Cementation Africa’s reputation as a global leader in shaft sinking and mine development is underpinned by decades of engineering experience and deep technical capability, residing with the company’s Mine Engineering team.
The company’s strong design and engineering foundation enables it to engage at any stage of the project life cycle – from concept and feasibility through to detailed design and execution. According to John Goulding, Study Manager in the Mine Engineering department at Cementation Africa (formerly Murray & Roberts Cementation), the early integration of multiple engineering disciplines significantly enhances both design quality and project execution.
“Our expertise allows us to collaborate with clients from the outset, supporting concept studies, trade-offs, feasibility analysis and detailed design,” Goulding says. “We bring a broad skillset to the table, combined with a collaborative approach to find optimal solutions for each unique challenge.”
He emphasises the value of iterative design and client engagement. “Design is inherently an evolving process. We apply our professional integrity to ensure each option is evaluated thoroughly – always focused on achieving the best possible outcome.”
A key strength lies in the depth of institutional knowledge within the team. In the Mine Engineering department alone, nine out of ten professionals have over ten years of service with three-quarters having spent more than 15 years with the company. This depth of experience delivers significant value to clients through innovative thinking and practical problem solving.
“Our structural, civil, electrical and mechanical engineers are not only technically proficient but deeply familiar with implementation realities on site,” says Louis du Plessis, Project Engineer in Mine Engineering at Cementation Africa. “They bring insight into not just the ‘what’ and ‘why’, but the ‘how’ – which is critical to successful project delivery.”
Cementation Africa has the capacity to handle a broad spectrum of projects, from large-scale developments for Tier 1 miners to more focused interventions for junior operations. In one major project, the team produced over 3,000 detailed drawings, all subject to rigorous review by client engineers at both site and head office level.
“But the same standards apply to smaller jobs,” notes Du Plessis. “For example, a recent project involved designing a two tonne skip for a Zimbabwean mine producing just a few hundred tonnes per day. Our size and close-knit structure mean we can respond quickly, even to unexpected changes.”
The company’s engineers use 3D intelligent software to create digital twins and interactive 3D models. These can be accessed online via QR codes by site teams and fabricators to improve drawing interpretation. Importantly, fatal risk protocols are embedded directly into these models to support safety during fabrication and construction.
“In one large South African platinum project, we went from concept to detailed design in under two years – a timeline that required fast-tracking solutions and closely integrating procurement with execution,” says Du Plessis.
Cementation Africa’s engineering depth has been built through years of innovation and successful project delivery. The company has also played a role in growing the sector’s knowledge base, regularly contributing to industry journals and conferences locally and abroad.
“We are committed to sharing our learnings and best practices,” he concludes. “It is part of how we live our values of Care, Ownership, Integrity, Innovation, Partnership and Resilience, and how we continue to deliver value to our clients and the broader mining industry.”
