Xiaomi launches Mi Air Purifier 2 in India at a staggeringly low Rs 9,999

Xiaomi, in an event in New Delhi today unveiled the Mi Air Purifier 2 for an incredibly low price of Rs 9,999.

The Mi Air Purifier 2 is an intelligent product with smart features that make using it to clean the air simply effortless. It comes with a 360 degree 3 layer filter, real time monitoring and timer schedules via the Mi Home app and4 different modes including auto and manual.

Pollution Crisis in India and China
At the event, Xiaomi VP Hugo Barra talked about the pollution crisis globally, especially in countries like India and China. He talked about how Xiaomi is poised to play a part in increasing awareness about air pollution in India and how technology can be applied to better people’s lives.

On a personal note, he also discussed about his move from USA to China and how he never expected the pollution problem to be this bad.

According to the World Health Organization, 22 of the world’s 50 most polluted cities are in India, contributed significantly by industrial and vehicular exhaust. Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) — air pollutants with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less — are small enough to enter even the smallest airways and could result in respiratory and cardiovascular illness.

New MIUI 8 weather app
To increase awareness about air pollution, Xiaomi has now become the first smartphone brand in India to integrate Air Quality Index (AQI) data — which also reflects the measurement of PM2.5 particles in the air — into its MIUI 8 Weather app.

What are PM 2.5 and PM 10 particles?
PM 10 particles are pollutants which are 10 microns in size, approximately the size of a human Air. They include things such as dust, pollen and mold.

PM2.5 particles are pollutants which are 2.5 microns in size, 1/30th the size of a human hair In fact, they are so fine that they are invisible to the human eye tand can go deep into our lungs and blood stream, causing cause short term and long term health problems.

Mi Air Purifier to the rescue
Mi Air Purifier 2 quickly removes PM2.5 particles, dust, indoor plant pollen, pet fur and more. With its high 310m3/h CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), Mi Air Purifier 2 takes just 10 minutes to circulate purified air in a 21m2 room.

Extremely quiet and energy efficient
Even so, the motor is extremely energy efficient with a low power consumption of 4.8W, while advanced aerodynamics reduce noise and wind resistance, resulting in a noise level as low as 30dB in Night mode.

360 degree 3 layer filter
The 360° cylindrical filter on Mi Air Purifier 2 takes in air more efficiently from every direction compared to conventional air purifiers. Its triple-layer design removes particles larger than 0.3 microns with a high-density EPA filter, while an activated carbon filter removes formaldehyde, bad odour and other harmful substances.

The life of the filter is around 6 months depending upon usage. Changing the filter is very easy and new filters can be bought on mi.com .

Hugo Barra, Vice President, Xiaomi, said: “Air pollution is becoming an alarming public health concern in India. It is heartening to see more conversation around the situation, but there is still a big gap when it comes to consumer awareness. We believe that we are able to play a role in increasing awareness about air pollution by including AQI data into our MIUI Weather app, and by introducing Mi Air Purifier 2 to India. At this game-changing price, Mi Air Purifier 2 is set to disrupt the air purifier category in India, enabling us to bring these technological innovations to everyone.”

Price and availability
Mi Air Purifier 2 will be available on Mi.com starting 26 September at 12 PM, at a price of INR 9,999. It will also be available on Flipkart (exclusive partner) from 2 October.

New filters cost Rs 2,499 and will also be available via mi.com .

Mi Air Purifier 2 in a nutshell
Here are the key features of the Mi Air purifier 2:

Real-time AQI monitoring, Wi-Fi connectivity
Mi Home app smart controls (Android and iOS)
Aerodynamic air vortex, up to 37m2 (400 sq. ft.) coverage
310m3/h Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
360° triple-layer filter, removes harmful PM2.5 articles
4.8W energy saving, ultra-quiet 30dB noise level
Compact form factor: 520mm tall and base area smaller than an A4 sheet of paper
Replacement filter available online at INR 2,499

Information from Techradar

Here are a few articles to read on mine dust and dust monitoring.  I trust you will find them interesting.

Technical Expertise and Product Solutions for Today’s Mining Challenges

The mining industry faces considerable challenges in today’s world. The difference between a productive operation and an inefficient one, often boils down to the right combination of people and products. Workers employ advances in chemistry to help reach higher product performance levels.

Quaker Chemical Corporation (NYSE: KWR, “Quaker”), a global provider of process fluids and chemical specialties including QUINTOLUBRIC^® fire-resistant hydraulic fluids, and DUSTGRIP^® dust suppressants will have experts on-site to present informative, technical solutions at MINExpo 2016.

