Modern Mining November 2018

CONSULTANTS/ PROJECT HOUSES

Jumbo graphite project, which is now – with the recent granting of a mining licence – ready for development. In Malawi we are the mining consultants to Mkango Resources on its Songwe Hill rare earth project feasibility study. “In South Africa, we continue to be involved with Jelani Resources on its gold project adja- cent to the Target gold mine while in Botswana we’re working with Amulet Diamond Corp on the evaluation of the BK11 kimberlite. In Zimbabwe we completed a Scoping Study on the Zulu lithium project and have also under- taken a study for the re-opening of the RHA tungsten mine for Premier African Minerals, an AIM-listed company,” he continues. “In Namibia we’ve completed work for copper miner Weatherly International look- ing at re-opening some copper mines around the Windhoek area and also for North River Resources on its brownfield Namib lead/zinc project just outside Swakopmund, which is now under construction.” Turning to Bara’s UK company, Pooley says there have been some exciting developments in recent months. “We’ve appointed Andrew Bamber as our new MD. He replaces Pat Willis, who continues to chair the company but will now have more freedom to focus on engineer- ing, which is what he wants. Andrew, who is a mechanical engineer, started his career in mining in South Africa and Zimbabwe – he worked on the Dwarsrivier chrome and Mimosa platinum projects, among others – but moved to Canada some years back, where he

example – and by the difficulties associated with raising development funds in the present economic climate. “We’ve found it difficult to secure jobs throughout this current year but it’s not because clients dislike our proposals,” he observes. “They’re eager to take their projects forward but they’ve been forced to accept delays for one rea- son or another. They’re extremely ‘bullish’ but their hands are tied. Consequently Bara is in the paradoxical situation that it has submitted more bids in the first six months of this year than in the whole of 2017 but is not seeing the benefits of this in terms of growth. The good news is that most of these delays seem to be temporary. The contracts on hold will – for the most part – be awarded and probably sooner rather than later.” He adds that a welcome development is that the second half of 2018 is shaping up to be better than the first half. “September and October have been our best months of the year. If this uptrend continues, then I think there are grounds for us to believe that 2019 could be a very healthy year – not just for Bara but for the mining industry. You could say we’re cau- tiously optimistic,” he says. Giving a round-up of Bara’s current work- load and recently completed assignments, Pooley says the company has a portfolio which is well diversified both in terms of geography and commodities. “In Tanzania, we’ve had a long association with Australian company, Walkabout Resources, on its Lindi

Logging core at the Zulu lithium project near Fort Rixon in Zimbabwe.

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November 2018  MODERN MINING  35