Capital Equipment News August 2024

ally, Ukwazi’s technical expertise and deep understanding of the local market will ensure effective implementation and ongoing support for these innovative earthmoving methods. “Our goal is to familiarise the local mar ket with K-Tec’s scrapers as a cost-com petitive and sustainable mining approach to moving material,”, said Lotheringen. ‘We aim to provide solutions that reduce diesel consumption by 30 to 40% com pared to conventional methods, signifi cantly lowering the carbon footprint.’ In addition, Lotheringen points out that, ‘if there is an opportunity for the scraper mining to replace wet mining, there can be a significant saving on water.’ One of the major advantages of K-Tec’s scrapers is their potential to replace tradi tional mining methods that consume high amounts of water. By opting for scraper mining where feasible, significant savings on water or diesel consumption can be achieved. This is particularly important in the context of dry mining for tailings stor age facilities, where the new method can remain competitive relative to the all-in cost basis of wet mining while drastically reducing water usage. Furthermore, the partnership aims to support the ongoing maintenance and operation of the equipment. “We have the logistics set up to service those mines in terms of maintenance and spare parts.”, says Lotheringen. The collaboration will also involve training for maintenance teams and operators, ensuring that the new technology is effectively integrated into existing mining operations. The footprint of K-Tec and Ukwazi spans several continents, but their collaborative efforts are now focused on sub-Saharan Africa. With a shared com mitment to enhancing mining practices through innovation and sustainability, the partnership is set to make a substantial impact. As Lotheringen emphasises, “We understand where the solution would add significant value to our clients and where other conventional methods might be more appropriate.” This deep-rooted knowledge of the market, combined with technical expertise, positions the K-Tec and Ukwazi partnership to drive signifi cant advancements in the region’s mining industry. By introducing K-Tec’s cutting-edge scrapers and leveraging Ukwazi’s com prehensive mining advisory services, this partnership is poised to set new standards for efficiency, productivity, and sustainability for suitable projects and operations in sub-Saharan Africa’s mining and construction sectors. b

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