MINExpo is the premier opportunity to reach Mining’s core market, and to view the latest state-of-the-art equipment and services to increase productivity and reduce cost.  The show runs from September 26^th to 28^th in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Quaker will exhibit in the South Hall – Booth 25313, and will feature a dust suppression simulator and in-booth presentation:

• Guidelines for Selecting the Right Dust Suppressant on Tuesday, September 27^th at 11 AM.  Jon Brown, Business Development Manager – Mining, will discuss various approaches to dust control, products that can be used where dust originates or accumulates, and important factors to consider when selecting a dust suppressant .

The need for improved dust control in mining operations is evident from the Mine, Safety, and Health Administration’s (MSHA’s) new respirable coal dust regulations, which requires lowering the level of respirable dust from 2.0 mg/m³ to 1.5 mg/m³, and mandates a significant increase in sampling frequency.  These new regulations went into full compliance on August 1, 2016.

In alignment with MSHA’s new regulations, Quaker Chemical offers DUSTGRIP^®, a family of dust suppressant products, that now includes a solid product, DUSTGRIP^® JFP-95 , these products:

• Reduce the generation of airborne particulate matter from mines, roads, stockpiles, rail hauls, construction sites, quarries and other areas where air-born dust is a problem
• Increase site safety for workers
• Are more effective than using water alone, reducing costs and saving time

Stop by Quaker’s Booth 25313 to learn about our dust suppression capabilities and to race a full size NASCAR simulator.

For more information on the Quaker booth activities please visit: https://www.quakerchem.com/minexpo.

For more information on Quaker Chemical and its full mining product line offerings, please visit quakerchem.com/mining.

About Quaker Chemical Corporation
Quaker Chemical Corporation is a leading global provider of process fluids, chemical specialties and technical expertise to a wide range of industries, including steel, aluminum, automotive, mining, aerospace, tube and pipe and cans. For nearly 100 years, Quaker has helped customers around the world achieve production efficiency, improve product quality, and lower costs through a combination of innovative technology, process knowledge and customized services. Headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA, Quaker serves businesses worldwide with a network of dedicated and experienced professionals whose mission is to make a difference. Visit quakerchem.com to learn more.

SOURCE Quaker Chemical Corporation

Article sourced from http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/technical-expertise-and-product-solutions-for-todays-mining-challenges-300327918.html

Suit aims at cleanup plan at former Riverside sewer plant

Work is underway to remove contaminated soil from a former sewer plant site in Riverside, but an environmental group’s lawsuit could halt the cleanup.

The state Department of Toxic Substances Control is overseeing work at the roughly 60-acre property between Crest and Rutland avenues that’s known as the ag park.

A sewage spill in 2003 led to the discovery of cancer-causing polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, in the soil.

After an earlier two-part cleanup, toxic substances officials in 2014 declared the site was suitable for homes. But neighbors and the Jurupa Valley-based Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice pressed for new testing, which last year showed contamination in some spots exceeded the state’s cleanup target.

Final cleanup under a new plan, which was reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as regional air and water regulators, started in August and was in full swing Wednesday, Sept. 14.

While an excavator dug dirt and a worker with a hose sprayed the pile on one part of the land, semi trucks with bins lined up to be loaded with soil from a stockpile and water sprayers drove back and forth to control dust.

Up to 70,000 tons of dirt will be removed, followed by more testing. The process should take five to six months, after which property owner Henry C. “Chuck” Cox hopes to move ahead with building 113 homes, project manager Bob Beers said.

Progress could be slowed or stopped by a suit the environmental justice center filed last month.

It alleges Riverside improperly lifted a stop work order the city placed on the property last year, and that the final cleanup plan should have received a more stringent environmental review.

Riverside Deputy City Attorney Kristi Smith could not be reached for comment Wednesday. City Manager John Russo declined to comment on the suit, but said he didn’t lift the stop work order. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the order would apply to cleanup activities.

Penny Newman, the center’s executive director, said the suit’s goal is not to stop the cleanup.

“What we’re trying to do is get (the state) to do the work properly, and we’re very concerned given the past history of what has happened at that site that local residents are going to be contaminated and exposed to chemicals as they are conducting the work,” she said.

Some residents have said they believe contaminated dirt from the property has gotten into their homes and has caused health problems such as rashes, tumors and cancer. None have made their medical records public, but they continue to press for a health study and testing and cleanup of their homes.

The site cleanup plan required dust monitoring equipment that can be moved downwind of wherever work is taking place, and someone from the toxics department is on the site during the work, said Greg Neal, engineering geologist for the department.

Since work began, a phone line for reporting dust problems has received two calls, and no PCBs were detected in the eight available days of air samples, he said.

