From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. The growth in the use of virtual reality technologies in the South African mining industry has been considerable over the past year. Ilan Solomons met with a local virtual reality technology company to find out more about the increased emphasis on the use of virtual reality technologies in mine development and training.
Ilan Solomons:
Virtual reality and augmented reality has in the past been associated mainly with video gaming and other leisure activities. However, in the past twenty years the technology has been developed significantly and is now widely used in many sectors including the aviation, military and the construction industries for planning and training purposes.
Simulated Training Solutions MD Wilhelm Prinsloo believes that the mining industry can also benefit greatly through the use virtual reality technologies.
Simulated Training Solutions MD Wilhelm Prinsloo
Ilan Solomons:
Simulated Training Solutions product development manager Johan Bouwer discusses how virtual reality can improve mining operations safety and output levels.
Simulated Training Solutions product development manager Johan Bouwer
Shannon de Ryhove:
A new public-private business plan for South Africa’s iconic Blue Train is under development following the recent tie-up between State-owned Transnet and Sun International.
Transnet acting CEO Siyabonga Gama and Sun International’s Graeme Stephens offer a foretaste of what is likely.
Transnet acting CEO Siyabonga Gama
Graeme Stephens
Siyabonga Gama:
We believe we should extend the reach of the Blue Train and that a partnership such as this one with Sun International can assist us package the value proposition of the Blue Train . . .
We envisage that there will be more trains that are built, that there would be new route that are explored
Graeme Stephens:
In this preliminary phase, it is about tapping into the understanding we have of various source markets and working together with the Transnet team and their understanding rail to evolve a business plan at the end of which it will be a plan we can make informed decisions on: how much to spend; what routes to undertake the mix of domestic versus international tourism.
Shannon de Ryhove:
Other news making headlines this week: Schneider Electric signs a switchgear production agreement with a local manufacturer.
Global energy management specialist Schneider Electric has entered into a manufacturing partnership agreement with local electrical products manufacturer Steelcor Power to produce Schneider’s new Premset smart-grid-ready, medium-voltage (MV) switchgear.
Schneider Electric Southern Africa country president Eric Léger
That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.