News

AUMS boosts capabilities as Barminco looks to grow African mining action

Posted on 18 Apr 2011

mt6020.jpgBarminco’s acquisition and delivery of two new MT6020 trucks last month, from Atlas Copco’s manufacturing plant in Sweden, will bolster the capabilities of African Underground Mining Service’s (AUMS) at Kinross Gold’s Akwaaba Deeps mine in Ghana. Since establishment in 2007, AUMS (a 50/50 joint venture with Ausdrill) has grown rapidly, “driven by clients seeking Australian mining expertise and the highest safety standards for their West African mining projects,” AUMS says.

The delivery of the new equipment follows the announcement last month of three new contracts in West Africa. Barminco CEO Neil Warburton said the company was working with Atlas Copco to grow its fleet and capacity in the African market with more equipment on order to be delivered to West African contract sites over the coming months.

“In West Africa, AUMS has a 70% market share, so it is well positioned to take advantage of the long pipeline of African underground projects in various stages of planning and development,” Warburton said. “Mining companies need to be confident that their service providers can supply mining equipment when they need it. Sea freight can take up to six months, so although AUMS’ has five contracts and a fleet of over 30 major equipment units, urgent requirements can warrant extraordinary action.”

The time between the initial request from Kinross and trucks clearing customs in Ghana was only 23 days.

Warburton said Barminco has been using the MT6020 trucks in Australian mines since May 2008. Air-freighted from Sweden to Ghana by Antonov aircraft, the two 60-t capacity trucks are expected to increase haulage capacity by as much as 20% over the existing fleet.

“We want to be considered a ‘can do’ company. The goal when entering the African market was to offer the same level of productivity and safety expected of us in Australia,” he said. “In conjunction with equipment suppliers such as Atlas Copco, we are now achieving this. In fact, AUMS’s safety track record is better than the Australian industry average.”

Atlas Copco’s Global Strategic Customer Manager Alan Halse said the MT6020 was a proven product that has set a new standard. “The feedback from customers is that they are choosing the MT6020 because its productivity and reliability is better than anything else on the market,” he said. “The increased haulage capacity of the MT6020 is of most assistance in lowering the cost per tonne in the deeper mines because we have been able to maintain the speed-on-grade capability, an excellent power to weight ratio and braking and safety attributes despite increasing the size of the truck.

“Atlas Copco and Barminco have been working together since 2006 and we have been developing a professional relationship where we have a good track record in supporting the equipment needs of the company and we are extremely pleased to be working with Barminco in the West African market as well as the Australian market.”