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By H. Mulder, M. C. Bekker

The principal objective of this investigation was to conduct a thorough literature review on the status of project readiness mechanisms, tools, techniques, and frameworks for mining projects. The review aimed at identifying common readiness evaluation criteria as well as potential shortcomings that prevent the establishment of a generalizable project readiness index. The literature review included a general overview of capital project performances and the importance of project readiness assessments to improve project delivery success. The study then progressed towards literature involving mining projects and how this differs from infrastructure and industrial project assessments. The paper concludes by summarizing the current state of mining project readiness assessments, the unique and differentiating factors to be considered, and suggests recommendations towards the development of generalizable readiness assessment criteria for mining projects.

Sep 1, 2022

By B. Genc, V. J. Mahadeo, S. Ramparsad4, U. Govender

The study was intent on assessing the socio-economic impact of a zinc mine in South Africa through the application of people-centric digital tools using a case study research methodology. The global mining industry is undergoing significant technological shifts to modernize, improve operational sustainability, and align with the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agenda. While the case study mine is a more modernized mine, continuous improvement around the ‘social’ pillar becomes critical, and to this end application of people-centered digital tools presented as the vehicle to understand community needs and impacts. Despite considerable annual corporate social investment by mines annually, the overall impact or social return on investment is marginally understood. Towards contributing to addressing this gap, digital ESG ‘social-related’ data gathering tools for mines decision-making were developed, including the training-needs assessment tool, community-social needs assessment, small, micro, and medium enterprise (SMME) communications and engagement tool, digital leadership competencies gap assessment tool, and change management blueprint, which further allowed for customization to the mining context. Hence, the novelty of this paper relates to applying digital tools to provide real-time information of the needs of a community, both socially and economically. The findings suggested that these digital tools enabled gathering of information for the establishment of regional and operational baselines towards enabling of social investment returns in relation to socio-economic transformation development interventions. These tools have been applied to a zinc mine context, with lessons and experiences obtained through this study, invaluable to the application of these digital tool in other mines in South Africa. The study was conducted in September 2023 across five host communities, surrounding the zinc mine, in the Northern Cape region, with 120 participants involved in the application of three relevant community-related digital tools, which included the training needs, community-social needs, and SMME communications and engagement tools. It was evident that the digital ESG tools could be used for data gathering for the mine’s informed decision-making and allowed for securing of insights on community needs in near real-time, and further proved practical for community use.

Dec 11, 2024

By S. Schutte, J. Pelders, F. Magweregwede, S. Ngobese, W. Botha

A people-centric, systematic approach that involves different stakeholders is considered necessary to successfully address changes associated with modernizing the South African mining industry. In this paper we discuss the inclusion of various South African mining industry stakeholders, particularly the employees, in equipment design and development processes. Data was acquired through a literature review and inputs from South African mining industry stakeholders through focus group discussions, interviews, and an online survey. It was suggested that some of the areas that could be improved by the inclusion of employees in the process are design quality, ergonomics, equipment acceptance by the workforce, safety, efficiency, skills, insight into context of use, and early design iterations and identification of problems. Among the issues considered to be barriers to inclusion were lack of buy-in, lack of resources, difficulty in manufacturers accessing the mines, difficulties in involving too many people, intellectual property concerns, and unavailability of mine employees due to their key responsibilities. Identified critical factors in the equipment design and development process include iterative design, stakeholder participation throughout the process, needs analysis through consultation, and change management. A guideline was developed for worker inclusion in equipment design and development that could be used by the South African mining industry. The study identified several economic and social benefits of including stakeholders in the early stages of design and development. It is recommended that the South African mining industry considers using the developed guideline.

Apr 5, 2023

By P. Forbes

Mining and metallurgical processing companies that have adopted the principles of good environmental management often find it difficult to carry out an environmental assessment that yields meaningful opportunities for improved performance. This topic was investigated by means of a case study of a South African Base Metal Refinery (BMR) producing primarily nickel. A process-based Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was carried out on the refining process, with the environmental impacts related to the production of reagents and utilities forming part of the assessment. The lifecycle inventory (LCI) was based on plant operating data spanning 31 months of production, from which a baseline environmental profile could be generated and interpreted to indicate the main sources of potential environmental impacts. Consequently, opportunities for improved environmental performance could be identified from the LCA model, which expressly related potential environ-mental liability to specific sub-processes in the assessed industrial operation. The on-site steam plant was found to be the primary source of potential environmental impacts in most of the impact categories considered. In closing, the paper discusses some of the limitations encountered in use of the LCA method. Keywords: life cycle assessment; LCA; life cycle inventory; LCI; base metal refinery; improved environmental performance; environ-mental management systems; nickel refining.

