Australian underground mining con- tractor Barminco will be exhibit- ing at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba for the fourth year in a row, as Africa is one of its key growth markets, the company reports.

Its newly appointed CEO Peter Stokes will also be attending the event.

“We hope to deepen our understanding of the underground mining landscape in Africa and align our services and value with its challenges and opportunities,” says Barminco business development manager Mark Everett.

He points out that the company’s African business is growing, both directly through Barminco and through its joint venture, African Underground Mining Services (AUMS), with Australian diversified mining and services company Ausdrill.

“We hope to continue to build on this success, and events such as the Mining Indaba are part of that process.

“It remains one of the key conferences on our calendar and is a great way to connect with current and future business partners,” says Everett.

As a hard rock underground mining contractor, Everett says mining in Africa is entering an exciting growth phase, as many mines are moving towards underground operations to extend mine life.

However, he points out that there are a number of challenges, such as safety and training, which continue to be issues on the continent.

“A proactive approach is required for the continuous improvement of the working environment, training and safety systems,” he says.

Everett adds that as mine sites move to underground mining, drilling challenges that are presenting themselves include orebodies becoming more difficult to access. “An investment in expertise and technology is the way to overcome this challenge,” he says.

He notes that improving efficiencies in mining development and production is also key for underground operations.

“Service providers play a role in the solution to this challenge. “They deliver value through best practice methods by using the best technology and equipment. “Training and safety standards also play a fundamental role,” he says.