Modern Mining March 2021

CONSULTING

Unpacking the minerals industry and policy regime

A South African mining and mineral processing consultancy serving the global mining industry discusses the state of the minerals industry and suggests an alternative to current government policy. By Mark Botha .

F ounded in 2013 by Jim Pooley, Clive Brown and Pat Willis, Bara Consulting is a South African mining and mineral processing consul- tancy serving the global mining industry. The company specialises in the study and economic evaluation of mining projects and operations, from due diligence to mineral reserve statements and code-compliant pre-feasibility and feasibility studies. According to Pooley, partner and group MD at Bara Consulting, the company also specialises in expert witness work, and provides services in the fields of modelling, simulation, scheduling, mine planning, as well as mine risk and safety, the world-over. “Our past and current projects include due diligence and expert witness work in Central Asia, Australasia and sub-Saharan Africa. We have also done pre- and definitive feasibility work in North America, Australasia, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, and mine development and operations sup- port in Europe and Africa,” he says. “In addition, we also provide reviews and owners’ representative ser- vices to mining projects.” The company retains skills in mining, ventilation, mechanical, electrical and process engineering, as well as in simulation. Bara Consulting currently employs some 15 engi- neers in total, with an additional team of associates bringing the total to some 20 to 25 professionals.

Clive Brown, principal engineer and director at Bara Consulting (left), and Jim Pooley, partner and group MD. Added to these are several geotechnical and civils subcontractors. In addition, Pooley says Bara Consulting has recently “moved further down the project value chain” to offer detailed design and project man- agement at projects where it has provided input at earlier stages of the project.” Growth The company started operations during 2013 and has grown steadily since inception. “Ironically, despite the COVID pandemic, 2020 was a very positive year for us in terms of growth,” says Pooley. “We experienced a short term reduction in turnover during March when the lockdown was enforced, but by April 2020, turnover had returned to our February figures and, by the end of the year, we showed growth of some 40 to 50%.”

Right: Mine surface infrastructure at the DRC’s Bisie Tin Mine.

Below: A mine portal in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

28  MODERN MINING  March 2021