter lighting so that their security is not compromised during power failures, says luminaires manufacturer BEKA Schréder export manager Paulo... 

Artisanal, small-scale miners still underserved

Artisanal mining has grown substantially in sub-Saharan Africa over the past 20 years despite being an underserved market where accessing capital, markets and expertise is challenging, says... 

Mine water, waste skills deficit amid green mining transition

The global green mining transition, which is driving a significant increase in demand for effective water and waste management in the African mining market, has highlighted a skills shortage, says... 

SA’s mining future rests on exploration turnaround

The popular Junior Indaba, held in Johannesburg last month, highlighted once again that South Africa is losing ground on the exploration and junior mining front – with exploration being discouraged... 

Demand outstrips tyre supply

The African mining market’s demand for tyre solutions provider Bridgestone Southern Africa’s product has increased substantially and is exceeding supply, owing to global tyre supply constraints,... 

Lining installation under way

Civil engineering construction services provider ICON Group is currently progressing with work at a gold mine in Burkino Faso, where it is installing 200 000 m2, 1.5 mm high-density polyethylene... 

Company automating Gabon manganese mine

Pretoria-based automation company Iritron is involved in an expansion project at a manganese mine in Gabon. Owner Comilog is the world’s second largest high-grade manganese producer, says Iritron... 

HPS HV212 EOD drilling system making mines more profitable

Orders for Potchefstroom drilling equipment supplier HydroPower Systems’ (HPS’) HV212 EOD hydrovessel drilling system are increasing as acceptance of the technology grows on the back of proven... 

Gold miner’s journey producing results

After 14 months, South Africa’s largest gold producer by volume, Harmony, is just under halfway through its humanistic transformation journey called ‘Thibakotsi’, which aims to embed a culture of... 

Alignment breeds success

There seems to be a misperception that if South Africa mechanises and/or digitises its mines, all the country’s problems will disappear, according to business management consultant company OIM... 

Rest of 2022 holds many potential demand outcomes

Amid heightened economic and geopolitical uncertainties, the remainder of the year holds a range of potential outcomes for gold demand, says World Gold Council (WGC) Europe, the Middle East and... 

Maintenance of ageing road network a top priority – JRA

The deterioration of Johannesburg’s roads is a key concern in terms of the general maintenance of the city, with inclement weather, vandalism and theft, as well as ageing infrastructure, the key... 

Sanral success stories

Despite the negative impact of its recent tender cancellations, South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says it continues to improve, manage and maintain the national road network. In... 

Majority of Sanral road network exceeds design life

With 83.6% of the national road network under South African National Roads Agency Limited’s (Sanral’s) jurisdiction exceeding its 20-year design life, there is increased risk of rapid deterioration... 

Local bridge construction of concern

The quality of new bridges being built generally complies with South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) standards, which are aligned with international best practice, but the quality of... 

Improved commodity prices spur AFS knife gate valve demand

Improved commodity prices have resulted in increased demand for knife gate valves from slurry-related valves manufacturer Abrasive Flow Solutions (AFS), in Gauteng, as mining houses upgrade... 

Aggregate prices to rise with fuel price

The rising cost of fuel in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict is placing increased pressure on South Africa’s quarries, which are at pains to limit the impact on the price of their aggregates.... 

Association tackling quarry safety with handbook

Trackless mobile machines and vehicles, unfortunately, remain a major cause of accidents on mines, says surface mining association Aspasa director Nico Pienaar. Earlier this year, Aspasa published... 

Quarrying under pressure, owing to lack of road builds

A lack of genuine infrastructure development over the past ten years has reduced demand for aggregates, placing significant pressure on local quarries, says construction materials supplier AfriSam.... 

Quarries upgrading to next-gen detonation tech

Mining explosives and blasting technology supplier BME is steadily upgrading local quarries that have been using its AXXIS GII electronic detonation system for years to its latest-generation... 

Award-winning Optima Classifier supplied for fine coal beneficiation

Minerals and fines processing specialist Gravitas is nearing completion of a fine coal beneficiation project for which it has supplied two Optima Classifier water-only density separator units to... 

Truck tyre insurance a local first

Dunlop Tyres manufacturer and distributor Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA) says it is the first tyre manufacturer in South Africa to launch truck tyre insurance. As of April, the company... 

Gearing up for Ranger, Grenadier production

Towbar expert Brink Towing Systems, in Pietermartizburg, KwaZulu-Natal, is expanding its manufacturing capacity in preparation for the production of automotive manufacturer Ford’s new-generation... 

Local bus sector under the pump

The South African bus sector has faced challenges over the past two years, with commercial-vehicle sliding-window designer and manufacturer Widney Transport Components noting a drop in volumes,... 

Local truck, bakkie markets highly competitive

The local truck and bakkie accessory markets are highly competitive, with consumers “not spoiled for choice of brands”, says KwaZulu-Natal-based stainless steel and mild steel vehicle accessories...