Modern Mining October 2017

LOADERS, EXCAVATORS AND TRUCKS

earthmoving fleet

mines means having well-trained and expe- rienced staff whose skill levels can match those of the mine’s employees; this provides the basis for strong working relationships and mutual respect. Contractors are increasingly included in the operational teams to drive effi- cient planning and implementation, he says, and therefore must have the necessary capacity and experience. “The system of induction for one of our vehicles on a mine – which must be completed before that equipment can start operating – could take anything up to three months,” he says. “To conduct these processes as smoothly as possible and in conjunction with the mine, we provide skilled staff to deal with every aspect from driver training to mechanical inspections. We must also work with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to complete the required tests and reports.” Burger stresses the importance of mining contractors’ relationships with the OEMs, not only to optimise uptime and performance, but to make sure that the machines and their con- figurations are compliant at all times. Part of Burma’s commitment to quality and performance is pursued through its in-house training and certification of its complement of almost 400 operators, who can also benefit from the company’s driving simulator – a rare asset for a plant business in South Africa. “It all comes down to providing the cus- tomer with a fit-for-purpose solution that adds value to their operation,” he says. “From the correct equipment specification, through to quality equipment maintenance and optimal cycle times for the client, Burma Plant Hire is looking forward to serving the mining sector with ever-improving levels of quality.” 

their efficiencies while becoming more flexible in managing their production,” says Burma Plant Hire Managing Director Theuns Burger. “Well-resourced and experienced contractors like Burma help them achieve this, through our specialisation in selecting, running and main- taining the required equipment.” The company has also conducted consid- erable work in the rehabilitation of opencast mining landscapes, and sees mines invest- ing increasingly in this area, in line with the environmental obligations contained in their mining rights. “Outsourcing to experts like ourselves allows opencast mines to focus on their core areas, which in most cases is the pro- cessing and recovery of minerals,” says Van Niekerk. “We have definitely noticed a trend towards more sub-contracting of aspects such as rehabilitation, tailings and haul road maintenance.” Burger notes, however, that the complexity of modern mining operations in South Africa means that contractors must offer more than just machines. He emphasises the demand- ing compliance requirements of mines’ safety, health, environmental and quality (SHEQ) sys- tems with which the activities of all contractors must be seamlessly aligned. “Our many years in the business have placed us well to deal with these requirements, as our management systems are now well- developed,” he says. “We closely manage all aspects of mine compliance that are relevant to us, from operator certification and training to the vehicle safety aspects. This is all increas- ingly vital in mitigating both our risk and the customer’s risk.” Building longer term partnerships with

Above: Burma Plant Hire closely manages all aspects of mine compliance relevant to its operation. Centre: Having access to reliable hire equipment is key to lower operating costs for mines.

“Outsourcing to experts like

ourselves allows opencast mines to focus on their core areas, which in most cases is the processing and recovery of minerals.”

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October 2017  MODERN MINING  49