Page 39 - Mines and Minerals Reporter eMagazine - Volume October 2021

NEWS DESK

Tharisa Minerals and Lead Outlook for

Immersive Technologies Partner- 2021 and 2022

ing for Workforce Development
fter falling by 3.9% in 2020,
global demand for refined Lead
AMetals is forecast to rise by 5.5%
to 12.39 Million tonnes this year and by
1.7% to 12.61 million tonnes in 2022.
Significant rises in Lead metal usage are
expected in Brazil, India, Japan, Repub-
lic of Korea and Mexico in 2021 after
contraction in 2020.

World refined Lead production is set
to rise by 4.4% to 12.42 Million tonnes
in 2021 and by 1.7% to 12.63 Million
harisa Minerals, the world’s only co-producer of both PGM and tonnes in 2022.
chrome concentrates, continues to embrace the usage of advanced,
Thigh-fidelity simulation technology as a core component of their al-
ready impressive operator training program at their open-pit operations Zinc Outlook for
in the Rustenburg region of South Africa.
2021 and 2022
Through a successful and long-standing partnership with Immersive Tech-
nologies, global leader in mining training-technology solutions, Tharisa orld demand for refined Zinc
Minerals have added a PRO4-B simulator to their existing simulator fleet. metal is forecast to rise by
The PRO4-B will be utilizing new equipment conversion kits from Immer- W6.2% to 14.09 Million tonnes
sive Technologies which align to Tharisa’s aggressive investment in their in 2021 and to increase by 2.3% to
OEM assets. These include Caterpillar 24M Grader and D11T Dozer con- 14.41 Million tonnes in 2022. In 2021,
version kits as well as a Caterpillar 6050 face-shovel kit. demand is set to increase in China,

Brazil, India, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand,
In addition to this new hardware, Tharisa minerals have also acquired Im- Turkey and United States.
mersive Technologies’ Operator Performance Analytics (OPA) platform.
When used in conjunction with any of Immersive Technologies’ Simula- Global refined zinc metal production is
tors, OPA provides clients with the ability to gain deep insights into fleet forecast to increase by 2.5% to 14.13
operational data which can be translated into more targeted operator Million tonnes in 2021. In 2022 an in-
training programs. crease in world output of 2.3% to 14.45
Million tonnes is predicted.
Operator Performance Analytics (OPA) platform provides operator perfor-
mance variability and training needs analysis.
Tharisa Minerals have already focused significant investment on their peo- Hindustan Zinc to
ple through specialised training programs. Recently the haul-truck work- invest $ 1 Billion in 5
force underwent targeted training on correct brake application and gear
selection via the Immersive Technology simulators onsite. This process led years on Green Plans
to significant improvements, with a 23% reduction in transmission relat-
ed expenditure and a 64% reduction in overspeed warnings translating
into a safer work environment and lower costs for Tharisa Minerals. There industan Zinc Ltd plans new
also remains a strong local engagement at Tharisa Minerals with the Mine investments to induct only elec-
drawing on the local community to be trained as potential novice opera- Htric and battery powered equip-
tors. This program run in conjunction with Immersive Technologies simu- ment, freeing up its mines from diesel
lators, provides development opportunities for community-members not consumption. The company also
only at Tharisa Minerals but more broadly in the mining sector.

OCTOBER 2021 / MINES & MINERALS REPORTER 37