Modern Mining January 2017

PRODUCT News

Modder East ups advance rate with rapid reloading emulsion system

Specialised transporters in the haulages are filled with BME’s Megapump emulsion from the underground tanks and delivered to re-filling stations near the stope face, from where the BME Minicharger portable charging units (PCUs) are filled. “With collaboration from BME experts, we have already shown that our targeted advance rates can be achieved,”saidMcArdle. “Our crews are receiving intensive training to further improve their drilling discipline, and the improved results are coming through.” He said the increase in the daily advance rate could generate additional gold mined per month. “The beauty of using this emulsion sys- tem includes the time saved to get the product underground, as well as the effi- ciencies gained by not having to manually manage explosive cartridges – which are also closely regulated for safety and security reasons,” he said. The emulsion-filled bags, or bladders, that fit onto the hand-held Minichargers weigh just 18 kg each – making them lighter and easier to carry than the cartridge boxes traditionally moved from surface to the stope face for blasting. The handling and storage of emulsion is much less onerous than cartridges as it is classified as a 5.1 oxidiser – rather than an explosive – and is only sensitised when actu- ally inside the drill-hole. The highly stable characteristics of BME’s double-salt emulsions have allowed them not only to be pumped to this record- breaking depth, but also to be re-pumped frequently and stored for extended periods before use. BME, tel (+27 11) 709-8765 sion cycles, FX spread, and conversion and transactional costs to name a few. “Maintaining high service levels and offering competitive logistics solutions is the core of our business,” says Siva Pather, one of Land & Sea Shipping’s directors. “Being able to offer our clients savings across their balance sheet through our Advisory Division enables healthy busi-

HOISTING SOLUTIONS Winder Controls is a leader in the mechanical, electrical and hydraulic design, manufacture and installa- tion of mine winders and related equipment. Our designs comply with the latest international safety and reliability standards including SIL assessments where applicable. Our services include relocations, refur- bishment and upgrades, as well as full aftersales and maintenance support. In addition we offer a range of special products including steel wire rope handling equipment, Three Chamber Energy recovery systems and Nuclear Waste Disposal Technology.

Modder East’s James McArdle.

In a first for South African mining, Gold One’s Modder East mine has rolled out an innovative infrastructure to use emulsion explosives for all 70 of its underground nar- row-reef stope panels, as part of its strategy to reduce its cost per ton mined. Developed and installed in partner- ship with leading blasting company BME over the past three years, the unique rapid reloading system includes the world’s deep- est vertical emulsion pipeline of 318 m to deliver emulsion from surface to storage tanks underground. Used with BME’s nar- row-reef pump technology, this system has allowedModder East tomove away from the use of cartridge explosives and fully convert to BME’s emulsion explosives. “The new arrangement will allow us to achieve our campaign goal for the coming year of a 0,8 m advance per panel per day – a substantial improvement on the 0,65 m we used to average,” said James McArdle, Explosives and Technical Manager at Modder East. “The cost savings and produc- tivity improvements convince us that this technology will be the only way for mines to go in the future.”

Tel: +27 (0)11 383 9300 www.winder.co.za

Fax: +27 (0)11 383 9305 email: winder@winder.co.za

End-to-end logistics solutions offered Land & Sea Shipping, a full supply chain logistics brokerage in Southern Africa, is staking its name in local and international markets with tailor-made end-to-end logistics solutions.

The company has launched its Advisory Division in addition to an already impres- sive portfolio. Its expertise includes Reserve Bank rulings, currency risk, weighted average of capital, debt or equity capitalisation versus cash conver-

ness and a growing economy.” Land & Sea Shipping, tel (+27 11) 679-1651

January 2017  MODERN MINING  79