Modern Mining January 2023

VENETIA UNDERGROUND PROJECT

and the remainder need ventilation sufficient for a single individual,” explains Rodel.

says Rodel. “The Mobilaris system, together with an underground clocking system, will eventually replace the existing system of locks and is being considered as a mechanism for asset control since it allows us to track the multitude of underground equipment.” According to Rodel, using technology, machine operators can be removed from a potentially haz ardous operating environment to operate machines from the comfort and safety offered by the Integrated Operations Centre on surface. Aside from piloting an automated production loading (APL) project, which targets remote load ing and sees the operator remotely loading material into the bucket; autonomously tramming and tipping it into the loading zone, De Beers is implementing automatic drilling technology. The miner is also using Optimine – a production tracking system – to track the quantity of material moved per hour and ensure productivity remains high. Operators are using Optimine to track their progress and benchmark it against their peers. “Through the adoption of breakthrough technol ogy and digitalisation we will change the way we mine, making it more effective, more efficient and more sustainable,” concludes Rodel. 

The Mobilaris will track the multitude of underground equipment.

Taking automation, safety, and performance to the next level

De Beers’ technology roadmap, which underpins its drive for improved safety and higher production

performance, includes the roll-out of initiatives such as the SafeSentry Programme, which targets front line safety ownership. To date, 193 employees have been trained on the programme. In addition to employing Booyco Electronics proximity detection sys tems (PDS), the miner is adopting the Mobilaris solution, a location tracking system which uses multiple tech nologies, including Wi-Fi, to locate people and to track equipment. “An electronic tag attached to each employee’s headlamp wi l l be able to geolocate any one of De Beers’ 900 employees to warn them of any safety related issues,

VUP project developers  BBE Consulting  TDS projects construction  CC Crane  Deswik Mining Consultants  Redpath  Master Drilling  BMH Africa  Orica Africa  Grinaker LTA  Booyco Electronics  Sandvik  Murray & Roberts Cementation  SA Weather Services  Louwill Engineering

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28  MODERN MINING  January 2023

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