Whether it is a greenfield mine, an expansion or a transition from opencast to underground, the shift to steady state production is often one of the riskiest phases in a mine’s lifecycle. It is during this period that shaft sinking and mine development take place – stages where unexpected and challenging conditions are almost always encountered.

Speaking to Mining Weekly, Cementation Africa new business director Graham Chamberlain explains that few mining companies have the in-house skill sets required for these arduous and highly specialised activities, as they are only needed occasionally.

“This is why clients call on companies like Cementation Africa to get them started. “We can initiate and develop everything until the project reaches a steady state, then hand it over to them,” he says.

Drawing on over 50 years of experience, Cementation Africa undertakes a broad range of development work – from shaft and decline establishment to ore reserve expansion and extraction.

Chamberlain says this experience is particularly valuable for clients without the training or infrastructure to start mining operations themselves.

“As an underground mining contracting company, our expertise allows clients to start projects without immediately investing in extensive training and personnel.

“A vital element of success is the relationship between the client and contractor, along with the right equipment selection. This can either be equipment they already own or that we procure on their behalf,” says Chamberlain.

Cementation Africa also contributes a strategic fleet of flameproof equipment for coal mining projects.

The company’s in-house capabilities extend to mine design, underground equipment rebuilds and maintenance programmes.

A fully documented handover process marks the end of each development phase or the start of steady state production.

“We differentiate ourselves through our comprehensive systems and handover processes. These encompass everything from procurement, warehousing and equipment maintenance to payroll and safety systems,” he says.

With executives and managers who have hands-on operational experience, Cementation Africa brings deep institutional knowledge to effectively manage risk.

“Safety is a cornerstone of our culture.

“Our planning and systems ensure the highest standards and this is reflected in the integrity of our project infrastructure and the quality systems we implement. Every detail is managed, from survey documents to cement mixes for construction,” says Chamberlain.

Recent Projects

Among the company’s recent successes are two platinum projects in South Africa, where Cementation Africa guided clients from contractor models to owner-miner operations.

“We developed the infrastructure for narrow reef, bord and pillar mining, initiated production up to steady state and then handed over in an orderly fashion,” says Chamberlain.

Each handover includes a comprehensive data pack covering all completed work, providing a foundation for the client to move forward confidently.

Most recently, Tharisa Minerals announced Cementation Africa as a key partner in its strategic transition from opencast to underground mining.

“We believe this reflects our reputation for safely delivering projects on time and to specification,” he says.

On the technology front, Chamberlain notes that while Cementation Africa embraces innovation, it adopts a cautious approach to automation, prioritising safety over productivity.

“Our most effective solutions have been in remote-controlled operations that remove personnel from hazardous areas.

“We have also built important partnerships, such as in disk cutting, where our sister company operates the equipment on behalf of the original-equipment manufacturer,” says Chamberlain.

Adding to this, he highlights the company’s focus on leveraging digital technology.

“Our focus is on continual improvement. In addition to fibre and WiFi for faster data transmission underground, we have implemented a ‘mule’ data transfer system that enables machines to network, gather data and upload it at strategic points,” says Chamberlain.

Through this combination of technical excellence, collaboration and safety-first innovation, Cementation Africa continues to play a pivotal role in smoothing the journey from mine development to steady state production.