Jan 1, 2000

The coal-based power generation industry faces increased pressure from all sectors to improve its environmental performance. This is due to increased awareness of and concerns regarding greenhouse-and acid-gas emissions, toxic metal releases (to both air and water) and water availability. A methodology to assess this industry?s environmental performance is needed. Such a methodology should assess all environmental impacts accurately, recognizing the irspatial and temporal dependence, and taking into account the social acceptability of technologies employed. Here, we develop a methodology to determine the environ-mental impact associated with solid wastes generated by this industry, and apply this to the specific case of ash management. More specifically, the case study compares the environmental footprint of an ash deposit for a number of operational water management scenarios. The methodology considers leachate generation processes from ash impoundments to obtain a time-dependent concentration profile of mobile constituents at the interface between the ash impoundment and the surrounding environment. This leachate prediction modelling is subsequently linked to plume dispersion modelling tools to determine the fate and transport of leached components, predominantly salts, into groundwater. Together, these provide a measure of the extent to which a land mass is affected by leachate migration from the deposit. To determine the exact boundary between regions of acceptable and unacceptable risk to the environment, we use Ecological Risk Assessment concepts. In this way it is possible to obtain a time dependent affected land footprint which could be used as an indicator of the environmental impact of solid waste management practices. This information can be included in a set of environmental criteria which form the basis of an overall environ-mental impact assessment, using tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The value of LCA is that its structure is consistent with accepted models of environmental decision making, where different approaches to valuation in impact assessment assist in prioritizing impacts on the basis of their perceived significance. The proposed ?affected land footprint? metric represents a significant improvement over current LCA impact indicators for solid waste management practices. Keywords: Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Risk Assessment; Life Cycle Assessment; coal ash; leachability; salinity

Jan 1, 2002

By P. van der Steen

This paper examines the historical developments in diamond beneficiation technology and the impacts on the industry. The art of diamond beneficiation has given way to the application of scientific process, but at considerable capital expenditure. The shift in beneficiation methodologies has been disruptive to the traditional skills set of the industry, but evolutionary change continues and has been beneficial to the quality of the final product.

Jan 1, 2010

By F. C. Harris, S. J. Gaab, J. Sattarvand, S. Duzgun

Underground mines are inherently dangerous due to potential hazards such as fires, explosions, and caving of rock. Although these events are rare, once they occur a speedy and safe egress of mineworkers is critical to survival. Static evacuation systems use exit signs or directional lines but can get obstructed or be hardly visible in smoky or dusty conditions. This paper presents the investigation of the effectiveness of a smart evacuation technology in underground mining, where a real-time guidance system leads individuals on an optimised path to the egress while avoiding danger zones, compared to conventional practices. Participants simulated an evacuation from a virtual reality mine, using the conventional system and the smart evacuation system with real-time guidance. The highest reduction in evacuation time using the smart method amounted to nearly 40% on average. Moreover, 83% of participants preferred the smart guidance system, and agreed that it could enhance safety.

Sep 1, 2021

By L. Scott, M. A. Goncalves

Effective communication is a sought-after non-technical skill in the health, safety, and environmental (HSE) function and is fundamental in achieving an organization’s safety objectives. While different channels are used to communicate HSE matters, many organizations employ posters, videos, and/ or signs containing images to convey information. Communication through signage and graphical hazard symbols has been regulated in standards, but vast sections of HSE communication are bespoke communications and exist outside the sphere of standards. Effective HSE communication through images requires an understanding of the organizational culture in which the images will be used, as well as an understanding of the semiotics of the images themselves. Creative interpretation within HSE communication can create situations where the message that was received is not the message that was intended, leading to confusion and misinterpretation. This paper is aimed at elucidating the semiotics of South African HSE visual content. It was found that the indexical mode of images was most preferred in visual communication, and text-only designs the least preferred. Senders and receivers of messages differ in their opinions on the complexity of HSE communication.

