Mining and Exploration

While for much of its 161 year history Liberia has been a stable and productive democracy, recent decades have seen the country plagued by civil war and adversely affected by the drying up of foreign investment. Nevertheless, the current government of Liberia, led by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, is determined to lead the country into a new age of economic growth.

Founded in 1987, the Time Mining Group employs almost 400 staff and operates principally under the names of Time Mining and Processing Pty Ltd., Performance Laboratories Pty Ltd., Time Mining (Ghana) Limited and Dump and Dune Drillers Pty Ltd.

In addition to providing process plant design, project management and commissioning and optimisation services for minerals processing plants, the group also delivers analytical services, and commercial and on-site laboratories, through their Performance Laboratories entity.

CEO Bruce Griffin talks about the potential of a highly expandable, high-grade mineral sands project in Madagascar.

World Titanium Resources is developing the Toliara Sands Project in southwest Madagascar. Initial exploration work was carried out in 1999, leading to the discovery of mineral sands at Ranobe and further north at Ankililoaka, Basibasy and Morombe. Further drilling was undertaken in the next few years and it became clear that the area had the potential to become a significant mineral sands development.

Managing director Alan Wood describes the progression from the supply of hydraulic hoses to inspection services that save downtime and costs for mining operations in Africa.

Barrick Gold’s Granny Smith property in the Western Australian outback is a hotbed of mining industry best practice, technical innovation and community initiatives: with more gold defined annually it has turned into a long term asset.

Tom Albanese has resigned as CEO of mining conglomerate Rio Tinto after the company announced a $14 billion “impairment” relating to its aluminium and coal mining businesses.

The write-down and consequent resignation are seen in the industry as the result of bad timing in respect of two crucial acquisitions, the first being the purchase of Canadian aluminium producer Alcan in 2007, and the other the more recent acquisition of the Riversdale coal mining operation in Mozambique in June last year.

Raúl Jacob, CFO of Peruvian operations and company comptroller, highlights the massive expansion programmes the company is undertaking, both in Peru and in Mexico.

Madagascar is a land of increasing opportunity. Chairman, Zouzar Bouka, explains his vision of a new Madagascar and how VIMA Group is helping make this a reality.

Chief executive officer Steven Golding explains how a lack of fear, a willingness to embrace innovation and good old fashioned family values have combined to create a leading project management consulting company.