Newman said she objects to the cleanup plan for several reasons. It focuses on PCBs but ignores other harmful chemicals, and the soil removal and testing don’t go deep enough, she said. Also, she added, air monitoring equipment doesn’t measure very fine particles, which can be breathed deep into the lungs.

The lawsuit asks that work be halted and the city be forced to do further environmental review of the cleanup plan. A hearing is set for Oct. 5 in Riverside County Superior Court.

Article from www.pe.com

Centre for Environmental Rights highlights mining’s socio-economic challenges

Thanks for reading!!

Hi!  I found these two articles on the effects of harmful radiation very interesting.  Take a look….

How 10-year-old Syenergy Environics is slowly nullifying the effects of harmful radiation from gadgets

Our lives are ruled by smart devices. Every aspect of it, be it at home, office, or while socialising in restaurants or bars, is controlled by devices. While there are numerous studies that talk about the importance of soaking up the sun or exploring outdoors, did you know it was equally important that your building is healthy and free of radiation, especially given the number of mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices present in a closed environment?

It was something 65-year-old Ajay Poddar discovered himself when he was told that the geopathic radiation was affecting the work at his gas manufacturing plant at Sikandrabad. Several experts suggested that it was wrongly built and would need major deconstruction and demolition.

Diving into research

But being an engineer himself, Ajay wanted to dig deeper, as he also could not afford any of the drastic changes that were recommended. His research confirmed that most of the products and devices one uses today emit electromagnetic waves, which are harmful to the human body and the environment.

He then started looking at experimenting on non-destructive or non-intrusive ways of understanding and correcting radiations and energy flows. He established Syenergy Environics in February 2007 in Delhi to study electromagnetic radiation and its effect on the human body.

The team developed Envirochip, a CE-certified product that can be attached to a mobile phone. Operating at frequencies between 500 and 600 THz, Envirochip acts as a radiation protector for both the electronic devices and their users. The device works over the constant microwaves that are emitted from computers, mobile phones, and other devices and make it compatible with the human body.

Building the devices

Ajay explains that the chip takes care of any harmful non-thermal aspect of the radiation, thus preventing biological damage and weakening of the immune system without affecting the signal strength of the device it is fixed on. While for mobile phones it is priced betweeen Rs 250 and 825, most of Syenergy Environics’ products are targeting the business-to-business (B2B) segment.

While it was incorporated in 2007, Ajay began work for the company close to two decades ago. On how powerful Envirochip is, Ajay explains,

We have developed protocols to detect and correct various natural and environmental radiations, which are harmful without any reconstruction or relocation of people or services. It made sense to build something from natural materials, which can change the nature of the radiations and the energy flows to render them harmless to the human body and even the equipment they are placed on.

On-boarding the right people

With the idea in mind, Ajay knew had to next find well qualified people who were willing to quit their lucrative careers and join him on this endeavour. Manisha Matanhelia is a qualified architect and designer. She has studied traditional architecture of ancient India and has conducted extensive research on environment with bioelectromagnetic energies and their effects on human health.

Manisha too was trying to find someone to partner with in this field and after several discussions, the duo decided to work together. They were joined by Ajay’s son Pranav Poddar, who was working in the US.

The B2B market

The team currently is working on a B2B model and claims to be working with over 1,900 establishments like Mumbai new T2, Hyderabad International Airport, banks like YES Bank and other public sector units (PSUs).

Syenergy Environics deals with some sources of negative electro magnetic radiation (EMR), like geopathic radiation, negative radiations from mobile towers, severs, cellphones and computers.

K.Ravi, the chief manager of the estate of BPCL Refinery, Mahul Mumbai, who has used Environics says that in Mahul, post energy corrections the plant showed significant improvement and the steam factory performed for 84 days continuously with no shutdowns.

Environics looks at the building, analyses the different radiation segments and sectors, based on which it works along a certification and brings in its products to be attached to different devices.

Environics claims to have had a revenue of Rs 10 lakh in the year it started out. Today, it clocks a revenue of Rs 5 crore per annum. Currently bootstrapped, the team is looking for funding, especially for the B2C devices.

The effects of radiation

A study in the US showed that over 20 percent of the employees working in over 600 offices showed something called as Sick Building Syndrome, which was the cause of tension between staff, loss of concentration, stress, increased staff turnover and lower morale. Studies also suggest that the levels of electromagnetic radiations have increased by close to 100 times in the last 15 years.