Feb 2, 2021

By E. J. Y., G. J. McLachlan, E. Amini, Koha

Inferring individual component flotation rates from recovery-time data of ore complexes is important in optimising and designing minerals processing plants. However, existing two-component first-order flotation models are computationally intensive to solve using conventional non-linear least squares regression. In this paper, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is used to approximate the inverse function which predicts the two-component first-order model parameters using recovery-time data. This paper compares the accuracy and computation speed of the proposed CNN against traditional non-linear least squares regression on 1 million generated data based on a known two-component firstorder kinetic model. It is shown that using a CNN is possible to approximate the inverse function for the non-invertible two-component model with recovery-time as an input matrix for convolution operations. The CNN method is 450 times faster to compute than the Trust-Region (TR) non-linear least squares regression algorithm. However, the CNN model is less accurate compared to the TR algorithm overall. Keywords: Flotation kinetics, convolutional neural network, inverse problem, modelling and simulations

Jan 1, 2020

By C. Yi, M. Onifade, B. Genc, S. Dineva, T. Zvarivadza, M. Khandelwal

Deep level hardrock mining faces increasing challenges from elevated in situ stresses and associated rockbursts. This study aims to develop a systematic framework for evaluating destress blasting effectiveness, with a focus on deep Swedish hardrock mines. The methodology integrates a critical review and adaptation of global best practices: advanced numerical modelling (static and dynamic simulations), field-based rock fracture monitoring using ground penetrating radar and borehole imaging, and application of rockburst prediction criteria including the strain energy storage coefficient (F), brittle shear ratio, and burst potential index. Geostatistical simulations, machine learning models, and industrial internet of things-based, real-time monitoring are proposed to enhance predictive accuracy, model calibration, and operational adaptability. Key findings show that effective destress blasting evaluation requires multi-modal integration of numerical outputs, field observations, microseismic trends, and uncertainty quantification, accounting for site-specific geological variability and dynamic stress redistribution. The study advances the field by proposing a predictive, feedback-driven evaluation framework tailored for deep Swedish mining conditions, capable of improving proactive rockburst risk management. It offers both practical tools for mining practitioners to optimise stress management, reduce seismic hazards, and enhance excavation safety, and academic foundations for future refinement of destress blasting models, geotechnical monitoring strategies, and adaptive design protocols. This research contributes to safer, more efficient deep mining operations by bridging gaps between theoretical modelling, empirical monitoring, and real-time, data-driven blast design optimisation strategies.

Jun 27, 2025

By M. Rudolph, A. van Hall, G. Öktem, S. G. Özkan, A. Hassanzadeh

Despite the four-decade study on ultrasound’s (US) impact on mineral’s floatabilities, there is still not clarity regarding its role in mineral surface wettability. For this purpose, the present investigation endeavours ……the hydrophobicity and floatability characteristics of a chalcopyrite-pyrite-quartz (Cp- Py-Qtz) system in the presence and absence of an ultrasonic pre-treatment. The ultrasonic process was carried out by a sonopuls at a constant frequency of 20 kHz with an adjustable power level from 30 to 200 W. Initially, the impact of sonication time (15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 s as well as 10, 20 and 30 min) and power magnitude (30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 W) were evaluated while the dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity and pH were also monitored. Collector-less micro-flotation tests were carried out on the non-pre-treated and the US pre-treated samples at 60 W and 15 s. The samples’ hydrophobicities were determined by the drop shape analysis approach. The dissolved-oxygen level was varied using a mini bench pressurised water reactor to study the effect of O2(aq) concentration on the chalcopyrite and pyrite wettability characteristics. The results showed that the minerals’ hydrophilicities were relatively more sensitive to the sonication’s time than its power that resulted in reducing all three minerals’ hydrophobicities. In addition, it was found that the dissolved-oxygen content and creation of sub-micron sized bubbles led to an improvement on chalcopyrite and pyrite hydrophobicities. Finally, we proved that the Cp’s floatability increased and Qtz’s recovery reduced while being subjected to the ultrasonic irradiation (15 s at 60 W); however, Py’s recovery remained constant. This conclusion confirmed the possibility of a selective separation in ultrasound-assisted copper ore flotation. We recommend that further advanced investigations be conducted, using an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to thoroughly understand the surface modifications induced by the ultrasonication

Jan 1, 2020

By H. W. Glen

The use of a personal style (mainly active voice and first person) makes technical writing more pleasant to read, and helps the writer to express his meaning clearly and to avoid many of the stylistic errors normally encountered in that type of writing.

