Schneider Electric has formed a strategic partnership with South Africa’s largest gold company by volume, Harmony Gold Mining to upgrade the instrumentation workshop into a state-of-the-art facility. This initiative underscores both companies’ commitment to advancing technological education and workforce development within the Mining and Minerals sector (MMS).
The upgraded instrumentation workshop forms part of the Harmony Moab Khotsong Engineering Training Centre situated in Orkney, North West Province. It aims to not only serve Harmony and its personnel, but also external clients where the mine has service level agreements (SLAs) to provide training. Examples are ASSMANG Mines (Khumani); Murray & Roberts Cementation; Impala Platinum Rustenburg; Impala Springs Refinery; CAPM Tau-Lekoa, Kopanang; and Gold Mining Company (Kop-Gold).
Schneider Electric, together with official partner Welkom Industrial Controls, will be responsible for the equipment provision, installation, commissioning, and ongoing support at the Harmony Moab Khotsong Engineering Training Centre, which is earmarked for completion by November this year.
“Partnering with our multiple stakeholders to uplift our mine communities has always been a key part of our strategic pillar of Responsible Stewardship. This training centre is a true demonstration of us being stronger together than we are apart, and that together, we can truly make a difference in the lives of young people in our country,” said Peter Steenkamp, Harmony Group CEO.
Overcoming the skills gap, accelerating learning
The Schneider Electric and Harmony Moab Khotsong Engineering Training Centre upgrade initiative aims to address key challenges, and highlights key priorities faced by the industry, which include change management, skill shortages, and depleting artisans and technician expertise.
This challenge is also faced globally, with a recent McKinsey study stating mining companies worldwide are experiencing a talent squeeze: 71% of mining leaders are finding the talent shortage is holding them back from delivering on production targets and strategic objectives.
The Harmony Moab Khotsong Engineering Training Centre will also serve as a platform for discussions on standardisation and governance across the mining value chain, promoting efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced safety. The training centre will include Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure IoT open, interoperable architecture, which offers copper to cloud innovation and encompasses three distinct layers: Connected Products, Edge Control and Apps, and Analytics and Services.
Mining sector turns to private renewables
News
As the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism enters its permanent phase and global buyers tighten emissions disclosure requirements, South African mining operations are accelerating the integration of privately contracted renewable power into their energy mix.
Read more...Centralised control rooms where growth is elastic, not physical Schneider Electric South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Modernised control rooms feature distributed control system architecture consolidated into centralised compute environments. replacing traditional PCs with thin clients.
Read more...Appointment Beckhoff Automation
News
Beckhoff Automation has appointed Luzuko Bulembu as technical support engineer.
Read more...From the editor's desk: You could be doing what? Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
Humanoid robots are increasingly featuring in the news. Some of them are a bit creepy, some make you anxious because they might take your job, but others are a lot of fun, and they’re getting better ...
Read more...How smart signalling can transform Africa’s manufacturing future Schneider Electric South Africa
Industrial Wireless
Imagine a factory floor where humans and machines communicate in real time with issues flagged instantly, workflows adjusted seamlessly and downtime reduced to near zero. This is the reality unfolding across Africa as manufacturers embrace the next generation of intelligent signalling technologies.
Read more...Experience ICRA 2026 right here in Gqeberha, South Africa
News
The IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) is the largest robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and manufacturing conference in the world. You can experience the premier keynote and plenary presentations in Gqeberha.
Read more...Unpacking the technoeconomic case for cleaner power in wastewater plants Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Behind every reliable wastewater plant is an electrical system exposed to the effects of harmonics, voltage distortion and overloaded networks caused by fleets of variable speed drives on pumps and aerators.Together, they steadily drive up maintenance demands and elevate the risk of failure.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version