Modern Mining October 2024

ENGINEERING, PROCUREMENT AND CONSTRUCTION

Realigned – Fluor makes its mark in underground mining

By Nelendhre Moodley

Just short of five years on since engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, Fluor, established the Underground Mining Center of Expertise, headed up by Charl Klopper, Executive Projects Director & Global Underground Lead Mining and Metals at Fluor, the Johannesburg based division has been making steady strides executing projects both globally and in Africa, to serve the growing number of projects with partial or entire underground mine plans.

The underground mining environment is an extremely competitive one.

Charl Klopper, Executive Projects Director & Global Underground Lead Mining and Metals at Fluor.

T he strategy was based on expected robust demand for minerals and metals to meet the world’s growing population needs and the expected progression of open-cast mines to underground mining. Klopper, a seasoned executive and project leader with 30+ years’ experience in underground mining, continues to bring a fresh perspective to the EPC space given his intimate knowledge of client needs, having designed, built, and managed underground operations. “In 2019 Fluor brought me in to establish and grow the Global Underground Center of Expertise to serve our well-established client base. Moreover, with well over 150 professionals inhouse, we have now grown the local skills base to support our global underground projects across the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and of course Africa. We are proud to execute a recently awarded large scale underground project on a flagship potash mine in Saskatchewan, Canada.” Discussing the competitiveness of the EPC segment of business, Klopper says that from an African perspective the underground mining environment is an extremely competitive

one driven by client’s challenges with cost containment, declining ore grades and/ or greenfield projects in lesser established mining jurisdictions. However, these challenges more so demand the expertise of an EPC partner with a proven track record to deliver projects safely, on budget, and on schedule. Bringing major projects successfully through the various project phases and being able to engage in thorough early-stage studies and trade-offs before moving into full execution. At Fluor we pride ourselves in being a trusted partner across the whole project lifecycle. Filling the skills gap The apparent and widening skills gap in the industry requires dedicated action by all market players. Attracting and developing top talent is a top priority for Fluor. “The unpredictable cyclicality of the business, lack of investment in training and development and the perceived dirty image of the industry are reflected in workforce demographics. Mining engineering as a career choice has, over the recent past, lost its shine for most youngsters. Fluor is actively

18  MODERN MINING  www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | October 2024