Mining & Management Consulting

Heidelberg Materials AG - New Development of the Haßmersheim Gypsum Mine, Germany

Planning, Tendering and Construction Support for the New Development of the Haßmersheim Gypsum Mine

Since January 2025, DHC has been supporting Heidelberg Materials in the new development of the Haßmersheim gypsum mine. The project comprises a broad range of mining engineering, planning, tendering, permitting, and construction supervision services related to the development of new underground infrastructure and future raw material extraction.

DHC’s work includes the preparation of tender documents for the excavation of an underground explosives storage facility and ventilation drifts, the preparation of tender documents for raw material extraction based on an existing design concept, and construction supervision during the rehabilitation of the conveyor adit. In addition, DHC developed a concept including cost estimates for an unplanned temporary suspension of mining operations.

The project demonstrates DHC’s integrated expertise in underground mine planning, permitting support, operational risk assessment, and construction supervision.

Scope of Services

• Preparation of tender documents for underground excavation works
• Tender documentation for explosives storage and ventilation drifts
• Tender documentation for raw material extraction based on existing design planning
• Construction supervision during rehabilitation of the conveyor adit
• Concept development and cost estimation for an unplanned operational shutdown
• Support during tendering and permitting procedures
• Technical support and supervision during mine development works
  

Buuruljuut Open-Pit Coal Mine - Pre-Feasibility Study on the Conversion from Discontinuous to Continuous Open-Pit Coal Mining, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

DHC prepared a proposal for a comprehensive study on the conversion of the Buuruljuut open-pit coal mining operation from a discontinuous to a continuous mining system. The study is designed to evaluate the technical, operational, economic, and environmental feasibility of introducing continuous mining methods under the specific geological, geotechnical, infrastructural, and operational conditions of the Buuruljuut site.

The planned assessment includes the identification and comparison of suitable continuous mining systems, including single-system solutions and combined system variants. These alternatives are to be benchmarked against the current mining method with regard to productivity, investment requirements, operating performance, environmental aspects, and implementation risks.

The study provides a sound basis for strategic decision-making, future investment planning, and the long-term optimisation of mining operations.

Scope of Services

• Assessment of site suitability for continuous mining operations
• Review of geological, geotechnical, infrastructural, and operational boundary conditions
• Identification of suitable continuous mining system options
• Technical, economic, and environmental comparison with the current mining method
• Development of conceptual mine planning scenarios
• CAPEX assessment and identification of key implementation steps
• Cost-benefit comparison and scenario analysis
• Preparation of a comprehensive study report and executive management presentation

Government of Mongolia, Ulan Bator, MONGOLIA - Technical and strategic advisory services to the Ministry of Mines and Heavy Industry

FWT was commissioned by GIZ/CONNEX with engineering services for the project Technical and strategic advisory services to the Government of Mongolia - Oyu Tolgoi - Water resources and geological aspects. With this contract, FWT transferred parts of the services to DHC.

The Government of Mongolia is negotiating with Rio Tinto regarding the cost increase and delay in the development of the strategically important Oyu Tolgoi mining project.

Activities performed:

• Review of the Oyu Tolgoi Project Assessment relating to environmental and water resource issues
• Recommendations for the re-evaluation of the Oyu Tolgoi copper, gold and silver deposit and accompanying mineral reserves compliant with international standards
• Reviewing the most recent feasibility study and developing recommendations for a new technical and economic assessment based on the results of the above reserves re-evaluation
• Investigating the causes of the 16-30 month’s delay in underground production due to changes of the mining method based on difficult geotechnical conditions as well as the need for additional funding of US$1.2-1.9 billion and advising the government on a negotiating position
• Advise regarding the OT Project Risk Management System especially relating to geotechnical risks and measures taken for risk reduction and avoidance as well as mechanisms for notifying and consulting with the Mongolian Government as investor
• Advise during the development of the strategic negotiation approach in consultation and cooperation with legal and economic experts for the preparation of the actual negotiation rounds between the government and Rio Tinto, whenever needed.

Ministry of Mines and Heavy Industry, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - Geotechnical Engineering Training

On behalf of the BGR - Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, a training was developed and carried out for the Ministry of Mines and Heavy Industry (MMHI), the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority of Mongolia (MRPAM) and the National Geological Survey (NGS) in the areas of geomechanics and geophysics to educate and raise awareness of potential hazards in open-cast and underground mining.

• Assessing the geotechnical training needs of the MRPAM staff (e.g. interviewing MRPAMs staff during the preparation phase or knowledge test before the start of the training for participants).
• Prepare a revised geotechnical training agenda that reflects the state of geotechnical knowledge and regulatory requirements of MRPAM. It is imperative that the training includes practical exercises related to the work tasks of the course participants MRPAM.
• Creation of training documents before the start of the training.
• 3-day applied geotechnics training course for MRPAM employees.
  • Geotechnical considerations for mining activities in general
  • An overview of mining methods – surface and underground mining
  • Mine development
  • The determination of open pit and underground mining parameters according to geotechnical conditions
  • Geotechnical aspects of a mine design project
  • Geotechnical drilling and sampling
  • Geomechanical rock properties
  • Green field design
  • Risk analysis
  • Stabilization measures
  • Brown field design
  • Regulations

Assessing the knowledge gains of course participants, e.g. based on a comparison of a test at the beginning of the course and a final exam. The final exam can be replaced by interim evaluations or evaluation of practical exercises submitted by trainees.

