The SAIMM is a professional institute with local and international links aimed at assisting members source information about technological developments in the mining, metallurgical and related sectors.
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SAIMM - Johannesburg

I am pleased to report on the activities of the Johannesburg Branch.

The Johannesburg Branch’s main activity was to organize technical presentations, as far as possible on a monthly basis between July 2021 to June 2022, excluding the December and January holiday months. Because of the COVID-Zoom era, the Committee continued to utilize the opportunity to split the technical presentation day from the branch Committee meeting day, and as such the third and the fourth Thursdays of the month were utilized with great success for these purposes. The premises of Worley in Melrose Arch remains the preferred venue for these Branch activities once social gatherings are once again permitted and prudent; however, a number of alternatives are under review given some of the post-COVID limitations which are being applied, and also to potentially ‘spread the load’ from a venue perspective. The options for hybrid (in-person and online) meetings are also being pursued. The SAIMM and the Johannesburg Branch would like to acknowledge and thank Worley management for their continued support and look forward to resuming meetings once it is appropriate to do so.

During the period under review, the Branch Committee succeeded in securing eight high-profile technical presentations. Unfortunately, due to the continuing COVID limitations on gatherings no students’ debate was held.

The Johannesburg Branch currently has a membership of 1062 (1183 in 2021/2022), which consists of 1032 (1126) branch and 26 (56) student members. The decrease in student members during the last two years is attributed to the membership confirmation process being interrupted by the COVID-19 lockdowns and suspension of university activities.

The Committee notes the current downturn in the macro-economy, while the mining sector remains relatively unscathed; however, some companies have either ceased trading or in an effort to survive are cutting costs, which often includes ceasing to pay professional institution memberships on behalf of employees. These conditions are reflected in the 42% decrease in overall Branch membership from 1846 in 2018 to 1062 in 2022. This decline in membership is a concern for the future of the Johannesburg Branch and all other branches. Although Student membership remains free, most students do not update their details which makes it difficult for the Institute to communicate with them, particularly once they graduate, and as such the Branch loses a large number of student members at the end of each academic/financial year. However, a strategy to engage with our members and attempt to reconnect or maintain student connections will address these issues going forward.

The Branch greatly values students’ involvement in its presentations, and notes that many of those attending have chosen to become Student Members of the Institute, with a good conversion ratio to Associate Membership after graduation. However, the suspension numbers are unfortunate evidence of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its knock-on effects. Student attendance was understandably constrained over the current session and adversely impacted by external events such as the lockdown and the normal operating challenges which the Universities face.

The challenging economic situation continues to put pressure on company sponsorships received, and whilst the COVID-19 regulations will be with us in some shape or form for the foreseeable future, we as the Johannesburg Branch have successfully refocussed and adjusted the Technical Presentation sessions into the ‘Zoom’ era, recording good attendances from a wider geographic distribution than the conventional methodology allowed. We will continue with this format and where possible in a hybrid Zoom/physical attendance format until the environment permits us to change to something more workable. However, the future is uncertain, and we will remain flexible and ready to move with the times.

Events

The Committee was able to secure only four sponsors to support the Johannesburg Branch events in the 2021/2022 session. The other four presentations were supported by the Branch itself. Since the presentations for the entire year were online, this was at no net cost to the Branch. The sponsorships received by the sponsors who supported the Branch were also reduced in line with the online format and became effectively a ‘branding fee’, with no actual costs required for the Branch itself.

The Johannesburg Branch commenced the 2021/2022 session on 29 July 2021 with an extremely topical presentation by Rob McGill and Adam Wilkinson of Fraser McGill entitled ‘The application of battery electric vehicle technology to the underground mining environment’, which given the current drive towards green energy and electrification was a particularly appropriate way to start the year’s proceedings. The presentation gave an overview of current technology around EVs in underground mining, illustrated with some interesting case studies.

The presentation on 16 August 2021 was equally topical and was given by Andries Keun of Thomas International in Africa. This discussion was sponsored by the Branch and organized by Danie Jensen. The topic, ‘Using behavioural profiles to manage remotely’ was highly relevant in our current environment of online meetings with clients, suppliers, teachers, and even families.

