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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt the Venetia Underground Project near Musina, work has been ongoing since 2013 in one of the largest investments in South Africa\u2019s diamond industry in decades. Transitioning from opencast to underground mining will extend the mine\u2019s life until 2046. Murray & Roberts Cementation has been engaged in sinking, lining and equipping of two shafts \u2013 the production and service shafts \u2013 to a depth of 1,080 metres. The company also developed a decline tunnel and is completing associated surface and underground infrastructure, in a project whose scope included raiseboring work to establish ventilation infrastructure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn this maturing project, the mine is now getting into ore and starting to develop the infrastructure levels,\u201d says Chamberlain. \u201cAt the shaft bottom, good progress continues to be made with the construction of workshops, pumping stations, silos and loading arrangements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Murray & Roberts Cementation is also conducting all the infrastructure development at Ivanhoe Mines\u2019 Platreef project near Mokopane. This includes the sinking of a 5,1 metre ventilation shaft to meet horizontal development at 950 metres below surface. To achieve the high accuracy levels demanded by the project, the raiseboring equipment was guided by directional drilling technology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA unique aspect of this project is that the shaft will be hoisting ore at that same time as allowing upcast air to reach surface,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another vent shaft by Murray & Roberts Cementation \u2013 measuring 8,5 metres in diameter and reaching a depth of 1,200 metres \u2013 is nearing completion at Palabora Mining Company near Phalaborwa. Part of the mine\u2019s Lift II expansion, the project has earned an impeccable safety record \u2013 being fatality free and achieving 574 days without a Lost Time Injury (LTI) in 2022. Ground conditions were among the reasons why a blind sink was chosen as the optimal method instead of raiseboring, as the side walls needed immediate support to prevent scaling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe also have a number of services projects underway related to raiseboring, grout plants and rehabilitation,\u201d he explains. \u201cMuch of our work in this field is focused on old infrastructure that requires maintenance, repairs or upgrades; we also conduct extensive vertical work in ore passes and silos.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company carries out vital rehabilitation in ore passes where ground conditions have deteriorated to prevent ore from moving smoothly \u2013 thereby risking production targets. Innovating safer techniques for this work, it has developed the tube-and-fill method, first applied about seven years ago at an underground platinum mine in South Africa. These installations are also expected to outlast the lifespan of an ore pass rehabilitated with traditional shotcrete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn the engineering front, we continue conducting rebuilds of underground mining equipment at our Bentley Park facility near Carletonville,\u201d says Chamberlain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He highlights the work of the company\u2019s design department, which remains extremely busy with feasibility studies associated with vertical work. With the renewed interest in commodity segments like copper, there is also previous work that customers are asking Murray & Roberts Cementation to review and update. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Training in underground mining and related skills at the company\u2019s world class Training Academy on Carletonville continues to empower many thousands of learners each year, he points out. This skills development is done on behalf of clients, as well as for the company\u2019s own requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt any one time, we can host about 420 learners, and we are generally at full capacity,\u201d he says. \u201cWe have just recently upgraded these facilities to further enhance training technologies that allows learning to take place safely but in a realistic environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In compliance with many African countries\u2019 localisation regulations, Murray & Roberts Cementation has registered companies in eight countries in the Southern African Development Community \u2013 most of which have seen the company active with raiseboring. Chamberlain notes that there are specific opportunities in Zambia that the company hopes to capitalise upon in the near future, and is encouraged by the mining sector\u2019s progress in countries like Namibia and Botswana. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Leveraging over a century of experience, Murray & Roberts Cementation is working with some of the world’s most respected mining companies to pave the way for safe and efficient underground mining. According to Graham Chamberlain, New Business Director at Murray & Roberts Cementation, the busy pipeline of projects demonstrates the mining sector\u2019s faith in the … Continue reading LEADING UNDERGROUND MINING CONTRACTOR SERVES SECTOR ON MULTIPLE FRONTS<\/span> <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n