Limpopo Business 2017-18 edition

INTERVIEW
IMAGES COURTESY OF DE BEERS VENETIA MINE
called Renuna for accommodation. Smaller local
building contractors are also helping us to develop
structures on site.
How long is the tunnel from the surface to
the mine?
We are developing three access points. The decline is
2.5km and the vertical depth is about 400m. The decline
assists with developing the top of the mine. The
decline will be completed this month and we have
started with lateral development towards ore bodies.
The two vertical shafts, which are about 550m
below the surface, will eventually be 1km in depth.
At what speed are the vertical shafts
being developed?
We are currently achieving approximately 40-45m
per month.
What are some of the key challenges you
face in this project?
Some of the key challenges we have is obtaining
specialist skills required for shaft sinking. We are
competing with a project in Mongolia and one in
Zambia. Obtaining the correct skills set within the SA
environment is tricky, including the skills set
that we require for the operational phase of the
underground mine.
Are there any new techniques being used
on the project?
The shaft sinking methodology we are employing
through Murry & Roberts is the first of its kind in
South Africa. We awarded it to Murray & Roberts
based on the safety associated with its method.
The old method did concrete lining concurrently
with development. We do everything in line, making
sure we don’t expose people to people working
on top of them. This affects the advance rate,
but it is a significantly safer method.
From a safety record perspective, we are doing
well compared to other similar projects in SA.
Shaft sinking is typically associated with severe
accidents. While we have not yet achieved our goal
of zero harm, we have progressed significantly on
our journey.
51 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2017/18