Modern Mining Marchh 2017

MINING CONTRACTING

the arm to Aveng Mining

several years ago of the more than 1 500 m deep, No 4 shaft of the Konkola Deep project on the Zambian Copperbelt. Since then we have also completed – in collaboration with a South American partner, Mas Errazuriz – a nearly 1 km deep, 11 m internal diameter vent shaft at Codelco’s Chuquicamata copper mine in Chile. This was another high profile project with a number of interesting features – for example, because of seismicity the shaft has a 0,5 m thick concrete lining.” Aveng Moolmans and Aveng Shafts & Underground used to operate as separate enti- ties. In 2012, however, the decision was taken to integrate them, a process which was fully implemented in 2015 when the two business units were merged and consolidated under one roof with Aveng Shafts & Underground mov- ing into Aveng Moolmans’ modern premises in Boksburg. Aveng Moolmans is currently the bigger part of the business and in Aveng’s 2016 financial year was responsible for R3,5 billion of Aveng Mining’s turnover of just over R5 billion. White has responsibility for both business units as MD of Aveng Mining. A civil engi- neer by training, he comes from the Aveng Moolmans side of the business (which he joined in the 1980s, when it was part of the then LTA Group). He has worked all over Africa and at one point was based in Accra, Ghana, as GM of

Underground – which used to be known as Grinaker-LTA Underground Mining – is one of only a handful of companies worldwide able to sink deep shafts. “Our credentials in this area were established by the successful completion

An Aveng Mining team working in Shaft 1 of the Platreef project, which is being developed by Ivanplats, a subsidiary of Ivanhoe Mines (photo: Ivanplats).

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March 2017  MODERN MINING  35