On 19 September 2021, Eugene Nel of Vanadium Resources presented an update on the development of the company and its flagship SPD Vanadium Project, organized by Graham Stripp, once again an extremely topical subject with the interest in and prevalence of battery metals projects in the mining and resources sector globally.

On 21 October 2021, the Head of Public Relations at the Minerals Council, Tebello Chama, gave a highly enlightening and in some instances quite horrifying presentation entitled: ‘llegal mining and construction mafia – Impacts on the SA mining industry’. The Johannesburg Branch supported this presentation, which was once again an extremely current and relevant topic, which was unfortunately met with limited interest from the membership although over 30 members registered to attend, ultimately only 12 people attended the meeting of whom five were Secretariat or Branch Office Bearers. A symptom of ‘Zoom burnout' appeared to influence what was an extremely interesting insight into the current state of criminality in our industry.

We commenced the New Year on 17 February 2022 with a follow-up presentation by Dr Nicolaas Steenkamp, latterly of Pink Matter Solutions and sponsored by them which illustrated ‘Tailings storage facility monitoring; From the ground up’, an overview of TSFs their construction, management, monitoring, and regulations, and also a view on failure mechanisms and how failures can be prevented.

On 17 March 2022, the Johannesburg Branch’s own Sihenkosi Nhleko facilitated a presentation by one of his university colleagues, Pathy Musema Muke, entitled ‘A genetic algorithm model for optimizing long-term open pit mine production scheduling’, supported by the Johannesburg Branch. The presentation detailed current work in metaheuristic modelling to facilitate and improve open pit mine planning and production scheduling.

On 21 April 2022 the highlight presentation of the year occurred, presented by Boris Kamstra, latterly the CEO of Alphamin Resources and sponsored by Alphamin. Boris entertained almost 50 attendees with his recounting of the trials, tribulations, and successes which culminated in the discovery and development of the Bisie tin mine in the DRC. The presentation was a spectacular success, with questions and compliments being received even long after the presentation debate, to the point where the Secretariat uploaded the recording to YouTube and LinkedIn, and the congratulations and compliments continued.

On 26 May 2021, Branch Committee member Monica Cudjoe presented the progress and outcomes of her current university research project in the area of tracking of value from underground in-situ ores right through to process plant concentrates via the use of novel technologies; a fascinating look at what may potentially inform our metal accounting and reconciliation processes in the future.

Finance

The Committee reports that for the year ending 30th June 2022 the Branch succeeded in achieving its objective of fully funding the programme of Branch activities. A modest surplus of approximately R91 938.43 resulted, with no invoices outstanding or remaining liabilities at the end of the financial year, in spite of the sponsorship fee being reduced to R5 000 for the online events, now aimed at the branding and marketing opportunity for the sponsor.

AGM

This report was submitted at the Johannesburg Branch AGM on 28 July 2022, proposed by D. Cowen and seconded by C. Heili. The annual financial report was presented, proposed by Dr G. Stripp and seconded by C. Heili. Successful election of 15 members to the Johannesburg Branch of the SAIMM was constituted, directed by the stipulations as set out in By-Law F for branches. We take the opportunity to congratulate Nirvanna Rampersad (Chairperson), Dr Sihesenkosi (Sihe) Nhleko (Vice Chairman), and Quinton Phillips (Secretary) on their new tasks and assure them our full support for their new term.

General

The Branch Chairperson and Committee would like to express their appreciation for the role of the SAIMM Secretariat, including Sam Moolla, Kea Shumba, Dennis Makondesa, Prudence Ntumeleng, Portia Malatji, and Camielah Jardine, in the co-ordination and administration of Branch events.
A very successful year during a very difficult time in the SAIMM Branch history was concluded, with the Chairperson thanking the Vice-Chairperson, the entire Johannesburg Branch Committee, and the SAIMM Office personnel for their hearty support in making the Branch one of the best performing branches of the SAIMM.