BRIEF HISTORY

The Company was formed in 2002 by four partners who believed there was a business opportunity available in the contract metallurgical arena. This was bolstered by a fifth partner joining in early 2004.

MRD have extensive knowledge in the metallurgical arena and have a sound reputation with many clients, including a number of the larger companies.

MRD provides an outsourced solution to both large existing companies as well as new developing BEE junior companies.

Combined experience in the following arenas is over 75 years:

• Gold
• Platinum
• Diamonds
• Coal
• Chrome
• Vanadium
• Heavy Minerals
• Dump Reclamation

Notwithstanding this, MRD has also been involved in other minerals and will approach these where appropriate and where it believes it can add value.

 MRD’s Capabilities :

• Contract Metallurgical Operations
• Process design
• Feasibility studies, due diligence, HAZOP studies, etc
• Plant and Project Optimization / Modifications
• Project Management
• Construction management
• Plant Commissioning

EXCELLENCE IN METALLURGICAL SOLUTIONS

We add value to all our clients' business.

 MRD’s Vision:

We will be the customers' first choice for all their Metallurgical concerns. We will apply the vision, experience and energy of a strong team to the pursuit of a profitable growth.

MRD’s Mission:

We will develop innovative, cost effective solutions for our customers by applying our experience base and new technology where required.  

MRD’s Values:

 Customers

• Our Customers are our “partners” in all projects and we value gaining the preferred status by delivering the projects and services that will fulfil customer requirements

People

• MRD values its people.
• Working in partnership to find solutions and to deliver expected results
• Attract and retain quality employees
• Communicate effectively at all levels

Responsibilities

• Generate profits and create shareholders value through outstanding service
• Health and safety of employees and their communities.
• Preserving the environment for future generations

BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

1.1. Client Relations

• Outsourcing of an Operation that produces a product for a client is an act of faith.
• Notwithstanding other drivers such as economics, scarce resources, etc. it is an act of faith whereby the client puts his production and reputation in the hands of a contractor.
• The team at MRD takes this very seriously and believes that to successfully manage an Operation on behalf of a Client requires more than good technical, operational and project skills.
• What sets us apart is our willingness and ability to develop an open and trusting relationship, resulting in the role of the “contractor” changing to one of “partner”.
• In long-term relationships, a joint willingness to produce a successful project, and to continuously work through problems to solutions, is the only recipe for sustainability.

Despite being the contractor, we believe that we can only be successful by knowing and understanding the business of our Client and all the problems he is faced with.

Through this broader context we are able to assist our Clients in developing sensible, cost effective solutions, both on the initial installation and for any future expansions /

changes to product specification / etc.

1.2 . Business Environment

 The business environment in which we find ourselves is filled with opportunity, as well as challenges. To be sustainable, a business must approach both areas with a long-term view. The opportunities are naturally important, and fairly self-explanatory. The challenges include:

• The changing mining and environmental arenas.
• The need for meaningful and effective empowerment.
• Affirmative action.
• The lack of competent personnel in a number of important areas.

MRD has been active in addressing these areas, and is confident it will be able to meet these challenges.

MRD is also in negotiations with a leading Engineering House to acquire a strategic partner to boost the overall in-house Capabilities in all future ventures. This pending Relationship will also boost MRD’s BEE scorecard with at least 26% BEE ownership.

1.3 Areas of Expertise

 MRD’s prime business objective and focus is to operate metallurgical plant on contract to clients, or within its own projects. The team has a large experience base in BOOT, BOO, BO, and O&M in South Africa. However, where appropriate, MRD also has the experience to provide services in the areas of:

• Feasibility studies
• Plant / project optimi zations
• Plant modifications / additions

The management team has a combined experience of ca 75 years in the metallurgical operations arena, including ca 44 years in the contract metallurgical operations arena.

This experience is utilized by the team during the design phase, whether in-house or in conjunction with a process design company, to produce cost-effective, safe, maintenance and operator “friendly” plants.

This provides improvements in both production throughput, and operating costs.

Where necessary the broad, overall experience base allows MRD to be involved in projects from conceptual stages, working in conjunction with other disciplines / companies. This broad involvement allows value to be added by incorporating the “cause and effect” aspect to all areas of the project.

To expand its own capabilities and technical expertise, MRD has entered into association with a number of strategic technology suppliers.

MRD believes that technological advances must be exploited to be competitive, and we are progressive in the application of such new technology where it believes a benefit will accrue.

A further market which MRD has targeted is industrial effluents, with specific reference to assisting clients in developing cost-effective and sensible solutions that improve the bottom line, as well as our environment.

MRD has associated with a specialist in this field and will provide operational and other experience to the association. Again, the primary objective is to operate these plants on behalf of the clients.

1.4 Operating procedures

 MRD’s experience in the application of procedures is extensive, be this in operational management, safety and health, environmental, etc.

Where the client provides the procedures to which MRD must adhere, this is done without complication and where these are lacking, MRD will provide the necessary procedures existing within our company.

This experience extends to operating within the client EMPR requirements, and the response of the client is often to hand over the management of such issues to MRD directly, where they apply to the operation/plant environments.

1.5. Safety

It is clearly understood by the MRD management team that Safety is a non-negotiable issue. To this end all staff are required to comply with all procedures and if this is not adhered to firm disciplinary action is taken to maintain the high safety levels.

Maintaining a high standard of safety is one of the prime functions of the senior management team and their Heads of Department / Business Unit Managers.

The MRD team has experience in ensuring high safety ratings are obtained and have, in their experience, obtained a number of 4 and 5 Star NOSA ratings on their first rating by NOSA.

2.0 THE VIEW AHEAD

We believe that the changes taking place in the mineral beneficiation arena will require companies that are able to provide skills to support these changes.

The ability to successfully operate and manage projects on behalf of Mining Houses, and to do so cost effectively, will stand MRD in good stead as this market grows.

The contract metallurgical operations arena has also gained acceptance over the past years, even within a number of large companies. This, accompanied by a growing incidence of “partnering”, will ensure that many more people will be able to access the minerals market.

The experience within the MRD team, in this arena, will allow MRD to successfully operate and expand this business opportunities, providing service that will result in mutual benefit and long-term relationships for the Clients and MRD.

MRD CAPABILITIES

 Contract Metallurgical Operations

 This is the core function and focus of the Company. The team has extensive experience in the evaluation of such projects, from greenfields to plant construction, and has a wealth of experience in the operational management of such projects, including maintenance, forecasting, SHE aspects, client liaison, optimisation of the project, etc.

Process design

 The team have all had experience in design work in various spheres in the industry. When the practical experience and knowledge of the team is combined with this design experience, then practical, cost-effective plant is the result. The plants also cater for the problems faced by the operator, and allow for ease of maintenance.

Feasibility studies, due diligence, etc

 The team has carried out a number of these on behalf of various clients, and often included testwork, utilising the available metallurgical laboratories, as appropriate. The team is able to provide both the technical and the operational knowledge into the report. This operational knowledge is often lacking in many of the companies which concentrate on such work.

Plant and project optimisation

 Again the depth of the operational experience vested within the company allows efficient evaluation of a client plant and practical, effective recommendations can be made.

Project & Construction management / plant modifications

 MRD can project manage the complete design and/or construction of small, medium or large projects and plant modifications. The types of Contracts can vary from EPCM (Engineer, Procure, Construction Management) right through to BOOT (Build, Own, Operate & Transfer). The operational experience within MRD is also utilised to ensure that the plant operator will have a practical plant that is operator and maintenance friendly.