Portugal’s mining strategy may favour copper over lithium
Portugal already has the largest copper mine in the European Union, operated by Lundin Mining.
MineARC Systems is proud to announce the scheduled opening of its new African based facility in North Riding, Johannesburg, on the 9th October 2013. 
His Excellency, Mr Graeme Wilson, High Commissioner for Australia and Ambassador to South Africa, will officially open the facility and address those in attendance from throughout the African mining industry, local government, and the local media.
Also joining us on the day as special guest speaker will be ex Springboks captain and world cup winning legend, Mr John Smit.
A major contract to supply South African based Anglo American Coal’s New Denmark Colliery with 17 MineARC CoalSAFE refuge chambers was signed in August.
MineARC General Manager Mr. Mike Lincoln: “What we’re now seeing across Africa is a real determination to bring mine safety to the top of the agenda and in line with world’s best practice safety legislation and technology. The New Denmark contract is justification of this”
The CoalSAFE refuge chambers at New Denmark will serve as an advanced safety feature of the mine; complying with world’s best practice legislation for refuge chambers. Each chamber is capable of safely housing up to 16 miners each for up to 48hrs in the event of an underground emergency such as a fire or toxic smoke and gas release. In order to be safe for coal mines, each chamber operates intrinsically safe (non-electrically powered) technology. MineARC’s patented liquid CO2 powered technology powers the refuge chamber’s life support systems – including air conditioning for miners, and CO/CO2 scrubbing– regenerating the air inside the chamber, making it safe for miners to breathe.
MineARC Africa GM, Tom Long: “MineARC has been supplying refuge chambers to African mines for the best part of 10 years.”
“Establishing a facility on the African continent means our local clients will benefit from greater sales and after service support, a faster turnaround time on manufacturing and freight, and lower costs.”
“The new facility will also provide a boost to the local economy, with sub-contractor agreements with local suppliers, and the creation of local jobs.
MineARC’s new home is located on Flaming Rock Road in the Northlands Business Park – an industrial hub in the heart of North Riding, Randburg about 45minutes drive from the Johannesburg CBD.
With over 1,300sqm of office and manufacturing space, the Africa facility is MineARC’s third largest global operation behind Australia and the United States. At current capacity the North Riding facility will turn out up to 10 finished refuge chambers per month.
“Work on the Anglo chambers is already well underway and we’re already dealing with back-orders from other clients.” Tom Long.
With offices in Perth (Head Office), Dallas, Beijing and Santiago, MineARC systems is the global leader in the manufacture and supply of emergency refuge chambers for use in underground mining. MineARC also manufactures refuge solutions to the global tunneling and chemical processing industries.
