Chemical Technology November 2015

Drought-stricken mines can benefit from water-wise solutions According to the latest data released by the Department of Water Affairs’ (DWA) ‘Weekly State of the Reservoirs’ report, the reserves of water storage facilities nationwide have dropped from 76,8 % full in 2014, to just 65,3 % full as of 2 November 2015. More worryingly, the report revealed that the lev- els dropped from 66,2 % full to the current 65,3 %, within the space of just one week. The local mining industry consumes ap- proximately 306 000 000 m 3 of water per year, making up 3 % of the country’s entire consumption of 10 200 000 000 m 3 from all major dams. South Africa’s platinum belt in the North West province is experiencing water levels well below the national average, with water storage facilities only 53,2 % full, down from 64,5 % last year. Other mining regions, such as the Northern Cape, Mpum- alanga and Gauteng, are not yet as hard-hit, but are still experiencing significant drops in water storage compared to last year. control and full environmental compliance, with innovative and cost-effective products that assist with surface stabilisation, while en- suring a significant reduction in water usage. “Our flagship dust suppressant is RDC  20– a water soluble anionic polyelectrolyte polymer exclusively developed in-house.”

FOCUS ON MINERALS

PROCESSING AND METALLURGY

received overwhelmingly positive feedback from mines where the product is applied, and especially where I-CAT is contracted to manage the dust control on mine roads. “The overall ambient dust at our largest op- eration in the Northern Cape has improved by more than 40 %, when compared the readings prior to I-CATmanaging the second- ary roads at the mine. “ Although solutions such as these are now more important than ever in times of severe drought, van der Merwe stresses that I-CAT solutions ensure long-term sustainability long after droughts have passed. For more information contact Anton van der Merwe on tel 086 112 4228, email info@i-cat.co.za or go to www.i-cat.co.za. site was followed by a review of Rand-Air’s SHE files and appointments. “At Rand-Air we are extremely conscious about health, safety and the environment. We have adopted an ongoing policy of compli- ance with the highest local and international SHE rules and regulations. It is our aim to constantly strive towards a 100 % audit,” Thobelo concluded.

RDC20 is an innovative formulation of blended emulsified co-polymers and ionic modifiers. When sprayed onto the road sur- face, RDC 20 forms a durable cross linked matrix that binds fine soil particles into larger heavier particles, which are less prone to become airborne. RDC 20 is used on temporary roads, as it is a cost-efficient means to improve road and dust conditions exponentially. Van der Merwe reveals that I-CAT has

The lower rainfall increases the pres- ence of dust – a pervasive problem that undermines the health of workers, impacts negatively on the surrounding environment and substantially reduces the lifespan of ma- chinery. Environmentally-conscious mining operations are tackling this issue with dust suppression solutions, however increasingly- scarce water is often the main source. I-CAT director Anton van der Merwe notes that the company can ensure efficient dust

Rand-Air exceeds health and safety requirements at Kumba Iron Ore Rand-Air, a leader in the rental of oil-free compressors and generators recently ob- tained 98 % in the annual safety, health and environmental (SHE) audit at Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen mine in Kathu, Northern Cape. The nature of large-scale industrial and mining operations positions the people and environment in close proximity of these operations at risk. It is for this reason that stringent health, safety and environmental standards need to be implemented and maintained. pliance and achieving an impeccable health and safety record. “Kumba enforces that all suppliers and contractors fulfill strict health and safety criteria,” explained Rand-Air’s SHEQ Manager, Bongani Thobelo. Rand-Air has been on-site at Kumba’s Sishenmine since 2010 with its current con- tract extending well into 2016. The QAX20 lighting towers that Rand-Air supplies to the Sishenmine are utilised throughout themine in their mining and dumping operations. The audit, which is governed by the Kumba Iron Ore SHEQ policy, was conducted by their team of safety officers and was a twofold process. The inspection of the machines on Kumba is a leading supplier of high- quality iron ore to the global steel industry and committed to exceeding regulatory com-

For more information contact charmaine@livewired.co.za or tel +27 79 492 5550.

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Chemical Technology • November 2015