31 / 84
January 2016
MODERN MINING
29
MINING INDABA
Master Drilling to launch new technology at Indaba
JSE-listed Master Drilling (MD), a global, specialised drilling service solution pro-
vider to the mining, energy and civil industries, will be using the Mining Indaba as
the platform to launch its new Blind Shaft Boring System (BSBS).
MD says it has spent 2015 engineering and perfecting BSBS, which it describes
as its solution to mechanising conventional drill-and-blast shaft sinking in hard
rock.
The BSBS addresses the need for a safer, faster, flexible and lower cost method
to access underground orebodies without existing underground access, and en-
ables production sooner while still providing efficient infrastructure to support
life of mine production and logistics.
The system can be used for the establishing of ventilation, rock hoisting and
man-and-material shafts in varying sizes between 10 m and 13 m lined diameter,
and up to 2 000 m in depth. The system does not require a presink, allowing for
the breakaway of levels, simultaneous shaft lining and diameter/depth changes
without major modification.
Founded in the late 1980s by present CEO Danie Pretorius and based in Foch
ville on the West Rand, Master Drilling is thought to be the largest operator of
raise borers in the world with its fleet numbering over 100 machines, roughly
three times the number operated by each of its two closest competitors. It oper-
ates not only in South Africa but also in several other African countries (notably
Zambia) and also has a strong presence in South and Central America, a region
which accounts for roughly half of its revenues.
Its international arm, Master Drilling International Limited (MDI), recently an-
nounced the acquisition of a 40 % stake in a major raise bore drilling operator in
Scandinavia, Bergteamet Raiseboring Europe AB, effective 1 December 2015. The
deal provides a platform to diversify into the Scandinavian region and brings an
additional 18 raise bore machines into Master Drilling’s fleet.
environmental risk to the workers on site, for
which the company came up with a techno-
logical solution to capture and reduce dust
emissions and reduce carbon footprint.
Henry Jonker, General Manager – Minerals,
Metals & Chemicals for WorleyParsons RSA,
explains that the company is continuously
evolving with technology and that it is becom-
ing the norm for all new projects to utilise
technical advancements in order to work more
efficiently and cost effectively.
“We want to demonstrate to our customers
that we can add value by doing things differ-
ently through technology, and we encourage
them to take more of an intellectual design
view which will ensure that a project will be
executed in a more effective and quicker way.
We are also deploying integrated and intel-
ligent design engineering systems such as
SmartPlant on a number of projects, which
uses 3D technology to gain intelligence that
will streamline efficiencies. For example, for a
feasibility study for a new gold mine and plant
in Papua New Guinea, we have fully incor-
porated SmartPlant technology to improve
recovery and plant efficiency.”
As part of a global project delivery company
with expertise in engineering, procurement
and construction across multiple sectors
including hydrocarbons, mineral, metals,
chemicals and infrastructure, Jonkers says
WorleyParsons has the advantage of expe-
rience in the oil and gas sectors and can
apply this knowledge to the mining space
to increase the company’s ability to exe-
cute projects more safely. Furthermore,
this multisector expertise and experience
means that WorleyParsons can provide a
one-stop solution – from geotechnical to
associated infrastructure.
“A lot of the new projects in Africa
are not necessarily purely mining, but
infrastructure work to enable mining
activities,” says Jonker. “Our ability to
work in different sectors, as well as being
able to draw on different resources thanks
to our global footprint, is a key differenti-
ator for WorleyParsons. We have access to
low cost Global Design Centres in China
and India, and can easily integrate our
international resources as the entire com-
pany works on the same platform. A case
in point is the Lake Turkana Wind Power
Project in Kenya, where we are bringing
a combination of local and international
knowledge and experience which will
establish the biggest wind farm of its kind
in sub-Saharan Africa.”
Jonker also points out that the company is
able to help customers select the right proj-
ect through Advisian, a WorleyParsons global
business providing high level strategic and
management consulting services as well as
concept and prefeasibility studies across all
sectors.
While the bulk of its service delivery is still
in South Africa for its flagship projects such
as the Shondoni project (coal), the Black Rock
expansion project (manganese), the Bakubung
Platinum Mine, the Venetia diamond mine
and Impala 17 Shaft (platinum), Jonker says
WorleyParsons RSA is also working on a num-
ber of prestigious projects in Africa, including
the DRC, Mali, Tanzania and Mauritania, and
expects to see more of a shift in the next two
years as more projects in Africa become viable,
particularly in the copper, gold, base metals
and fertiliser spheres.
Jonker and Ngandu will be part of a local and
global WorleyParsons contingent of delegates
who will be attending the 2016 Mining Indaba
to highlight the company’s technological solu-
tions, safety methodologies, environmental
considerations and global experience across
multiple sectors as key factors in partnering for
projects in Africa.