Jan 1, 1979

By K. Thambi

The court in Baleni v Minister of Mineral Resources [2019] 2 SA 453 GP and [2020] 4 All SA 374 (GP), deliberated on the protection of rights of a community holding informal land tenure under Customary Law. The contention related to the necessary level of consent needed to acquire a mining right over such land. Moreover, whether consultations with such communities (Section 23, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA) or consent (Section 2, Interim Protection of Informal Land Rights Act, No. 31 of 1996 (IPILRA)) was required to acquire such right. The case has a significant bearing on the granting of mining rights in South Africa, and the discretion of the Minister of Mineral Resources (the Minister) in this regard. However, the objectives of the MPRDA and IPILRA do not dovetail, therefore consultation and consent are not mutually exclusive (Tlale, 2020). This note argues that, despite the resounding victory of this case, the peripheral basis surrounding the decision and the various levels of engagement require serious deliberation. Equally, the degree of reliance on the IPILRA requires clarity to avoid aborting the fundamental objectives of the MPRDA. This paper provides considerations and recommendations that may reduce or eliminate the tensions between the statutory and socio-economic rights in the application of the two statutes.

Sep 1, 2022

By F. Mwaura

"The aim of the audit was to determine whether the mining project environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in Kenya are undertaken according to international best practice. A sample of 50 EIA reports for the 2007–2016 period was evaluated using 18 criteria in the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) guidelines. The findings showed that only two criteria were considered ‘excellent’ according to the ELAW guidelines, namely baseline environmental assessment and prediction of physical impacts. Six criteria were found to be ‘satisfactory’, including prediction of social impacts, analysis of alternative options, and impact mitigation. The reports were quite weak in terms of: consideration of all phases in the mining cycle, environmental regulatory framework, prediction of biological impacts, stakeholder consultation and engagement, integration of human right issues, and integration of climate change and cost-benefit analysis. It is therefore recommended that the Kenyan National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) should consider tightening the EIA terms and conditions in the approval of statutory terms of reference (ToR) for full-scale mining EIAs to ensure improved performance of EIA as a tool for environmental protection. IntroductionThe nexus between society and the environment has continued to generate interest because the environment is the source of goods and services that sustain the various needs of human beings as outlined in the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) (Armstrong and Peart, 2000; Sutton 2004; Chakrabarti 2007; Strange and Bayley 2008). All the five generic categories of societal needs, namely physiological needs (food, water, clothing, medicines, etc.), residential and occupational needs (shelter, transport, energy, etc.), economic needs (tradeable goods and services), leisure and recreational needs (tourism), and cultural and spiritual needs (e.g. sacred resources and ecosystems) (Mwaura et al. 2016) are addressed by the environment. Consequently, a wide range of development sectors have been established around the world in order to address the above needs (Lederer, Galtung, and Antal, 1980; Rammelsberg et al., 2006; Noonan, 2014). All these development sectors rely entirely on the environment for their proper functioning, as shown in Table I."

May 1, 2019

By G. Popplewel

Commencing with the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) conclusions, the Orapa 3 process design evolved through a phase of value-engineering studies. An overall re-evaluation of the originally proposed process design was necessary both in order to address the interim increase in target throughput from 9.8 Mtpa to 12 Mtpa as well as to increase capital efficiency. In the interests of clarity, the PFS process design for Orapa 3 has been omitted from this paper, as it is no longer relevant. Recognition is however due to those engaged in earlier phases of the Orapa 3 project with respect to fundamental mass-balancing modelling; and ore and diamond characterization, which fanned the basis for the process design that has evolved from feasibility study activities.

Jan 1, 2010

By T. Bruce, R. C. A. Minnitt

Mining operations are generally reluctant to install high-cost sampling systems at operations that have been functioning for many years. The principal objection to installing appropriate equipment to extract correct and representative samples in process flows is the time and costs involved. The Theory of Sampling (TOS) provides a structured framework for identifying and quantifying the errors and bias associated with any sampling event, but this may be insufficient to initiate substantial investment in correctly designed sampling equipment. Financial losses arising from substandard sampling installations are usually disregarded because the value-add from a good quality sampling solution is invisible, but the cost is quite obvious. Depending on the needs, a less-than-perfect or fit-for-purpose sampling solution may be acceptable, provided the magnitude of sampling errors is understood and the assay results are interpreted accordingly. Categorical levels of acceptable accuracy and precision can be established depending on the sampling position in the mining value chain and the nature of the decisions to be made. The objective benefits of proposed fit-for-purpose sampling solutions should be presented to relevant decision-makers in such a way that adverse subjective decisions are countered so that appropriate solutions are implemented. Practical examples of the benefits from motivating the implementation of fit for purpose sampling solutions at sampling facilities around the world are provided.

