South Africa's largest platinum mining firm is expecting to go towards all-electric drilling in the near future.

These comments were made in an interview by Anglo Platinum's chief executive Duncan Wanblad with Mining Weekly.

"Rockdrilling electrification is the beginning of a new era for the South African mining industry," he commented.

The new electric drills are said to be quieter and more efficient than existing pneumatic tools.

Government regulations require machine noise levels to be below 110dB by 2013, something that Mr Wanblad says the new drills comply with.

The efficiency of the drills is also believed to be improved, as well as proving cost-effective and operating better at depth.

In the long run, the relative quiet of the drill is also expected to help lessen claims by operators against hearing loss.

Mr Wanblad said that Angloplats' mines at Brakspruit, Twickenham and Waterval had already introduced the electric drills and is part of a general trend towards all-electric mining.


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