By Sharyn Macnamara, senior writer African Mining, incorporating Mining Mirror
Mining and Technical Exhibitions (MTE) will continue its focus on PGM’s operations with its Zondereinde Expo on 9 May in Limpopo after an extremely successful Q1 in 2024. This intimate tradeshow will be followed by MTE’s main coal and power industry expo for the year in Emalahleni (Witbank).
MTE’s 2023 Emalahleni (Witbank) Mining & Industrial Expo saw 89 companies exhibit to 342 visitors. ©Mining and Technical Exhibitions (MTE)
Zondereinde’s expansion offers opportunity
MTE, and its current 36 exhibiting suppliers booked for the tradeshow at Zondereinde, will open for business at the Zondereinde Rec Club on 9 May 2024 between 12:00 and 16:00. The Zondereinde underground mine – one of the deepest platinum mines in the world – has been operational for almost thirty years. Forming part of the Northern Platinum Belt, it produces palladium, rhodium, gold, ruthenium and iridium.
Northam Platinum Holdings Limited’s trading statement and trading update for the six-months ended 31 December 2023, noted that Zondereinde’s metal production was flat, but this was expected ahead of the commissioning of 3 shaft. However, despite current challenges in respect of metal prices, mining inflation and the potential for higher frequency, and longer duration Eskom load curtailment, Zondereinde has benefitted from focussed Merensky stoping in the western extension, together with logistics decongestion resulting from the ongoing shift in UG2 stoping from the western to the eastern portions of the mine. Also, sustaining capital requirements at metallurgical operations increased for the company because of the upgrade to the furnace slag concentrator at Zondereinde. At the time Northam said in a statement, “We plan significant development activity at the Western extension of Zondereinde over the coming 18 months.
“Stoping is ramping-up within the western extension section and further progress has been made on the deepening project. Equipping of 3 shaft, for personnel and material transport, as well as the provision of services, is in progress and on track, as is reaming of 3a ventilation shaft. Both shafts are scheduled to be commissioned towards the end of the financial year ending 30 June 2025. Pilot drilling of the 3b rock hoisting shaft continues, and shaft commissioning is scheduled for 2028. In the interest of capital preservation during the current PGM market conditions, certain workstreams have been deferred in instances where it would not have a detrimental impact on the overall project.
“Upgrades to the base metal removal plant are progressing well at the group’s metallurgical facilities, and the commissioning of the expanded and upgraded furnace slag concentrator will improve overall metal recoveries.”
Continuous rehabilitation in Emalahleni (Witbank)
Mining and Technical Exhibition’s (MTE’s) annual Emalahleni (Witbank) Mining & Industrial Expo is back in Emalahleni (Witbank) at Hoërskool Patriot between 13:00 and 17:00 on 22 May 2024. Focused on mining, power stations, contractors and smelters – this expo is a major draw card for solution providers. This is MTE’s main annual coal exhibition as new mines and major rehabilitation is taking place in the area continuously, despite coal pricing not meeting industry expectations. There are already 88 suppliers booked for this expo.
Andrew Macnamara, operations director at MTE, noted recent conversations had with operations in the area regarding challenges in pumping and acidic water, production efficiency and logistics, which are high on their list of priorities, saying “Opportunities to improve production with condition monitoring, pumping and digitalised solutions; connectivity options, tyre innovations and predictive maintenance are high on the agenda for this tradeshow.”
For more information about upcoming shows and how to get registered, contact the MTE sales team:
Sheldon Greybe: +27 (0) 84 569 3516 | sheldong@interactmedia.co.za
Cathylene Labuschagne: +27 (0) 11 579 4940 | cathylene@interactmedia.co.za