Modern Mining June 2018

COVER STORY

Redpath positions itself for Redpath Mining Africa has launched several initiatives designed to grow its already healthy business in Africa, including a joint venture partnership

with Redpath Mining Australia, which will develop the considerable synergies between the two companies. Modern Mining recently spoke to Redpath Mining Africa’s MD, Lawrence Schultz, about the company’s achievements, its service offering and its plans to grow its share of the fiercely competitive mining contracting market in Africa.

T he first point that Schultz makes is that Redpath Mining Africa is part of a global mining contracting and engineering group that has built up a formidable track record across every continent. “Redpath’s headquar- ters are in North Bay, Ontario in Canada, but there are regional offices in Canada, the USA, Chile, South Africa, Germany and Australia,” he says. “At last count, the group had 107 projects spread over 69 sites in 13 different countries. This collective expertise is avail- able to Redpath Mining Africa which in turn contributes its skills to overseas projects when required.” Elaborating on the partnership with Redpath Mining Australia, Schultz notes that the Australian company is noted for its capacity to undertake mechanised high-speed develop- ment – particularly of declines – with its skills being on display in a number of recent projects,

including the Olympic Dam Mine Expansion Project in South Australia. On this project, the company achieved above industry norm drill- ing advancements per month and machine availability in the 90th percentile range. Schultz adds that Redpath Mining Australia will not only contribute its development skills to the partnership but also its engineering and technical expertise through the delivery of ring and blast designs, drilling and charging designs, as well as ventilation design. “We believe the combined offering of the African and Australian companies will allow us to gain significant traction in the African market, particularly in West Africa where South African mining contracting companies have made only limited headway against their mainly Australian rivals,” he says. “Redpath Mining Africa will, of course, be a very active partner in the alliance. We have specialised skills – in vertical shaft-sinking, for example – that are

Lawrence Schultz, MD of Redpath Mining Africa.

Redpath’s Raise Mining ser- vice has the ability to meet the demand for ventilation raises, production slot raises, shaft piloting, manways/ escapeways, ore and waste passes, narrow vein mining and raise widening.

18  MODERN MINING  June 2018