Industry 4.0 + IIoT
“Operators will try to use air cooling as much as possible. This is largely because of cost and complexity in the technical requirements for liquid cooling. Demand for liquid cooling is driven by the adoption of GPU-based data processing systems, particularly by AI-focused operators and global service providers expanding into Africa, to improve performance for local users.” When an operator is ready to shi to GPU-based systems, liquid cooling can be implemented in new facilities or in upgrades of existing facilities. According to Kleyn and van der Walt, new builds are easier, but conversions are feasible. Industrial-type buildings with generous volumes and structural flexibility can also accommodate liquid cooled designs if there is su icient power to the site. As AI adoption accelerates across the continent, liquid cooling will increasingly shape the next generation of data centres in Africa. While the technology introduces new layers of complexity, it also o ers significant e iciency gains and positions operators to meet the rising demands of a digital, interconnected and latency-sensitive marketplace. “It yields significant benefits for operators, the environment and the end user,” says van der Walt. As liquid cooling shis
The exponential increase in AI workloads is forcing data centres to increase computing power, in turn raising energy use, heat generation, and the need for more eicient cooling. from being an emerging trend to a strategic necessity, operators of legacy infrastructure and new build data centres across the continent will need to adapt.
References [1] https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/africa-data-center-market
For more information visit: www.wsp.com
Industry 4.0 + IIoT: Products + services
Digital network enables autonomous drilling at Sentinel MIne
Sedna Africa has successfully delivered and commissioned the digital network infrastructure enabling autonomous drilling at First Quantum Minerals’ Sentinel Mine in Kalumbila, marking a major advance for smart mining in Zambia. The project forms part of First Quantum’s broader strategy to modernise operations, improve safety and increase productivity as the company works towards its long-term copper production targets. Sedna Africa was responsible for supplying, installing and commissioning the Rajant Corporation wireless network, which provides the resilient, high-performance connectivity required to support autonomous drilling operations. The network underpins the drill automation system deployed at Sentinel, enabling mobility, low latency communication, high- capacity data transfer and remote operation in a demanding and dynamic open-pit mining environment. The solution was implemented in collaboration with First Quantum subsidiary Trident Mining and global drill automation specialist Flanders Inc. Following successful trials on three drill rigs, the system has demonstrated measurable improvements in drilling accuracy, e iciency and operational safety. Advanced GPS and laser-guided positioning have improved drill precision and blast outcomes, and automation has increased the number of holes drilled by more than 30%. Operators can now oversee drilling activities remotely, reducing exposure to high-risk environments. Sedna Africa Managing Director, Anton Fester said the project reflects the importance of robust digital foundations in enabling advanced mining technologies. “From a technology perspective, autonomous drilling is only possible when the underlying network is reliable, resilient and built for harsh operating conditions.” Commenting further, Fester said: “Our role was to design
and deploy a kinetic mesh network that allows the systems to operate continuously and safely. To achieve this, the Rajant Hawk radios are used to establish the kinetic mesh, together with the Sedna Mobile Highsite Solution to ensure reliable ancillary services, creating a fit-for-purpose solution. The
project demonstrates how designing and implementing the optimal digital infrastructure enables automation to perform as intended, delivering real operational value on site.” “As mining operations move towards greater autonomy and digitalisation, resilient connectivity becomes the foundation for everything that follows. At Sentinel Mine, Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh® network delivers continuous, mobile, and self-healing connectivity that autonomous drilling operations rely on to perform safely and consistently.
Sedna Africa is a leading systems integrator delivering mission-critical connectivity and industrial digital solutions across diverse sectors.
By maintaining real-time communications across moving equipment and dynamic mine environments, we enabled our customer to operate with greater precision, uptime, and confidence. Delivered in partnership with Sedna Africa, this project shows how the right wireless infrastructure translates directly into safer operations and measurable productivity gains,” says Rinus Pretorius, Africa Sales Director, Rajant Corporation. The project reinforces Sedna Africa’s role as a key enabler of digital transformation in the mining sector, delivering proven connectivity solutions that support safer, more e icient and more sustainable mining operations across the continent.
For more information visit: https://sedna.africa
MARCH 2026 Electricity + Control
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