The team aims to build more productive workplaces on a sustainability platform and expects to reach about Rs 50 crore by 2018. The plan is to align with other people who are also in the wellness space to make buildings healthy. Ajay adds that there are new products under development so that every kind of electro smog, electromagnetic and Wi-Fi radiations can be corrected without sacrificing or forsaking technology.

This article was sourced from Yourstory.com

Thiruvananthapuram, no need for towering fears on radiation

At a time when there is a big hue and cry over setting up of mobile towers in crowded residential areas of the city, here’s news that may help soothe some frayed nerves.

According to V Raghunandan ITS, Deputy Director General, Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cell, Kerala, electromagnetic emission from mobile towers do not affect human health.

Raghunandan said this at an awareness session conducted for the councillors  and office-bearers of various residents’ associations of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

The session initiated by TERM Cell Kerala, the Vigilance and Monitoring Wing of the Department of Telecommunications, was held in the presence of Thiruvananthapuram District Collector S Venkatesapathy, Additional District Magistrate John Samuel and TERM  Cell Kerala Director, T Sreenivasan ITS.

According to Raghunandan, Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has since 2008 been monitoring global developments and has already taken necessary steps and adopted stricter norms for safety from electromagnetic radiation emitted from mobile towers and mobile handsets.

Based on the recommendations by Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), these norms for exposure limit for the Radio Frequency Field (Base Station Emissions) have been further made stringent and reduced to 1/10th of the existing limits prescribed by International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

“There is a public concern over possible health effects from Electromagnetic Field Radiation (EMR)  exposure from diverse raditaiton sources especially Mobile BTS antennae and mobile. In this regard, several studies have been conducted in different countries, under the aegis of World Health Organization (WHO),” Raghunandan said.

WHO has referred to approximately 25,000 articles published around the world over the past 30 years, and based on an in-depth review of scientific literature, has concluded that current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic field, he added.

In 2014, these limits were reviewed and found adequate by a committee constituted by Allahabad High Court comprising members of IITs Kharagpur, Kanpur, Delhi, Roorkee, Bombay and from other scientific institutions including Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Indian Institute of Toxicology Research Lucknow, and All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Delhi.

“DoT enforces that we follow stricter norms and therefore ensures all BTS should be within safe-limits and certification to this effect is submitted to TERM Cells, BTS sites against which there are public complaints are also tested by TERM Cell based on the procedures prescribed by Telecom Engineering Centers. In case any BTS is found to violate this prescribed EMF norms, they are liable to pay a penalty of Rs.10 lakhs per BTS per incidence including closing of BTS if violation persists,” Raghunandan added.

In Kerala, TERM and DoT have tested more than 15,000 BTS in different areas with high population density and found that the EMF exposure to general public was well within the DoT limits. In Thiruvananthapuram district, out of 6213 BTS, 1927 BTS (in areas of high population density) have been tested till date and all of them are found to be well within the DoT specified limits.

He also said that DoT is launching a National EMF portal soon, where all queries and concerns will be cleared state wise. He also informed that every district in Kerala operates a District Telecom Committee (DTC) and anybody who has concerns regarding EMF and mobile towers could approach the Committee.

Find more at New Indian Express

Thanks for reading!

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Innovative technology solutions for the struggling mining sector will be the focus of a new unit at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), which brings together various disciplines under former School of Mining Engineering head Professor Fred Cawood.   The new Wits Mining Institute will house the school’s already advanced digital mine project – the development of a mock mine within the Chamber of Mines building on Wits University’s West Campus – and a college network tasked with the development of twenty-first century artisan and technician skills.   The institute’s declared mission is to make mining safer and more sustainable by harnessing fast-developing technologies and practices from different sectors. “Sadly, these are not always incorporated into mining applications quickly enough to address the industry’s many challenges,” said Cawood, who added that the institute’s breakthrough was the forging of working links across the university’s schools and research units.   He said that the Wits Mining Institute would draw on a battery of cross-discipline expertise, ranging from architecture, public health, law, global change, population migration, urban development, electronics and computer science.

These disciplines would help to augment the already substantial work being done within the School of Mining Engineering through its Centre for Mechanised Mining Systems and the Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry.   Encouraging progress was already being made to show the path forward for both established deep-level mines and new operations.   Work on converting indoor positioning systems to underground applications was paving the way towards the development of an automated tunnel for mining at depths no longer viable or safe for humans.   Advanced software, sensors and related high-technology infrastructure were facilitating developments like real-time underground airflow modelling and access systems that could automatically exclude personnel restricted by health issues or legal compliance requirements.   These interventions were bringing South Africa closer to the concept of the intelligent mine, where the data required for good decision-making would be available in real time to inform automated responses that removed the risk of human error. Safe and more efficient operations were within reach, provided developers could apply the “remarkable technologies available to us”. The 67 m life-size mine tunnel at Wits University’s mock vertical shaft, stope, lamp room and control room are used for both teaching and research into aspects such as security, systems integration and video analytics.   Modern skills would be developed in line with the needs of mechanised and digital mines, some of which were having to make do with last century’s skills.   The major funders of the digital mining infrastructure include Gold Fields, Aveng Mining, the Minerals and Education Trust Fund, Wits, New Concept Mining and Sibanye Gold, which is currently the largest sponsor.  The research agenda is significant, with 16 postgraduates using the facility for their research and ten undergraduate students gaining digital mining competence, Cawood outlined in a release to Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly Online.

