Modern Mining September 2017

DIAMONDS

will ramp up by up to 12 people by mid-2018.” An interesting point is why De Beers has opted to move to an EPCM model after having managed the project directly for several years. “The short answer is that it is difficult for a min- ing company such as De Beers to establish its own in-house EPCM capability, particularly on a project of this scale,” Kühn responds. “One of the key challenges we had was establishing proper project controls and integrated systems. So we started talking to WorleyParsons and the result is the present EPCM arrangement, which gives us far more flexibility and which consti- tutes a very holistic approach. It is working extremely well and our forecasting and plan- ning capability has significantly improved.” According to Kühn, WorleyParsons RSA forms an integral part of the ‘tripartite alliance’ tasked with the delivery of the project. “The key players on the project are De Beers itself, of course, WorleyParsons RSA and Murray & Roberts Cementation, which is responsible for shaft sinking and the development of the decline system and related underground works. The alliance is working very effectively. We all work together as a team but we also have some very tough conversations – which is a sign of the mature relationship between the parties.” Detailing the progress on the project, Kühn says that the sinking of the two vertical shafts is roughly at the half-way point, with the pro- duction shaft 40 or 50 m ahead of the service shaft. The decline system is also well advanced, with around 2,5 km of linear advance having been recorded (representing a vertical depth of approximately 500 m). “The decline has been a real success story. In 2016 we saw a 35 % improvement year on year in efficiencies and expect to achieve another 15 % this year, so the past two years have been characterised by sig- nificantly improved advance rates” he says. “As regards the new shaft-sinking method, our expe- rience thus far has indicated that it is safer than traditional methods but not necessarily faster.” Kühn believes there is every prospect that

first production from the underground – pres- ently scheduled for 2023 – could be brought back to 2021. “The good progress on the decline in particular is assisting us to look at potential opportunities to accelerate underground pro- duction.” He notes that with the underground mine starting just beneath the final depth of the open pit (approximately 450 m), safety consid- erations mean that there is little opportunity to overlap the final open-pit operations with the start-up of the underground mine. He adds that the project team, in conjunction with the mine management, is looking at measures to avoid a significant dip in production during the changeover. Finally, Kühn makes the point that the VUP could be a pace-setter in terms of levels of mechanisation and automation. “An autono- mous trucking loop – similar to the one that De Beers put in at Finsch when it still owned the mine – is the preferred option for Venetia,” he says. “Autonomous longhole drilling and autonomous LHDs are also part of the current plan. Our vision is for Venetia Underground to be a state-of-the-art mine that will set new stan- dards in safety and production. We believe we are on course to achieve this goal.” Report by Arthur Tassell, photos courtesy of De Beers

The decline systemwill have a total length of 7 km.

September 2017  MODERN MINING  29