Press releases

Sedna and Globalstar leverage terrestrial spectrum to connect, protect mines and miners in Africa

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Created: Tuesday, 29 November 2022 11:10

1. Harnessing Globalstar’s Band 53, Sedna’s data-driven mining solutions for reliable data to save lives and protect assets

Johannesburg, 21 November 2022 – In a powerful strategic collaboration to connect and protect mining assets, improve data connectivity, and save lives, Africa-focused Industrial IT Solutions provider Sedna has partnered with telecom infrastructure  powerhouse Globalstar.

Band 53/n53 is a mid-band licensed spectrum resource that Globalstar offers to partners and customers that otherwise would not have access. Spectrum is sorely needed for progress in Africa. In line with demand for faster and more reliable speeds, the 5G variant of Globalstar’s Band 53 is known as n53.

“Demand for wireless data solutions from heavy industrial uses in mines is on the rise, but access to reliable always-on solutions is a challenge. Access to reliable data and connectivity is an imperative for miners and their managers, as reliance on Wi-Fi alone is not enough, while access to spectrum is a continuous challenge. Globalstar’s terrestrial spectrum offers an immediate solution and we are delighted to be joining forces with a renowned global innovator like Globalstar to bring secure, reliable and state of the art data connectivity solutions to mines across the continent,” says Anton Fester, Sedna Managing Director.

Turning the tide on South Africa’s water crisis

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Created: Tuesday, 15 November 2022 11:55

South Africa’s water crisis could be reversed by changing the paradigm of water as a finite resource, and bringing together political will, science and capital to change the way water is managed.

This is according to Prof Anthony Turton, a scientist and consultant specialising in water resource management as a strategic issue.
Prof Turton says that while South Africa is undeniably experiencing a water crisis, this situation could be reversed by changing the paradigms around water management. “In the past, water was seen as single use stock, and the solution to scarcity was to create dams and inter basin transfers,” he says.

This approach was the foundation of huge industrial growth around the world, but had unintended consequences, he notes. Now, areas of the country that once thrived on a foundation of dammed water face economic ruin.

“The paradigm must change – water is infinitely usable. In a new paradigm of abundance, based on simple scientific truth, we must acknowledge that water is a flux flowing in time and space, therefore it’s an infinitely renewable resource. When it has been used, it returns into the ecosystem, so you haven’t lost it – you still have the same volume,” he says.

In his paper A South African Perspective on Climate Change, Food Security and Water, presented at the 4th BRICS Academic Forum, New Delhi, March 2012, Prof Turton noted that water moves in time and space, driven by the laws of physics, in what is known as the hydrological cycle. “In fact, we have the same volume on our planet today as we had when the dinosaurs roamed free 65 million years ago,” he said

Top Scholars in South Africa Honoured

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Created: Friday, 21 October 2022 13:53

Twenty-nine of the country’s leading scholars and scientists were inaugurated as Members of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) at the annual Awards Ceremony on 19 October 2022.

As the official Academy of South Africa, ASSAf has as core function to honour the country’s most outstanding scholars by electing them to Membership of the Academy. ASSAf Members are drawn from the full spectrum of disciplines.

New Members are elected each year by the full existing Membership. Membership of the Academy is a great honour and is in recognition of scholarly achievement. Members are the core asset of the Academy and give of their time and expertise voluntarily in the service of society.

The 29 new ASSAf Members bring the total Membership of ASSAf to 659.

At the same time ten new members of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS) were inaugurated.

BME – Culture protocols key to blast safety on mines

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Created: Monday, 10 October 2022 12:55

BME – media release on safety in mining

Culture, protocols key to blast safety on mines

A recent global safety report for mining indicates a gradual but steady improvement in mine safety, with a total recordable injury (TRI) frequency rate at a low 2,90 – down from 5,07 just a decade ago.

The Safety Performance Report by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) benchmarked the progress of its members during 2021. The ICMM noted that the industry has focused on “operational, cultural and leadership transformation” in reducing fatalities in recent years.

Blasting solutions specialist BME has concurred that a growing safety culture is a major factor behind positive safety trends in mining, as well as uncompromising compliance with strict safety protocols. According to Ramesh Dhoorgapersadh, General Manager for Safety, Health, Environment, Risk and Quality (SHERQ) at the JSE-listed Omnia Group company, safety must be ingrained into every activity, in line with recognised standards and procedures.

“The blasting philosophy of BME is expressed through our innovative products and leading initiation technologies,” said Dhoorgapersadh. “This also means aligning our policies with customer’s own safety protocols and broader regulatory requirements.”

Fresh projects are needed for mining to meet demand

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Created: Wednesday, 21 September 2022 08:27

Times are good for the mining sector, but more exploration and mine development is vital if it is to keep up with future demand – for battery minerals in particular. With the focus now on minerals that can build a low-carbon future, Ralf Hennecke, Managing Director of Omnia Group company BME, has emphasized a commodity pipeline that is falling short.

“Greenfield projects to boost the production of key commodities are scarce,” he said. “Minerals like nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group metals are likely to experience supply shortages in the not-too-distant future if new projects are not initiated soon.”

He reiterated that new mining operations – or even large expansions – typically take 7-10 years to progress from the planning stage to the production of metal. There is a likelihood that the demand-supply gap in many minerals could worsen if levelling production rates are not augmented with new sources of supply. The demand for battery minerals is being driven by a range of green technologies – even though there is still uncertainty about which minerals will be most in demand in the future.