Jul 2, 2022

By L. Roux

The initial evaluation of a coal deposit often raises uncertainty with regard to the accuracy of the reported Resources and Reserves. Reconciliation of results from mining and beneficiation with the original raw field data highlights deficiencies in original estimations. Credible Resource and Reserve estimation forms the basis on which an entire mining enterprise is motivated, initiated, funded, and established as a commercially viable proposition. This is required for sustainable extraction purposes and to support vital downstream industries such as power generation. Accurate determination of the density of the matrix of the material being evaluated is the key to credible values being obtained for Resources and Reserves. Losses between 15% and 20% of the Resource/Reserve can be realized if incorrect densities are applied to the tonnage derivation. Coal plies and particles have different relative densities, determined by the maceral composition, rank, and mineral and moisture content. These factors in turn contribute to the moisture, volatile matter, ash and carbon contents of a coal, which affect the overall density of the raw coal. More specifically, the relationship of ash to density and the effective matrix porosity were found to be critical in solving the greater majority of the problems in predictive calculations. A major deficiency identified is the inability to determine effective porosity, allowing absorption of adventitious moisture and altering the mass of the core sample. Although the volume of the raw material is altered through crushing, the change in mass after controlled air-drying, used with the original geometrical volume of the raw material, provides a credible air-dry density and allows the determination of the volumetric change related to effective porosity. This parameter can be validated through the evaluation of proximate ash using the ash-adjusted algorithm and a correction for the inherent moisture applied to also give a credible relative density value for an air-dried sample. A combination of theoretical, empirical, and reconciliatory evaluations of the available data, taken from the exploration phase through the mining process to final production, has shown that an integrated approach using the ash-adjusted density (AAD) methodology, in conjunction with other evaluative techniques, provides credible results with a considerably higher degree of accuracy than is currently possible.

May 1, 2021

By F. Hörtkorn, Y. Narainsamy

Rather quietly, a new generation of European norms dealing with earthworks has been developed over the past few years, in particular a part of EN 16907 pertaining to extractive waste. Whereas the majority of the parts deal with routine geotechnical aspects, one part deals specifically with tailings dams. The standard is currently in draft form but if this becomes a European Standard, members of the European Union are bound to comply with the regulations. As such, the standard has the capacity to influence mining in Europe and potentially in South Africa. In this paper we review the standard and compare it to the South African standard on mine residues and the recently published Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). We conclude found that although the European norm makes great strides towards increasing tailings dam safety, there is room for improvement. The current South African standard has served well since its inception, but can be improved by using concepts from the European and global tailings standards.

