Page 24 - Logistics News - December 2021

MINING SE CT O R

Precision delivery key to Unitrans

Africa’s mining sector success

Unitrans Africa’s (UA) proven mining sector material handling capability is laying the foundation for
a bright future characterised by unique innovation in critical areas of the company’s operations.

lectric vehicles and real-time stockpile management end capabilities. “Our ‘mine-to-port’ capability is a major
and reporting are just two examples of Unitrans strength and this is where our immediate focus has been,”
EAfrica’s bold, long-term vision. But none of these says Hayworth. “We’ve been able to set a stake in the
ideas would have even made it to the drawing board had ground and are now looking to build on these strengths
it not been for the company’s trusted reputation when as the largest operator of road trains in Africa. We are in
it comes to on-mine material handling and mine-to-port the final stages of research into a number of innovative
capabilities, painstakingly built across the continent over offerings including electric mining vehicles, which will be
many decades. revealed soon,” he adds.

“Unitrans Africa is truly demonstrating our Unitrans Africa’s extensive footprint in sub-Saharan
purpose of ‘Accelerating Africa’s Growth’ with the Africa includes countries such as Namibia, Botswana,
mining projects and partnerships we currently have Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Tanzania and
in place,” says Unitrans CEO Rob Hayworth, who Madagascar. This presence already makes the company one
believes that the company now has the springboard of the largest material handling, distribution and logistics
to recreate, throughout Africa, the success of current operations on the continent, which Hayworth ascribes to
operations, which are accredited according to the highest an unwavering focus on precision delivery. “Our exacting
available safety standards, including the International standards, high quality, performance track records and
Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), Occupational continuous improvement all translate into a gold standard
Health, Safety and Security (OHSAS), Safety and when it comes to service delivery,” he says. “When it comes
Quality Assessment System (SQAS) and Road Transport to mining, this is reflected in Unitrans’s custom designed
Management System (RTMS). vehicles and engineered equipment, handling of dangerous
goods, superb delivery and cost efficiency, amongst other
“Our solutions have a positive impact on the regions things.”
we operate in and with the partners we are involved with,
especially when it comes to utilising local labour and As an example of this precision delivery accelerating
reducing the total project emissions via the use of road Africa’s growth, Hayworth points to the successful
trains,” he adds. kickstarting of their Botswanan copper operations, which
have demonstrated positive economic and environmental
Road trains have the unique ability to each handle up effects. Job growth has increased locally, GDP has grown
to 140 tons of payload while at the same time increasing across the SADC region as a whole and copper has
safety standards and decreasing environmental impact. contributed to a reduction in carbon emissions due to its
L O GI S T I CS NEWS project basis due to a reduction in the required fleet size. which we can use as a launch pad into similar operations in
use in electric vehicles.
The latter is achieved through reduced emissions on a net
“We now have proven copper handling capabilities,
It’s for these reasons that road trains occupy pole
position in Unitrans Africa’s bold take on the future – one
the likes of DRC, Zambia and Namibia in the future,” says
that is possible thanks to the company’s proven end-to-

22 NO V E MB E R/D E C E MB E R 2021 Hayworth. • www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a