This information was found at miningweekly.com

Dust Monitoring Equipment – providing equipment, services and training in dust fallout management to the mining industry.

BHP fighting rollercoaster legal battle over Brazil dam collapse

Claims and appeals in Brazil’s unpredictable legal environment are obscuring the potential size of BHP Billiton’s burst-dam compensation payout, which is oscillating between a hoped-for $2.3-billion, the sudden return of a suspended $6.2-billion and the refusal to go away of a $58-billion claim. “BHP Billiton has suffered a fresh setback in Brazil,” the Sydney Morning Herald said in a report that quotes Shaw and Partners analyst Peter O’Connor as saying that, under Brazilian law, a large number of independent prosecutors are able to launch claims on behalf of the Brazilian people whenever they see fit.

“This may not be the last time BHP’s legal settlement in the South American nation is interrupted. These headlines are going to keep coming for some time, possibly a very long time, and BHP will have to prove their position. “Maybe the ultimate end here is that BHP and Vale give Samarco back to the Brazilian government,” the paper quoted O’Connor as saying. BHP Billiton, headed by CEO Andrew Mackenzie, is in a 50:50 joint venture (JV) with Vale at Samarco. On March 2, BHP Billiton announced that Samarco, Vale and BHP Billiton Brasil had reached a court-ratified $2.3-billion framework agreement with three tiers of government for the restoration of the environment and communities affected by the Samarco slimes dam failure, the thick red mud from which killed 19 people in Brazil’s worst environmental disaster. The Samarco iron-ore mine has been closed since the accident, with environmental officials maintaining that it will be allowed to reopen only when safety can be assured. Court ratification suspended the civil public claim of $6.2-billion (BRL20-billion) for clean-up costs and damages, only to be overturned on Thursday, when an interim order of the Superior Court of Justice reinstated the $6.2-billion civil claim. “This makes the potential payout a murky issue once again,” The Australian commented on Friday. BHP Billiton Brasil intends to appeal the decision. Samarco will, in the meantime, continue to support the long-term recovery of the communities and environment affected by the dam failure, BHP Billiton said in a media release. Ratification of the framework agreement is seen as crucial to BHP Billiton and Vale avoiding the higher payout, which followed a colossal $58-billion lawsuit lodged by federal prosecutors. “That $58-billion suit, separate to the $6.2-billion claim, was seen to be greatly weakened by the ratification of the March deal, which is why federal prosecutors appealed the decision,” The Australian commented further, adding that ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said at the time that the credit outlook for the Samarco JV partners was not under threat, given the ratification of the March framework agreement. “We understand that the same court, which ratified the March 2016 agreement, will decide whether the ($58bn) lawsuit will proceed,” the ratings agency added at the time. BHP and Vale want to restart the Samarco business, which mines iron-ore and produces iron-ore pellets in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. A restart was expected to occur before the end of this year, but a Samarco executive told Reuters in June that those hopes had been dashed by uncertainties over when the business might receive restart permits. The delayed restart has forced Samarco to lay off about 1000 workers. Meanwhile, BHP Billiton is scheduled to announce its full-year financial results on August 16 and hold its yearly shareholders meeting in Brisbane on November 17.

Read the original article at miningweekly.com

Dust Monitoring Equipment – providing equipment, services and training in dust fallout management to the mining industry.

I found two interesting articles on the mining industry – both sourced from www.miningweekly.com

Northam investing R5.5bn in platinum growth projects

Platinum mining company Northam on Friday elaborated on the company’s suite of four growth projects timed to fill an expected future demand pull unmet by constrained future South African platinum supply.

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange- (JSE-) listed company, headed by CEO Paul Dunne, expects the current challenging market conditions and stressed balance sheets to constrain primary supply from South Africa and global demand to grow in line with world gross domestic product.

Longer term, the company is optimistic about a more positive dollar pricing environment for its platinum-group metals (PGMs).

