Kumba, Rosond sign R2bn next-generation drilling rig deal

Kumba Iron Ore's Sishen Mine

The agreement fforms part of Kumba Iron Ore's initiative to modernise its geoscience operations, and extend the life-of-mine of Kolomela and Sishen mines, to elevate safety standards, and improve productivity.

In addition, the partnership will contribute toward the development of small-micro medium enterprises in the host communities of Postmasburg and Kathu, in which Rosond has committed to partner with a local broad-based black economic empowerment partner to develop a fully independent drilling company in the Northern Cape. In line with ensuring gender diversity and inclusion, Rosond has further committed to the skills development and advancement of female employees in the field of drilling.

“The partnership sets a new standard in terms of our objective to advance local and host community businesses to the industry that is built off a strong technology advancement platform," says Themba Mkhwanazi, chief executive officer for Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore.

“We believe by working with Rosond, we will achieve our ambition of improving efficiencies and safety through the use of technology enablement, as they share the same value as Kumba on safety and ensuring Zero Harm in the operations”.

Rosond has been involved in the research and development of the next-generation drill rigs for more than five years.

"The technology we're bringing is available in various disciplines. What we have done is to package and tweak it into a formula that we believe works in this drilling environment – that we believe works for our clients. The drilling space has always been seen as a dirty type of hard work, but it does not have to be that way. It can be really sophisticated", says Ricardo Ribeiro, managing director of Rosond.