Cementation Africa delivers specialist underground mining, shaft sinking and raise boring solutions across Africa.
Mechanisation and automation are transforming the way underground mining projects are planned and executed.
Advanced shaft sinking and raise boring technologies are helping to improve safety, productivity and project delivery.
mining operations. This shift is driving a new approach to shaft development.” In addition to operating a fleet of large
“Our objective is to position ourselves to capture a significant share of that opportunity as more mature open-cast mines transition underground,” comments Chamberlain.
raise boring machines capable of executing complex surface-based projects, Cementation Africa is also equipped with advanced directional drilling technology. Originally developed in partnership with Micon of Germany, this technology has evolved into a widely available commercial solution. “When applied correctly, directional drilling technology delivers exceptional accuracy of
To support the growing number of brownfields projects across Africa, Cementation Africa has, besides its local office, established ten offices throughout the continent – thereby providing the company with a strong and active regional footprint. In Zambia, which Chamberlain sees as a key growth node, the
Our objective is to position ourselves to capture a
significant share of that opportunity as more mature open-cast mines transition underground,”
company has a permanently staffed office and strong partnerships, and in Ghana Cementation Africa has a strong partnership with Rabotech, a prominent open-cast mining company. Evolving shaft sinking and raise boring technologies The shift towards brownfield expansion projects is shaping shaft sinking and raiseboring methodologies. “While only a handful of greenfield projects are currently being developed, the bulk of new work is focused on expanding existing
up to 99.5%, equating to a variance of only 500 mm over a 1 000 m drill length. This level of precision allows for the drilling of pilot holes that can be enlarged using a technique known as “slype-and-line” shaft sinking. The method is particularly effective for constructing large-diameter shafts intended for permanent mine infrastructure,” explains Chamberlain. For smaller-diameter excavations, raise boring machines
SEPTEMBER 2026 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za MODERN MINING 21
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