Jun 2, 2022

By Peter Stacey

This presentation provides comments on the increasing challenges associated with pit slope designs from the perspective of a design reviewer. Besides the technical issues related to the significant increase in current and proposed slope heights since the primary methodology in current use for pit slope designs was developed, other factors are coming into play. These include changes in mining equipment and associated operating practices, as well as a growing awareness on the part of mining executives and other stakeholders of the significance of stable, or at least well-managed, slopes. In the latter area, the associated clarification of responsibility has led to the increased use of either in-house or independent review consultants working on the behalf of management. From a technical perspective, since the mid-1970?s there have been significant improvements in the tools, particularly analytical methods, that are available to slope designers. There is also an increased understanding of the importance of a detailed geological model, with strong emphasis on alteration and/or structure to form the platform for the slope designs. However, the basic technology for determining the rock strength aspects has changed little, although an expanding body of experience is being accumulated in its use and there is a reasonable degree of comfort in its application for slope heights of up to at least 500 m. In addition, slope management is now viewed as a critical part of the implementation of slope designs and this has been supported by continuing improvements in slope monitoring systems. In recent years safety has become a primary concern, in part as a result of some major slope failures that have attracted the attention of regulators and the public, as well as mining executives, who are being held more responsible for unsafe conditions and associated events. There is therefore a growing demand for risk assessments to replace the deterministic design approaches upon which the current design technology is largely based. The focus of mine executives on safety has undoubtedly in part facilitated the recent long overdue revitalization of research into the design and stability of large pit slopes, the requirement for which has been recognized for many years by practitioners. This research, as well as the CSIRO Large Open Pit Study, will almost certainly provide advances beyond the empirical strength determination methods such as the Hoek-Brown failure criterion, which form the basis for current rockmass strength determination. At the same time, as mentioned above, there is a growing awareness of the requirement for a detailed structural model as a major component of every large slope design. In addition, other areas requiring further research include the impact of groundwater pressures on rock mass strength, particularly in rocks with low permeabilities, and the role of stress in high open pit slopes. From the perspective of design implementation, even with the recent significant advances in metal prices, mine operators remain under pressure to minimize mining costs. To address these constraints, mining equipment of ever increasing size is being introduced. There are, however, some disadvantages to this trend in the area of slope design. For example, the large electric shovels are not well designed for scaling bench faces, nor are they cost effective in this mode. As a result, specialized equipment may be needed in the mining cycle to perform the clean-up duties, which in turn increases operating costs. Further, where the large equipment is used in minimum width pushbacks to reduce the instantaneous stripping ratio, the advance rates can be high, but at the same time the associated changes in operating procedures are often not conducive to the concurrent use of such measures as controlled blasting, careful scaling and drain hole installation that generally improve stability. The resulting conflicts which may arise between the interests of production and those of slope stability are often exacerbated by the fact that these stabilization techniques actually increase the operating costs on which the operations manager is frequently judged, even though there is an overall increase in profit. Meeting the objective of developing slope designs which are practicable , i.e., achievable in terms of every aspect of the operating constraints in the specific pit, requires interaction and compromise between the geotechnical engineer, mine planners and operating staff during the formulation of the design criteria. In the current environment, it is often no longer sufficient to present slope designs in deterministic terms to a mine planner who accepts them almost without question. Increasingly, the requirement is that they be proposed within the framework of risk levels, related both to safety and to economic outcomes, to a decision maker who may not be a technical expert in the mining field. In this context, the mine executives must have sufficient information and understanding to be able to establish acceptable levels of risk for the company and other stakeholders; in this process the slope designers must play a major role. These changing requirements for presentation of slope designs necessitate clear communication of the basis for the design, which may be very complex, so that the implications of the designs may be thoroughly understood by all concerned. To ensure clarity at this stage, the slope designer must not only quantify the uncertainty in the input parameters, including the geological model, but must also be able to communicate and defend the resulting design recommendations. Where particular designs may have high associated risks, simply because of the degree of uncertainty in the data, this must also be recognized and proposed methods of reducing the uncertainty included in the presentation. In summary, from a reviewer?s perspective slope designs must not only be technically sound, but must also address the broader context of the mining operation as a whole, taking into account such factors as safety aspects, the available equipment to implement the designs, and the acceptable risk levels for the company. In addition, the designs must be presented in a way that will allow the mine executives, who are ultimately responsible, and the operators, who implement the designs, to fully understand the basis and short-comings of the designs and the risks associated with deviation from any constraints defined by the designer. It goes without saying that there must also be a well-defined monitoring system to confirm stability and detect and manage any variations in the design model or unexpected instability.

Jan 1, 2006

By F. T. Cawood, T. Chikande, H. R. Phillips

Underground mines require electricity to operate both the main surface fans and auxiliary systems, with primary ventilation systems typically accounting for approximately 40–60% of the mine’s overall electricity consumption. The primary reason for this considerable expense is that most underground ventilation systems are designed for peak demand, regardless of the actual demand, which is commonly dictated by diesel equipment usage in trackless mining operations. Most platinum mines on the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe tend to operate their ventilation systems at this peak level, despite the mine’s air quantity being well in excess of the ‘true’ ventilation needs. This is due to a lack of appropriate ventilation controls. The authors designed and installed a ventilation-on-demand system at one of the bord and pillar platinum mines to minimize the use of redundant air in underground operations. Fourth industrial revolution techniques were applied to the environmental monitoring and tracking systems thereby optimizing air quantity demands. The mine managed to reduce its annual power consumption by 23% through the implementation of manual control and time-of-day scheduling levels of the ventilationon- demand concept. There was also a 6% productivity improvement, mainly attributable to an increased face time as a result of the significant reduction in the re-entry period following a blast. This paper introduces a novel concept of ventilation optimization through digital transformation targeting mainly room and pillar platinum mines. A system was designed, installed, and commissioned, though there is currently an ongoing optimization process to harness the full benefits such as productivity enhancement, reduced power costs, and improved worker health.

Dec 13, 2022