Exxaro’s Tshikondeni Coal Implements Gemcom InSite Mine Production Management Solution

Gemcom Software International Inc., the largest global supplier of mining software solutions, said Exxaro’s Tshikondeni Coal has implemented Gemcom InSite™ as its mine production management solution. Exxaro Resources (JSE: EXX) is a South-African based mining group with operations in Namibia, Australia, China and South Africa.

Located in South Africa’s Limpopoprovince, Tshikondeni Coal is an underground coal mining operation employing over 750 people and producing over 400 ktpa of coking coal. Implementing InSite has provided a single, integrated solution for the operation’s data management requirements, eliminating the need for time consuming manual data entry and simplifying their monthly reconciliation process. Additionally, InSite’s Standard Reports provides a real-time view of production and coal quality, ensuring the mine can respond quickly to any issues that arise.

“Consolidating all of the operational mining data previously involved numerous spreadsheets and was time consuming and costly” said Lou Möller, Senior Solution Specialist, Exxaro. “After working closely with Gemcom’s services team to implement InSite into our operations, we have not only gained confidence in our data, but we have real-time access to production information, enabling fast response to business issues.”

End-of-month processes, including reconciliation, are an important part of Tshikondeni Coal’s business. The previous system used numerous spreadsheets that were time intensive to manage and prone to errors. InSite captures underground production data, surface material movements and plant production data, and where possible, captures it automatically. This provides an integrated method to perform fast and accurate end-of-month reconciliation.

Summary of benefits delivered by InSite to Tshikondeni Coal:

• Spreadsheets replaced by a single, integrated solution which provides validated and audible data.
• Surface material movements are gathered through automated integration with the mine’s weighbridge.
• Plant production data is captured through automated integration with the mine’s WonderWare Industrial SQL historian.
• InSite’s Stockpile Management module records daily weighted average grades and collects survey adjustments, greatly simplifying monthly reconciliation.
• Underground mining data is captured in InSite’s control room data entry screen.

“Tshikondeni Coal turned to Gemcom to assist with their production and data management issues”, said Allen Vaughn, executive vice president of Gemcom’s enterprise business unit. “Our partnership approach to working with and understanding our customer’s business has given Tshikondeni Coal the ability to accurately consolidate all of their mining and processing production data and meet their reconciliation goals.”

InSite records and evaluates data for service, support and production activities from the mine through to saleable product. Organisations are provided with confidence in data accuracy which results in cost savings, and visibility into all areas of production which allows mine and plant operations to rapidly respond to changing conditions.

For more information about InSite, visit www.gemcomsoftware.com/InSite.

About Gemcom

When mining companies seek to increase mine productivity, they turn to Gemcom for technology and services. The Company is home to world-renowned mining solutions like GEMS, Surpac, Minex, Whittle, and InSite, and to industry thought leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in mining.  Established in 1985, Gemcom has a global reach delivering comprehensive solutions in all major mining centres in more than 130 countries. Every major mining company, including BHP Billiton, Codelco, De Beers, Newmont and Vale is a Gemcom client. Through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, the Company has become the largest global supplier of mining software solutions. For more information, visit www.gemcomsoftware.com.