In addition to the company’s stable production base from the conventionally mined Zondereinde platinum mine and the mechanised Booysendal North mine, the company’s board has approved a total capital expenditure (capex) of R5.5-billion on four growth projects.

By far the biggest of these is the R4.2-billion, six-year, 240 000 oz/y Booysendal South project on which work has already begun and which will reach steady state in 2022.

This project is made up of two upper group two (UG2) mining modules – accessed from a capital-lowering common central portal complex – and one small Merensky reef mining module, similar to the north mine.

At the company’s presentation of 15.7% higher production of 436 960 oz for the year to June 30 when operating profit declined to R383-million on a 6.3% margin, pictures of box cut guniting and development of a pollution control dam were flashed on a large screen. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video).

Work on an aerial conveyor system from a supplier in Austria will deliver ore from the central portal complex to a 250 000 t/m PGM concentrator plant and integrated chrome extraction plant 4 km away, which was acquired with the takeover of the Everest mine from Aquarius Platinum.

Dunne also flashed up details of the three other projects, which include the R300-million, two-year, 25 000 oz/y Booysendal Merensky Phase 1 project at the Booysendal North mine, on which R75-million has already been spent.

Infrastructure has already been established for initial mining to be accompanied by the development of the decline system so that additional mining sections can be established if needed and swing production can be provided.

The Booysendal UG2 North Deepening project, on which R60-million has already been spent and which involves the addition of two extra mining levels, is seen as a logical, capital-efficient extension of the original Booysendal footprint.

The conveyor-decline cluster for this R270-million, three-year, 30 000 oz/y project is already totally on reef and will thus offer an immediate payback element.

The fourth project is the Zondereinde smelter expansion project, on which R292-million has already been spent and commissioning is on schedule for the second half of next year.

This R750-million project, involving the construction of a 20 MW furnace and dryer, follows on the extension of Northam’s strategic partnership with platinum-refining companyHeraeus, which has contributed the first €10-million of a total of €20-million in exchange for a renewal of the current refining arrangements and guarantees a supply of refined metal to the German company.

The company’s mineral reserves have risen from 19.1-million ounces last year to 24.5-million ounces now.

The company, already with long-life Booysendal and Zondereinde operations, has a strategy of growing down the cost curve by developing shallow, mechanisable orebodies.

“Project execution will be key,” Dunne said at the presentation attended by Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly Online.

Read more at Mining Weekly

DMR demands mines improve H&S records, best performing mines recognised

South African mining industry stakeholders must collectively adopt the fundamental stance that if mines cannot undertake mining safely, they should not mine at all, until the necessary measures have been put in place to protect the lives of all mine workers, Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) acting mines chief inspector Xolile Mbonambi said on Friday.

Speaking at the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy’s 2016 MineSafe conference, he emphasised that the DMR was “gravely concerned” about the continuing loss of life at mines across the country.

“The repercussions of fatalities go well beyond the boundaries of mines and have substantial socioeconomic impacts, impacting the hardest on the poorest of the poor in the country and in the communities of neighbouring countries as well,” Mbonambi stated.

He remarked that it was very important for the DMR to continue to determine the reasons for the occurrence of fatalities at mines.

Mbonambi added that, based on the DMR’s preliminary findings, it had issued a number of Section 54 and Section 55 work stoppage notices this year. He explained that the department had found that such stoppages were needed to prevent workers operating in unsafe work areas, which provided mines with the opportunity to ensure they fixed these problem areas.

“I would like to urge all employers, and mine management teams in particular, to take more responsibility for the health and safety of their workers. We should not place more value on profit margins than the lives of workers.

“Without mine workers there would be no mining sector. We should, therefore, continue to work together to improve health and safety of mine workers,” Mbonambi stressed.

Moreover, he pointed out that it was of “great concern” to the DMR that, in the year to date, there had been 61 fatalities recorded in the mining sector with gold (27) and platinum(22) having been the biggest contributors to this “worrying tally”.

Mbonambi pointed out that this was a major setback for the industry, which had consistently recorded improved health and safety records over the past 20 years, and which had achieved its lowest ever fatality number (77) in 2015.

He urged gold and platinum miners to pay more attention to preventing falls of ground, transport-related accidents and the spread of respiratory diseases which continued to be major causes of loss of life at mines.

He said the DMR would continue to work with mining companies to support all health and safety initiatives. “However, we expect companies to fulfill their commitments and . . . not just look good on paper, but strive to achieve genuinely positive results in preventing the loss of life.”

