Modern Mining September 2015

COVER STORY

as global mining activity wanes

hydro but we also see huge scope for hybrid systems combining diesel generation and solar power, such as have already been installed on some mines,” he says. “Again, as with infrastructure, we already have considerable experience of energy projects as a result of our mining business. For example, we’ve recently designed and built two hydropower plants for the Kibali gold project in the north-eastern DRC. These will supply electricity to the new mine, which is being developed by Randgold Resources in conjunction with its partners, AngloGold Ashanti and Sokimo.” The current diversification initiatives by DRA are nothing new. The company has a long

aggressive strategy, driven mainly by acqui- sition. “This is an area perfectly matched to our skills. Not only do we have the capabil- ity to develop and build water and wastewater plants, and related facilities, but we can also run them. As you know, Minopex, which operates minerals plants on behalf of mining clients, is part of the DRA group and its exper- tise is readily transferable to the water space,” he observes. He adds that the growing prob- lem of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) also offers opportunities in the water field. On energy, De Bruin says DRA is already talking to a number of potential clients. “The thrust is around renewables such as wind and

The 7,2 Mt/a processing plant at the Kibali gold mine in the north-eastern DRC. The plant, which has circuits for treating both oxide and sulphide ore, was commis- sioned in 2014.

The newly commissioned New Liberty gold mine in Liberia. DRA assisted its client, Aureus Mining, through all the study phases of the project and was the EPCM contractor for delivery of the plant. New Liberty is Liberia’s first commercial-scale gold mine (photo: Aureus Mining).

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