MIP INDUSTRIES

Now serving as a Director at the company, Cathey explains that the old way of doing EPCM (engineering, procurement and construction management) business in the mining industry could be about to end.

“METC builds metallurgical processing plants for mines in an open and flexible environment,” he says.

“It is our alliances and contracting strategy that set us apart from other EPCM houses. We at METC believe that EPCM houses are ‘dead’, meaning that clients are seeing less and less value in these companies who simply sell hours, or bums in seats.”

Walking the walk

An example of this open and flexible approach in action can be seen in an ongoing project for Chemaf (Chemicals of Africa) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Having acquired the Mutoshi copper and cobalt mine in Kolwezi in 2016, the client approached METC and Outotec for the detailed engineering and equipment supply for a 16 kt/a cobalt in hydroxide and 50 kt/a copper cathode production plant the following year.

Cathey explains: “The main objective was to design a project with minimal risk and maximised upside potential, using the significant experience of both Outotec and METC engineers in metallurgical plant design and Chemaf’s long experience in copper and cobalt plant operation and optimisation.

“With a strong team, the decision was made to commence with the project off the back of a strong cobalt price. Some steps were short-circuited and the project commenced with early works, with the control budget estimate following shortly after onsite work began, again adding value to take advantage of an early start and managing the risk thereof.

“METC signed the execution contract in December 2017 and issued ‘for construction’ earthworks drawings in January 2018 to get site staff up and running, which was a feat in itself. This was the second execution project as a new company and it quickly showed our strengths, but most importantly it also showed our weaknesses, which we started to address straightaway.”

Another project Cathey points to involves Ivanhoe Mines’ Kipushi zinc development.

With over a decade in operation the 100 percent black owned mineral processing and gas cleaning supply company, MIP Process Technologies (Pty) Ltd, has diversed into a group approach to business.

This is in line with the latest business trends worldwide according to Managing Director, Philip Hoff.

The gas cleaning and dust extraction business will now be known as MIP Environmental (Pty) Ltd.

The international business will fall under MIP Global (Pty) Ltd thus offering better service to our international clients. MIP’s equipment can be seen from successful installations in Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Lesotho, Mali, Mozambique, North America, Russia, Turkey, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

MIP Projects (Pty) Ltd and MIP Process Technologies (Pty) Ltd continues to supply the majority of the product range, depending on scope, which includes:

• Attrition scrubbers

• Agitators

• Clarifiers

• Flocculant plants

• Horizontal belt filters

• Reagent plants

• Slurry samplers

• Thickeners

• Peristaltic pumps

In 2018, MIP expanded its product offers with the addendum of an international brand of peristaltic pumps to its portfolio.

T +27 (0) 11 234 1007

E sales@mipprocess.com www.mipindustries.com