Further, he noted that there was also a need to ensure that mineworkers had the knowledge and skills to exercise their rights to withdraw or refuse to undertake unsafe work or to work in dangerous environments. “The DMR continues to receive reports of intimidation and victimisation of mineworkers who decide to exercise their rights in this regard,” Mbonambi revealed.

He stated that “all employers should walk the talk”, as the department could not continue to condone poor compliance with mining safety standards, as this was resulting in the loss of life at mines.

Mbonambi also called upon mineworkers to not risk their lives in an attempt to achieve production bonuses.

“The DMR has issued directives for all mines to be more vigilant and implement measures which will safeguard the lives of mine workers to ensure the industry aim of causing zero harm to all mine employees,” he noted.

Read the full article at Mining Weekly

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Four Bucket DustWatch unit

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South Africa still reliant on coal, struggling to transition to low-carbon economy

South Africa is the twelfth-greatest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the world, as well as the biggest polluter on the African continent, according to German political foundation Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) South Africa director Renate Tenbusch, speaking at a roundtable event on black industrialists in the green economy, held on Wednesday. Tenbusch noted that the country’s share of global emissions was 1.5% and that it produced half the emissions on the African continent.

Tenbusch noted that the country’s share of global emissions was 1.5% and that it produced half the emissions on the African continent.

“Most of these emissions are released during . . . electricity production,” she stated, citing the National Climate Change Response Policy, tabled in 2011, which documented that electricity generation accounted for 50% of the country’s energy emissions and 40% of total GHG emissions. “More worryingly, 92% of electricity [in South Africa] is produced from coal. There is a direct correlation between the massive [GHG] emissions and the structure of South Africa’s economy,” said Tenbusch, highlighting the South African economy’s overreliance on the traditional energy and minerals sectors. She pointed out that the economy was structured around large-scale, energy-intensive mining and the beneficiation of primary minerals, which pushed its energy intensity to above average, with only ten other countries in the world having higher commercial primary energy intensities. “South Africa’s economy is too energy-intensive and based on the large-scale use of fossil fuels. This strong correlation proves that it is impossible to move to a low-carbon economy without altering the structure of the national economy,” she cited. Tenbusch further noted that, while most analysts discussed climate change with the limited scope of ecological and environmental degradation, FES was focused on the relationship between environmental destruction and socioeconomic underdevelopment. She said that democratic societies had to alter patterns of production, investment and consumption to deal with development and that economic restructuring in South Africa had to be anchored in socioeconomic redress. “Just transitions must be driven by a new sustainable model of industrialisation and this transition should be led by the new African industrialists,” she said. Tenbusch stated that black industrialists in South Africa should be at the forefront of creating an alternative sustainable economy, not only for the benefit of social cohesion but also out of their own individual interests as entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, she pointed out that, in 2015, global GHG emissions showed an overall decline for the first time with China, the US and the European Union managing to reduce their emissions. The reduction of coal-based energy in China was mainly responsible for the decline of these emissions. In 2014, China managed to cover more than half of its energy demand by using wind, hydropower, solar energy and nuclear energy, while in Germany the goal to produce 45% of its energy until 2025 though solar, wind and bio energy – explicitly excluding nuclear energy – was on track. However, Tenbusch highlighted that Germany’s decision to reduce GHG emissions and to opt out of nuclear supply has had huge social impacts, particularly for the working class. “As in South Africa, fossil-based energy production still plays a major role in Germany’s industrial mix,” she said. THE FOOD, ENERGY & WATER NEXUS Also speaking at the event, World Wide Fund for Nature project manager Manisha Gulati stated that unless South Africa had a steady supply of energy, water and food, it would not become an inclusive country. She explained that the food, energy and water nexus stipulated that food could not be produced without electricity and water, and that every part of the country’s water supply chain needed electricity, with 40% of electricity consumption attributed to heating water, in addition to that used to pump water. “During 2008’s rolling blackouts, the agriculture sector, which consumes a total of 3% of electricity in the country, saw a rising electricity bill of 23%. When farmers were finally able to cope with these hikes, water shortages came in the form of the worst drought the country had seen in a hundred years,” she said. Gulati added that the current drought had contributed to massive food price hikes and a major shortage of food. “Before the drought we were exporting maize and sugar, but we are now importing maize, the staple food of most people in the country,” she said. Gulati pointed out that the price of maize rose 20% last year and would increase by an additional 10% this year. She added that there had been a 30% increase in food prices, owing to the countrywide water shortages. She also cited the 96c diesel hike in April, which cost the farming sector an additional R950-million. “Farmers can either pass these costs on to the consumer or shut down their operations. According to the National Development Plan, the agriculture sector will be the largest job creator until 2030, [but] without affordable electricity and water, the country wont be able to manage [these expectations],” she said. Gulati stated that large tracts of farmland were in danger from expanding coal mines in the traditionally fertile heartland of Mpumulanga, and that, further, out of 19 water management areas, five were experiencing problems. She added that, statistically, the water shortfall would be 1.7% by 2025.  She noted that demand for coal in South Africa was high, coal mines were expanding, and coal-fired power plants were highly water-intensive. “Coal-fired power plants pollute water that is available to the population. In fact, coal-fired plants have polluted the Olifants river catchment to such an extent that these plants are no longer able to use that water in their own operations,” she said.

