Designing a Tunnel-Boring-Led Hybrid PGM Mine

The project focused on evaluating the technical and economic viability of an underground hybrid mining method, using a combination of new decline tunnel boring methods, as well as conventional stoping development.

The technical workstreams were aligned with the requirements of the assignment, allowing the available data and supporting information to be consolidated into coherent project outputs, which included the design, scheduling and planning of declines, raises, reef drives and up-dip and down-dip reef boring stoping, as well as producing a financial model.

Project-specific conditions associated with PGM Underground and Hybrid mining in South Africa were incorporated into the technical approach, ensuring that the assessment remained grounded in the realities of the operation and its study environment.

The various elements of the assignment were brought together to ensure that the technical work remained consistent, focused and aligned with the project's objectives. Analysis and supporting activities were documented clearly so that the resulting findings could be readily understood and reviewed. This approach provided the client with practical information that could be used to evaluate the work completed, inform project decisions and support planning for the next stage.