USGS releases first study to assess global earthquake risk to mineral supplies
Earthquakes have the potential to substantially affect mining operations, leading to supply chain disruptions that adversely affect the global economy.
AUSTRALIAN dust management and soil stabilisation company Reynolds Soil Technologies (RST) are continuing their expansion into the international market, after launching operations for wet soil solutions in Papua New Guinea.
The Gold Coast-based company recently signed an agency agreement with Papua New Guinea representative Angus Davey to manage RST’s operations in PNG, further expanding their global presence.
The strategic alliance with Angus Davey, who has a long standing relationship with business and Government bodies in Papua New Guinea, comes as both parties see the agricultural, mining and civil sector as significant opportunities for RST’s proven soil stabilisation technologies.
RST’s operations and technical director David Handel said Papua New Guinea offered further international growth for RST, with the new PNG partnership allowing the company to deliver strategic solutions to various sectors within the country.
“RST’s experience throughout the Pacific Rim region will now be supported by a great team on the ground in Papua New Guinea,” Mr Handel said.
“RST PNG will look after three different sectors of soil stabilisation in Papua New Guinea, including road structures through PNG’s Palm Oil plantations, haul roads through larger mine sites and the building of new high way structures through the Central Highlands.
“Our extensive background in soil stabilisation, water management and sediment control spanning over 20 years together with Mr Davey’s knowledge of business in PNG, will ensure the much needed expertise for soil solutions can be delivered in Papua New Guinea. The potential for RST in Papua New Guinea is significant, due to its close proximity to Australia as well its prospective growth in the mining and agricultural sector.”
RST’s manager of technology and business development Mark Farmer said the company had undertaken extensive research to understand the country’s wet weather conditions, in order to provide the best recommendations for each project.
“The country’s resource and agricultural sectors are significantly impacted by the wet weather conditions in which RST have considerable expertise in managing,” Mr Farmer said.
“We needed to adopt a different mindset to work in their wet climatic conditions – as Papua New Guinea experiences a large quantity of rainfall each year, our focus is on offering soil stabilisation and agricultural products.
“Larger scale Palm Oil plantations can have over 2000km of private and Government roads to be maintained. Due to water-damaged and poorly structured roads affecting and slowing down the transportation process, on average some of the larger plantations lose over 1,000 tonnes of produce per month as a result of the produce deteriorating after 3 days.
“One of RST PNG’s focuses will be to assist with building quality road systems through Papua New Guinea’s Palm Oil Plantations, to help recover a greater proportion of their crop throughout the transportation phase.”
Mr Farmer said RST PNG would utilise their soil stabilising products featuring RT-20 through the plantations, to increase and strengthen the road’s density and road surface life as well as reduce road construction costs.
“This cost-effective solution will also minimise the void spaces between the soil particles, which will significantly reduce the water’s ability to permeate into the roads surface, preventing damage caused by heavy rainfall,” Mr Farmer said.
“We will also be working with some of the international mining companies in Papua New Guinea to implement RST’S suite of products on mine site haul roads, improving the ‘all weather standard’ of road systems simultaneously increasing production rates.”
RST PNG agent Angus Davey said launching operations in Papua New Guinea was significant for the advancement of soil technology and provided a multitude of opportunities for RST in the mining, agricultural and civil works sectors.
“In addition to the Palm Oil plantations and mine site haul roads, RST PNG has been requested to design and make best practice recommendations for highway structures through the Central Highlands of Papua New Guinea,” Mr Davey said.
“Papua New Guinea is an extremely resource rich country right on Australia’s doorstep and we have been working diligently with RST to develop soil solutions for this market. We look forward to working with RST in expanding operations and making a difference in Papua New Guinea.”
RST has more than 24 years experience specialising in total dust management, soil stabilisation and erosion, water and agricultural solutions for mine sites, haul roads, ports and land sites both in Australia and overseas. With experienced technicians designing, constructing and maintaining all systems, RST ensures its innovative products and programs supply clients with optimum results.
The company’s head office is based at Burleigh Heads, Queensland with offices in Welshpool, Western Australia. RST’s international operations extend to countries including South and North America, South Africa, Asia and New Caledonia.
For more information please contact Reynolds Soil Technologies on (07) 5522-0244 or visit www.rstsolutions.com.au.
