Gap851 Final Report Main Body

3.4Research resources

3.4.1Human resources

The researchers listed as authors of SIMRAC rock-related research reports published from 1993 to 2005 are listed in Appendix B. It is essentially the same population that participated in the collaborative programmes. The status, as at March 2005, of the 137 SA-based researchers is summarized in Table 3.3 below:

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  Thirty-eight were based at research institutions (CSIR Miningtek, Council for Geoscience, SIMPROSS and Universities).
  
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  Fifty were working for consultancy companies or as independent consultants. These individuals would be able to conduct research should the opportunity arise, even though research is generally not their core business.
  
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  Four were working as rock engineering practitioners in the SA mining industry.
  
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  One is an inspector in the Department of Minerals and Energy.
  
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  Forty-four were no longer available to do mining research in South Africa:
  
  • 
    Twenty-four have returned to their country of origin or emigrated (Australia has been a popular destination);
    
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    Five have left the mining sector, including some of the most promising young researchers who have changed their career path to the financial and IT sectors;
    
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    Six have retired or died; and
    
  • 
    The whereabouts of nine could not be ascertained.
    

There has been a flow of staff from research organisations to mining and consultancy companies. This is normally a good thing, as it enables the transfer of knowledge, skills, and technology. However, few of these people have been replaced, with the result that there has been both a decrease in the cadre of active researchers and an aging of the remaining researchers.

This decline in research capacity is exemplified by the decrease in the staff complement of CSIR Miningtek. In 1995, the Rock Engineering Programme had a staff complement of about 70 researchers and skilled support staff (rock engineers, seismologists, geologists, site managers, technicians, etc). SIMRAC funding was initially adequate to support the team of rock engineering researchers that CSIR Miningtek had inherited from COMRO. SIMRAC funding for rock-related research started to diminish in 1998. Initially the collaborative research programmes (DeepMine, Coaltech 2020, FutureMine and PlatMine) compensated for the shortfall, but the staff complement could not be sustained. Numbers were reduced through attrition, and by 2005 the number had declined to 24.

Table 3.5: Summary of directory of rock-related researchers, 1993-2005

Scientists / engineers / technicians active in SIMRAC rock-related research, 1993-2005 Based in RSA Foreign based Total	137 8 145
PRIMARY ACTIVITY OF RSA-BASED RESEARCHERS IN MARCH 2005
Rock-related research and / or research management CSIR Miningtek staff and associates Universities: academic staff and associates Universities: postgraduate students Council for Geoscience MHSC	24 6 4 2 2
Consultants (Can undertake research work if required) e.g. ISSI, SRK, Groundwork, Itasca, independent	50
Practitioners Mining companies DME	4 1
No longer active Retired Left mining sector Emigrated / returned to home country Deceased Unknown	3 5 24 3 9
TOTAL	137

Unless there is a significant commitment to rock-related research, the pool of highly qualified researchers and practitioners is likely to continue to shrink. There is vigorous competition for a limited pool of school-leavers with ability in science and mathematics, and for science and engineering graduates. Without attractive prospects, it will be difficult to attract the brightest and best to a career in rock-related research. With the inevitable aging of senior researchers, there is a limited time window during which skills and experience can be transferred to the next generation of researchers. The decline in rock-related research mirrors a local and international decline in mining and metallurgical research activity (Kahn et al., 2004: 82-83)

3.4.2Funding

SIMRAC’s research funding increased by 15 per cent (from R32.3 million to R37.2 million) from 1994 to 2003/4 (SIMRAC Annual report to MHSC for the period April 2003 to March 2004, Table 14, p. 31). However, the value of the Rand almost halved in this period as the average annual change in CPIX from 1994 to 2004 was 6% (Standard Bank, 2005). Furthermore, SIMRAC’s funding of rock-related research halved in nominal terms as focus shifted from rockfalls and rockbursts to health issues. Taking inflation into account, the real investment in rock-related research in 2005 is probably between 25 and 33 per cent of the 1995 level. The decline in research capacity lags behind the reduction in funding as individuals who have moved to consultancy companies still have the capacity to undertake research should the opportunity arise. However, research skills will inevitably erode unless they are exercised, and research facilities will become obsolete unless they are maintained.

CSIR Miningtek has been the dominant research supplier, receiving about 70 per cent of the total SIMRAC research budget from 1994 to 2003/4 (SIMRAC, 2004:Table 14, p. 31). Other major research suppliers are ISSI (10 per cent), the University of Pretoria (4 per cent), and SRK (3 per cent). It should be noted, however, that the lead contractor often disburses a sizeable fraction of the project value to sub-contractors.

3.4.3Equipment and facilities

Research equipment and facilities are listed in Appendix C. There has been little investment in equipment in the past decade, with the exception of the Drop Test Rig situated at CSIR and the Savuka Stope Support Test Facility. There has also been a concurrent cutback in industry-based research. For example, Anglogold Ashanti closed its in-house research organisation (Anglogold Mining Technologies, previously Anglogold Technical Development Services) and terminated its underground technology test program, Projek Katleho.