Modern Mining June 2025

SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS

Africa is an early adopter of rail-running conveyors from FLS As the mining sector looks for energy efficient solutions that reduce carbon emissions, a mine in Africa will be among the first to install a Rail Running Conveyor (RRC) technology, commercialised by full flowsheet provider FLS in collaboration with the

University of Newcastle, Australia. “Designed to dramatically reduce energy consumption, improve safety and cut capital and operating expenditure, Rail-Running Conveyors are a gamechanger for mines which must rely on extended conveying distances to move material,” says Martin Lurie, FLS Global Product Line Manager for Rail Running Conveyors (RRC). Any mine that carries substantial tonnages over more than 500 to 1 000 m can achieve far higher efficiencies using this technology. “The first full-scale operational system will be commissioned in southern Africa in mid-2025,” he says. “It is designed to carry 5 000 mtph of copper ore over a 3,25 km run, and is expected to save around $1 million each year in power costs when compared to a conventional

Rail-Running Conveyors are a gamechanger for mines.

power savings and safety improvements. Lurie describes the customer as visionary in looking ahead to the technologies that will empower the future of mining, and also as an indispensable partner in bringing the RRC to full-scale maturity. n

trough conveyor.” A second system, destined for the same mining customer at a mine in the Americas, has also been under construction and will carry around 13 000 mtph, also delivering significant

Traxtion is meeting rail needs through innovation and sustainability Traxtion is making significant strides in adapting and expanding its locomotive rebuild and overhaul services to accelerating its service capabilities at its Rosslyn Rail Services Hub in Pretoria, South Africa.

which houses the company’s parts store. The Hub already accommodates a wheel shop, paint booth, and the TETA-accredited training centre – which produces diesel electrical fitter artisans annually. One of Traxtion’s focus points is a fully stocked parts store which allows them to offer customers a one-stop shop for all locomotive and wagon parts. This means a quicker turnaround time for customers who are already time constrained. Through the Rail Services Hub, the company can also refurbish rolling stock parts and components, again cutting down on costs to clients. Traxtion has committed itself to a groundbreaking project, taking four scrapped UC20 locomotive carcasses and rebuilding them to fully functioning 2000HP locomotives for a client in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The initiative was completed at a fraction of the cost of an OEM locomotive and done in less than half the time it takes for a new locomotive to be built. n

Building on the current offerings of the Rail Services Hub where up to 14 locomotives can be rebuilt at any time, Traxtion has added a 2500 m² facility

meet the growing demand across the continent. The increasing pace of rail reform, and the need for more rolling stock, has galvanised the company into

Traxtion locomotive at Rosslyn Hub.

38  MODERN MINING  www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | JUNE 2025