Modern Mining September 2024

MINING TECHNOLOGY

Embracing range of technologies for safe shaft sinking in all conditions In the demanding field of shaft sinking, leading global player Murray & Roberts Cementation is adapting and applying a range of technologies for working in challenging conditions – while maintaining its reputation for safety and environmental care.

Using a roadheader and caisson methodology with the right global partner leads to technological advancement.

Murray & Roberts Cementation recently completed a 950 m borehole for a ventilation shaft at Ivanhoe Mines’ Platreef Project.

T he company has been a pioneer in various methodologies, leveraging its depth of experience in varying conditions around the world. Graham Chamberlain, New Business Director at Murray & Roberts Cementation, highlights that much of the progress comes from knowing which technologies can be successfully employed in a given situation. “Innovation in our business means being inventive and

precisely with an existing underground excavation. “Directional drilling is certainly not new to the market, and is readily available to anyone,” he explains. “By applying our expertise and knowledge gained over multiple projects, we know when and where to deploy technologies to enhance the solutions we design.”

More recently, the company has been engaged in another

contract to sink multiple shafts through very poor ground conditions to a depth of 280 m. There are also social and environmental impacts which must also be carefully mitigated,

judicious in our choice of technology for each specific application,” says Chamberlain. “Often the

With an in-depth understanding of how our equipment is performing, we can conduct component lifecycle management to reduce our unit costs.

Graham Chamberlain, New Business Director at Murray & Roberts Cementation.

technology we employ is off the-shelf and well-proven, but we can use it to great effect in achieving optimal project results for our clients.” In a recent contract at Ivanhoe Mines’ Platreef project near Mokopane in

as the ground material is water-bearing and nearby villages use water from the same aquifer. “In this case, the traditional techniques of cementation injection or

chemical grouting were out of the question owing to the risks of groundwater contamination,” he says. “We also wanted to avoid the noise and light pollution that would be associated with certain methods.” Among the solutions was an established

South Africa’s Limpopo province, for instance, directional drilling technology was used to guide raise boring equipment to meet exacting requirements. Murray & Roberts Cementation was able to complete a 5.1 m ventilation shaft to a depth of 950 m below surface, where it intersected

16  MODERN MINING  www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | SEPTEMBER 2024