Modern Mining February 2016

PLATINUM

not a problem for us,” says Blom. “We have excellent training programmes in place on site while our group training facilities include our Bentley Park Training Academy on the West Rand which – among other things – is equipped with state-of-the-art machine simulators, while Northam has a fully functional training centre with a site-specific trackless equipment simula- tor on site.” Detailing the progress made by Murray & Roberts Cementation at Booysendal, Blom says that up till the end of October last year the com- pany had completed 14 006 m of development and 360 000 m 2 of stoping and had produced 4,6 Mt of ore. At that point, 13 out 14 strike belt sections were complete and operational and seven out of eight boxes commissioned, with all permanent main fans operational to meet steady-state requirements. “We now have all infrastructure in place to achieve ore production targets and this will be the focus of our efforts moving forward,” he says. While the UG2 North mine is the main focus for Murray & Roberts Cementation, the company has also been busy over the past eight months with the Merensky North project (where it will soon have two crews working on continuing development and trial mining). Establishing the boxcut to allow declines to be developed was a particularly challenging operation, given that it required blasting in close proximity to existing infrastructure including offices, the processing plant, a water storage facility and an Eskom substation which is the main substation for the entire mine. In addition, cognisance had to be taken of historical adits close to the boxcut site.

– the only exception I can think of is Bathopele – do not achieve this level of mechanisation.” The mining fleet used at Booysendal is owned by the mine but maintained and oper- ated by Murray & Roberts Cementation. It now consists of approximately 130 units, including 27 LHDs. Most of the equipment is from Sandvik although machines from AARD Mining Equipment and GHH Mining Machines are progressively being added to the fleet. Initially, a surface workshop provided all repair and maintenance needs but a new underground workshop has now been commissioned to deliver substantial time and cost benefits. According to Braam Blom, Project Executive at Murray & Roberts Cementation, the company is well experienced in mechanised mining operations but is nevertheless adding to its expertise and refining its methods as it pro- ceeds with the Booysendal contract. “To take one example, we started off using double boom drill rigs but – over time – concluded that they were not ideal for the conditions we have at Booysendal,” he says. “We’ve now started to convert them to a single boom configuration which makes them easier to manoeuvre and speeds up tramming between sections. It’s all about maintaining the cycle.” With Northam Platinum having a policy of employing locally to the fullest extent possible (it wants 100 % of the unskilled workforce and at least 75 % of the semi-skilled work- force at Booysendal to be recruited locally), Murray & Roberts Cementation – as the big- gest single employer at the site – is having to undertake considerable training to ensure that these objectives are met. “Fortunately, this is

The Merensky boxcut with chairlift decline on the left and conveyor decline on the right (photo: Arthur Tassell).

“With both Booysendal North and South in operation, PGM production from the Booysendal property could potentially reach half a million ounces a year ... .”

Willie Theron, GM, Booysendal

February 2016  MODERN MINING  25