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Petra sells 121.2- carat diamond for $6 million

London-listed Petra Diamonds (LON:PDL) has sold its recently found 121-carat white diamond for $6 million as part of its June sales process in Johannesburg.

The diamond was found at Petra’s Cullinan mine in South Africa, which has yielded several massive gems, including the largest rough gem diamond ever discovered.

The stone, a Type II unearthed from the company’s Cullinan mine in South Africa, was acquired by a joint venture comprised of Nemesis International and Golden Yellow Diamonds, two large diamond manufacturing specialists, Petra said.

The Cullinan mine, located north-east of Pretoria, has yielded several massive gems, including the largest rough gem diamond ever discovered — the Cullinan. The 3,106-carat stone was cut into two highly significant diamonds, which can be found in the Crown Jewels of the Queen of England.

Petra, which operates four diamond mines in South Africa and one in Tanzania, posted a loss for the first half of its financial year in February, due to fewer sales demand and a glut of supply that pushed rough diamond prices down by 9%.

This information was found at mining.com

Alrosa gets own security force

Diamond giant PJSC Alrosa announced this week that the Russian government has authorized it to establish a departmental security service to protect the company’s production facilities in the country.

Alrosa, together with energy giants including Rosneft and Gazprom, is on a list of strategic enterprises under the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation. According to Rinat Gizatulin,  Alrosa VP, when the company takes over security duties at facilities located in remote and hard-to-reach regions of the country, the state will be able to save up to RUB 200 million ($3.1 million) a year.

30 companies had their creditworthiness downgraded including marquee names like Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, Goldcorp and Chile’s state-owned Codelco, but last month Alrosa became a rare breed in the today’s mining industry after its credit rating was upgraded.

Credit ratings agency Moody’s  said its decision reflects the fact that the Russian giant’s financial metrics “have remained strong versus global peers” and will remain robust, “owing to the company’s status as a major producer and exporter of diamonds and weak rouble, the company’s 29% share in the global diamond output, its low-cost reserve base, technical mining expertise, solid liquidity and conservative financial policy.”

The outlook for Alrosa, 77%-owned by Russia and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), is negative, but that’s in line with its assessment of the sovereign rating of Russia says Moody’s. The 60-year old group operates across nine countries and ten regions of Russia.

Alrosa’s output climbed to 38.3 million carats, a 6% increase when compared to the previous year, thanks mainly to improvements at its Mir and Udachny underground mines, as well as the commissioning of Karpinskaya-1 and Botuobinskaya pipes and other high-potential deposits.

Alrosa, which together with Anglo-American unit De Beers produces more than half of the world’s diamonds, also saw its reserves grow last year to 43.6 million carats. Despite poor global diamond market conditions, the company sold 3.8% more rough diamonds and increased sales 8% to $3.4 billion.

Alrosa, which along with fellow Russian resources firms Rosneft and Bashneft are among the most likely candidates for privatization by the Kremlin, is worth $8.1 billion in Moscow (RUB 510 billion) after rising by 23% in value this year.

Article originally from mining.com

Rio Tinto exits PNG, gives away copper-gold mine with $51bn in reserves

Mining giant Rio Tinto (LON, ASX:RIO) has given away a 54% stake in a Papua New Guinean copper and gold mine, which has reserves estimated to be worth $51 billion.

The decision to hand back the shares in its subsidiary Bougainville Copper Limited (ASX:BOC) to an independent trustee, follows a company review of the asset that was triggered by the Bouganville government’s pressure to restart mining at Panguna or give it up.

Decision follows a company review of the asset that was triggered by the Bouganville government’s pressure to restart mining at Panguna or give it up.

“Our review looked at a broad range of options and by distributing our shares in this way we aim to provide landowners, those closest to the mine, and the people of Bouganville a greater say in the future of Panguna,” Chris Salisbury, Rio’s copper and coal chief executive said in a statement.

The trustee, noted Rio, will manage the distribution of its shares between the autonomous Bouganville government and the PNG government, providing them with a platform to work together on options for the resource.

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