Modern Mining October 2018

MANGANESE

the production capability but also on the safe operation of the mine.” There are currently two crews in place and this will be increased in a phased manner to ensure that appropriate resources are in place for the ramp up in October 2018. The project will eventually have 12 development crews, each with its own primary suite of equip- ment including a drill rig, a roof bolter, an LHD and trucks with the necessary secondary equipment. All the equipment being used on the project has been capitalised and will be mobilised by Murray & Roberts Cementation. Murray & Roberts Cementation has embarked on a process of identifying local businesses through its Enterprise Development programme that will be able to supply goods and services to the project. Fourie says the intention is to develop these SMMEs to become sustainable businesses. A current example is where local taxi organisations have been contracted to transport personnel to and from site. Another major differentiator that Murray & Roberts Cementation brings to the project is the level of training provided to its employees through its own fully-fledged training academy in Carletonville. Crews allocated to the Kalagadi Manganese Mine either have or are undergoing refresher training to ensure competencies. In addition to this, there is the potential to set up a satellite training facility at the mine itself and this will be used to train Murray & Roberts Cementation personnel on site and to provide basic training skills to communities in the project vicinity. 

in accordance with base line risks assessments conducted that took all factors into account. Significantly, Murray & Roberts Cementation has extensive experience on full turnkey projects like this and was well positioned to ensure appropriate best practice systems were put in place. The mine is a two-shaft system with a main man/material shaft and a separate ventilation shaft. The main shaft with a 9 m diameter will reach a working level of 281 m and a loading level of 317 m. The ventilation shaft is to a depth of 323 m and has a 6,7 m diameter. Included in the development phase, which is well underway, is the completion of the required underground infrastructure that will support the ramp up and sustainable pro- duction at the mine into the future. This will include conveyor systems, crushers, settlers and workshops as well as the sliping of silo number 1 to ensure it has the requisite through- put capacity and the sliping of the RAW to Level 261 which will facilitate access to the second tipping area. “What is also significant is that we had a good project start up and are well ahead of the contractual programme,” Fourie says. “This can be attributed to the level of planning and scheduling that forms part of our operating strategy on such projects. Adding to this are the extremely experienced and competent crews working on this project.” Fourie says that as a fully mechanised operation, the correct deployment of skilled competent operators is key to the success of the project. “This has a direct impact not only on

“What is also significant is that we had a good project start up and are well ahead of the contractual programme.”

Below left: A face drill rig in action at Murray & Roberts Cementation’s contract at Kalagadi Manganese Mine.

Below: A waste tipping point with an impact breaker.

October 2018  MODERN MINING  35