MechChem Africa July 2019

⎪ Minerals processing and materials ⎪

Formally known as Worley Parsons, global professional services provider, Worley is leading the way in mining technology in southern Africa with swift, cost-effective, fit-for-purpose technological advancements that match the requirements of a new digital age. Solid support for mining entrepreneurs improve productivity on a project.

T his year’s Junior Indaba, which took place on the 4 th and 5 th of June at the Johannesburg Country Club, focused on the forward momentum of emerging miners and exploration in South Africa. Worley showcased its leading-edge datamanagement anddigital solutions, which can create a more enabling environment for mining entrepreneurs. The advent of digitalisationand theFourth Industrial Revolution have coincided with a growing interest in global resources that will be required during the transition to a low- carbon economy, as well as a lean towards smaller mining projects to secure a sustain- able future. While this bodes well for junior miners, developing fundable business cases remains a hurdle to many. Mervyn Stevens, managing consultant: mining, minerals and metals processing EMEA atWorley, says that one of the biggest challenges junior miners face is the time and knowledge it takes todevelop a solidbusiness case for investment. “Early decision-making is crucial to junior miners as they lack the finances to sustain long timelines. Worley can offer cost-effective solutions as well as swiftly help build a strong business case to obtain investor funding,” he explains. As the front-end solutions arm of Worley MM&M, the front-end team integrates strat- egy,management and technical consultingex- pertisewith deep domain knowledge, backed byreal-worldexperience.Consequently,ithas the capacity toprovide juniorminerswithon- hand technical knowledge aswell as in-depth techno-financial analysis. Other proprietarydatamanagement tools such as the Stepwise process make it pos- sible forWorley to expediently create option analyses to assist junior miners and prospec- tive funders in making strategic investment decisions. This, while Worley’s integrated design project tools can create a living digital twin of a facility that can reduce risk and

DenverDreyer, senior vicepresident:min- ing,minerals&metals atWorley for theEMEA region, comments that organisations across the globe stand the risk of becoming obsolete if they don’t keep up with the demands of a new digital age. He says, the challenge lies not in obtaining the data but in how to use it toadd real value tooperations. “Digitalisation is inevitable and Worley has the knowledge and expertise to help customers map these unchartered waters,” says Dreyer. Stevens adds thatWorley’s long history of innovation and its strong digital reputation have an advantageous impact on investor confidence. “Rapidprototyping is particularly suited tomining entrepreneurs aswe are able to present potential financial backers with a visually smart model very early in the project development process,” he comments. “Worley then facilitates the process further by positioning junior miners with prospectivefunders,sojuniorminerscanhave confidence in the backing of a reputable and experienced organisation. This allows solid foundations to be built at project inception to garner investor confidence and ensure success across the life of the project.” Stevens explains that often capital funding is required by junior miners at the outset of a project and, in such cases, Worley can assist potential investors to better understand the degree of risk involved. Worley’s front-end mining solutions costing is also among the best in business with hours billed intelligently using the lat- est technologies and proven knowledge and processes. “Projects are set at a fixed price and we complete the scope of work within a specified timeframe,” says Stevens, adding that the organisation focuses on completing workquickly andefficiently toavoidunneces- sary costs. “We understand and support the enthusi- asm and vision of junior miners as well as the

Mervyn Stevens, managing consultant: mining, minerals and metals processing EMEA at Worley.

Denver Dreyer, senior vice president: mining, minerals & metals at Worley for the EMEA region. leading role they play in potentially bringing digital enhancements to the traditional min- ing environment. This will ultimately help modernise the mining industry as we move intotheFourthIndustrialRevolution,”Stevens concludes. q “Rapid prototyping is particularly suited to mining entrepreneurs as we are able to present potential financial backers with a visually

smart model very early in the project development process.”

July 2019 • MechChem Africa ¦ 27