Sishen solicits ambassadors

摘要

Visitors to the Northern Cape iron ore mine are intended to leave as ambassadors for Sishen mine, writes Julie Walker. The mineral-rich Northern Cape Kalahari used to be the seabed aeons ago, but the vast distance that ore has to travel to get to today's coast is the biggest challenge for the region's miners. Kumba Resources' Sishen mine discards any material with an iron content of lower than 60 percent; some mines in China only have a head grade of 35 percent. The many millions of tons of Sishen waste whould be an opportunity, but for the logistics. Matie von Wielligh, general manager, iron ore at Kumba, says growth in export production is directly proportional to the expansion of the railway and the port. The Orex line currently hauls Sishen's production 861km to Saldanha Bay.