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SANCOT and the International Tunnelling Association (ITA)

The South African National Committee on Tunnelling (SANCOT) was formed in 1973 during a phase of extensive infrastructure development in South Africa, in particular the construction of the Orange-Fish tunnel. This followed the success of the 1970
TUNCON conference in Durban, after which it was decided that it would be useful to form a body covering the interests of owners, designers, contractors, researchers, and suppliers in the underground construction industry. SANCOT has been active since this time, promoting the use of underground space, exchanging information, and arranging conferences and seminars.

2013 END OF THE YEAR MESSAGE FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

We have come to the end of another year, and it is the time to slow down and take stock of the 12 months that have passed and to look forward to the year ahead. In the South African mining industry a very traumatic 2012 has been followed by an uncertain 2013. I would like to think that 2014 will be more positive. There are many positive indications, and we should dwell on these since the negatives have a tendency to obscure the positives.

MineSAFE 2013 Conference looks beyond the 2013 milestones

altThe annual MineSAFE Conference – now in its fifth consecutive year - was once again a major success, drawing more than 400 delegates over the two-day Technical Conference and over 780 guests for the Industry Awards Day.

Held from 22 to 24 October 2013 at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, this year's conference focused primarily on the industry's progress towards the 2013 Milestones as agreed to at the 2003 Mine Health and Safety Summit.

International Honours for two Wits Engineers

Hu Hanrahan, Professor Emeritus in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand has been reappointed as Chairperson of the Washington Accord for the term June 2013 to June 2015. He has served as Chairperson since 2011.

SAIMM Career Development Day - 13 August 2013

T he Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) acknowledges the need to focus on our youth in South Africa. SAIMM’s subcommittee on Career Guidance and Education, arranged a student career development day at the Sci-Bono Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg. The event, which took place on 13 August 2013, was sponsored by the SAIMM, Sound Mining and the University of Johannesburg.

SANCOT and the International Tunnelling Association (ITA)

The South African National Committee on Tunnelling (SANCOT) was formed in 1973 during a phase of extensive infrastructure development in South Africa, in particular the construction of the km long Orange- Fish tunnel. This followed the success of the 1970 TUNCON conference in Durban, after which it was decided that it would be useful to form a body covering the interests of owners, designers, contractors, researchers, and suppliers in the underground construction industry. SANCOT has been active since this time, promoting the use of underground space, exchanging information, and arranging conferences and seminars.

The looming skills crunch in mining and the need to join hands

Mining schools in South Africa have taken advantage of the global slowdown to significantly roll back skills shortages in the mineral sector, but academia and business need to boost their educational partnerships to avoid being caught short by the next recovery.

The output of graduates in mineral-related disciplines rose substantially in recent years – driven in part by increased involvement of the private sector in university course offerings. The Mining Qualifications Authority reported in 2011, for instance, that graduations in chemical engineering had risen 13.5 per cent annually, followed by geology at 13.3 per cent, metallurgical engineering at 12.9 per cent, mechanical engineering at 9.9 per cent, and electrical engineering at 7.8 per cent. While this is by no means enough to eradicate the shortages our industry faces, it is an encouraging trend that demonstrates what can be achieved by effective partnerships.

SANCOT and the International Tunnelling Association (ITA)

The South African National Committee on Tunnelling (SANCOT) was formed in 1973 during a phase of extensive infrastructure
development in South Africa, in particular the construction of the km long Orange-Fish tunnel. This followed the success of the 1970 TUNCON conference in Durban, after which it was decided that it would be useful to form a body covering the interests of owners, designers, contractors, researchers, and suppliers in the underground construction industry. SANCOT has been active since this time, promoting the use of underground space, exchanging information, and arranging conferences and seminars.

Introduction to our new President...

MAREK DWORZANOWSKI: Marek was born and educated in the United Kingdom. He attended the University of Leeds where he studied Mineral Processing, graduating in July 1980 with a BSc Honours. During 1979 he worked as a vacation student at Hartebeestfontein gold mine in South Africa and decided that on graduation he would start his mining career in South Africa. As it turned out he has spent his entire mining career to date in South Africa. Marek was recruited by Union Corporation, just before it became Gencor, in 1980. He decided that he would not start his career at a gold or coal mine but instead started at Impala Platinum in Rustenburg. His first job was as a concentrator metallurgist at the central mineral processing plant, where he underwent a graduate training programme followed by project work on cyclone classification and flotation reagents.

Other mining news

Mining Weekly | Africa

25 July 2026

The latest mining world news and project information from Africa. providing updates on the progress of future, new and existing projects. Developments in mining legislation, policies, investments and infrastructure will be highlighted
  • Mali's gold output seen staying below 60 tons through 2029, ministry plan shows
    Mali's industrial gold production is expected to remain below 60 metric tons annually through 2029, according to a mines ministry plan seen by Reuters, extending a decline that followed the introduction of a revised mining code and disputes between the state and miners. Mali, one of Africa's top gold producers, has tightened its grip on the mining sector under a 2023 mining code aimed at boosting state revenues.
  • The NUM concludes five-year wage agreement at Gold Fields’ South Deep mine
    The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the majority union at Gold Fields’s South Deep Mine, has concluded a five-year wage agreement for employees at the mine. The multiyear agreement, negotiated in collaboration with UASA, is effective from March 1, this year, to February 28, 2031.
  • Modernisation of South African mining is an ‘urgent strategic priority’
    Mining modernisation, with private and public sectors as drivers, is an urgent strategic priority for the South African economy, a study undertaken by industry leaders, researchers, government partners, and innovators from across the South African spectrum reported very forcefully this week. “We see that our competitors are investing heavily in digitisation and automation, as well as critical minerals and beneficiation.