There is a general agreement that the quarrying sector is evolving, with a renewed focus on the environment and energy efficiency, amongst other areas of attention. However, Hunter-Smith notes that quarrying is fundamentally the same process as it was in years gone by, but it is what individuals working in the industry have learned through years of experience, that is shaping the industry. That is what this year’s conference will highlight to help create a safer, healthier and productive quarrying environment.
“While quarrying has always been referred to as ‘other’ within the mining sector, it is governed by the same legislation as the mainstream mining sector. Given that we mine a low-value, high-volume product, the constant change in legislation, which by its nature is very expensive to comply with, has meant that aggregate operations have found it extremely onerous to stay on top of costs,” says Hunter-Smith.
To navigate some of the challenges facing the industry, he says, new technology is coming to the fore and it is encouraging to see many operations adopting technology to simplify some of the daily tasks. For example, the use of drones for quarry mapping and surveying, belt scales for data at the quarry operator’s fingertips and better blasting systems for optimal blasts, are some of the new approaches redefining tasks in quarrying.
“It is, however, important to note that quarries are only able to adopt these new technologies once the construction industry improves and more substantial contracts come to market across South Africa. In turn, this stimulates the economy. Yes, there are some fantastic projects on the go, such as the N3 highway upgrade between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, but there needs to be a drive from government to create a conducive environment for private construction investment as well,” says Hunter-Smith.
Respond to changes
Hunter-Smith reiterates the need for quarry owners to prioritise the adoption of technology to enhance safety, improve efficiency, reduce costs and minimise environmental impact through data analysis, and remote operation, ultimately leading to a more sustainable and productive industry.
He also urges operations to fast-track their traffic management plans and identify areas where significant risk exists. This, he says, will inform whether there is need to adopt new technology such as proximity detection systems (PDS) and collision avoidance systems (CAS). South Africa is a global leader in the adoption of PDS/CAS in mining, driven by legislation mandating their use of this technology on trackless mobile machinery (TMM) to enhance safety and prevent accidents.
While there is a better understanding and commitment to the entire PDS/CAS rollout process, Hunter-Smith highlights some of the challenges for the quarrying industry. One of the major ones is that the technology does not come cheap, yet quarries do not make large amounts of money.
“Our commodity is not valued in thousands of dollars as do the likes of gold and platinum, but rather a few hundred rands per tonne, and this makes big, quick changes difficult in our environment. That is why we have adopted a long-term game with moderate, but constant improvement to our operations. These can be observed in the amazing results of the ASPASA audits. Hats off to the ASPASA auditing team and the great work they do to make a difference in the quarrying industry – to guide and share positive practices that make the difference,” says Hunter-Smith.
Big role
Hunter-Smith commends industry associations such as IQSA and ASPASA for their role in moulding a resilient quarrying sector. ASPASA, he says, has its hands full, helping its members navigate the changes that affect their operations, as well as lobbying with the various governmental bodies on behalf of the industry.
“Letisha van den Berg and her team at ASPASA are doing a remarkable job navigating these changes and also paving the way forward for a sustainable industry,” says Hunter-Smith. “IQSA is there to promote the training and education that is required to ensure the next set of leaders are ready for future changes and how possibly to deal with them. The new, young members should look within the IQSA membership for a mentor to assist and guide them in their career path within the industry.”
More expectations
Delegates to this year’s conference can also look forward to a full programme, with some formidable guest speakers. Peter van Kets, a renowned keynote speaker, will kickstart the conference. Van Kets is one of the world’s top professional endurance adventurers, a conservationist and an international keynote and inspirational speaker.
“The industry can also look forward to a presentation by David Msiza, Chief Inspector of Mines at the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, who will give insights into some of the new developments from a regulator’s perspective. We will also have a political and policy analyst, Theo Venter, who will paint the political and policy picture for the industry,” explains Hunter-Smith.
In addition, the awards dinner, where the top performing operations in environmental management and health and safety are recognised, is always a major highlight of the conference. “We will also use the evening to recognise individuals who go the extra mile to add value to the industry. This year, we will also honour some IQSA members with the longest membership – some of them having been part of the association for more than 20 years,” concludes Hunter-Smith.