RAG AG, Essen, GERMANY - World Heritage Site Zollverein - Modification of a Central Mine Drainage Station to Backup Site for Eternity

Currently at Zollverein's main drainage station underground installed pumps are under operation. The underground pumping station is installed on the 14th level, which is approximately -950 m asl. The water quantity which had to be pumped on average during the last five years amounted to 12.4 m³/min. The mine water is pumped through two standpipes with 500 mm diameter installed in Zollverein 2 shaft to the surface and further to Emscher river which is used as an open sewage duct. Thereby, the water containing sulphate coming from the southern area (approx. 7.5 m³/min) and the barium-containing water coming from the northern area (approx. 4.9 m³/min) are pumped separately.

The two shafts Zollverein 2 and Zollverein XII have to be modified into wells as dewatering backup sites by using cladding tubes in Zollverein 2 and a concrete advancing column in Zollverein XII when in 2020 the current dewatering discharge authorization into the Emscher expires. Both cladding and well tube should reach up to a depth of 650 m.

Activity performed: 

• Project Management on World Heritage Site Zollverein - Modification of a Central Mine Drainage Station to Backup Site for Eternity (Planning and Construction)

Erdenes Mongol LLC, MONGOLIA - Strategic Planning

The objective of this project is to provide a comprehensive assessment of internal and external data to define the economic and technical condition of Erdenes MGL and its subsidiaries. For the development and implementation of future strategies and policies, the distinct shareholding situation of each subsidiary needs to be taken into account to assure the long-term viability of Erdenes MGL.

Activities performed:

• Due diligence and feasibility studies for international mining projects
• Evaluation of mine infrastructure, transportation and community development
• Workers’ health and safety, training of health and safety experts
• Mine planning and optimization of operations under economic and operational aspects
• Beneficiation and processing in mining for coal, copper, gold, uranium, lead, zinc and rare earths
• Procurement and claim management
• Investment strategy for mining and energy projects; cash-flow calculations
• Development of corporate business concepts for mining projects
• Community development aspects in mining
• Optimization of environmental aspects in mining, international best practice
• Process water management

Sustainable Mining NamDeb, NAMIBIA- Conventional Open Pit Mining versus Concurrent Open Pit Mining

Concurrent mining describes backfilling one zone while depleting subsequent zones for production purpose. This leads to the following challenges.

• If the Bedrock cleaning process is delayed then backfilling will be halted
• A shortage of haul trucks, means priority is to feed the process plant, this results in the concurrent cycle being interrupted,
• When the process plant is unavailable you have to stockpile material, and the concurrent cycle is interrupted because there is no waste/ oversize to backfill depleted zones.

Objectives of the study are to

• Investigate and demonstrate the feasibility, challenges as well as advantages of Sustainable Open Pit Concurrent Mining versus Conventional open pit mining
• Establish the conditions under which concurrent Mining open pit mining may be implemented as opposed to Conventional Open Pit Mining and why Mining companies currently opt for the latter

Ministry of Land, Mines and Energy, LIBERIA - Capacity Building

Within a World Bank fundet Project the Consultant provided technical expertise to the MLME and developed and strengthened its capacities. The Consultant developed training concepts for economic capacity building regarding, amongst others, mine inspection as well as health, safety and environment (HSE).

Furthermore, he prepared and conducted a training program to strengthen the staff and support them in financial management and governance issues. The program was provided in several training sessions, which were held during the the Consultant’s site visit in Liberia. The staff was given practical exercises to improve and test the earned knowledge.

Activities performed:

• Capacity building with regard to reviewing and assessing investment proposals
• Capacity building with regard to fulfilling regulatory functions and monitoring the compliance with sector policies and contractual obligations in mining
• Reviewing taxation and the fiscal system in the mining sector
• Providing technical advisory services
• Preparing workshops and conducting on-the-job trainings on the basis of real data and actual project experiences
• Designing training and capacity building plans

Kazakhmys Corporation, KAZAKHSTAN - Optimization of Copper Ore Production in Zhezkazgan

The mining operator Kazakhmys Corporation encountered extremely high costs for the maintenance of the technical equipment. This was due to inaccurate drillings, the use of too much explosives, insufficient road construction and lack of maintenance.

The Consultant´s task was the investigation of the causes of the high costs and the elaboration of cost reducing measures.

Activities performed:

• Design
• Calculation
• Bidding process
• Contract negotiations
• Detailed design
• Contract management
• Economic evaluation of the production process and elaboration of cost optimizing measures