As the mining industry’s appetite for exploration investment wanes, with a projected $30 billion drop in net profit for the top global mining companies in 2023, one standout emerges: Capital Limited. This company has reshaped itself into a versatile mining services provider, adept at riding the highs and lows of the industry’s tides.
Capital Limited (Capital), which will celebrate its 20th year in business in 2025, has experienced significant growth since its first drilling operation commenced in Tanzania in 2005.
Since then, it has expanded its footprint across Africa, Latin America, PNG, Pakistan North America and Europe, winning contracts with the likes of Centamin, Barrick, Fortescue, AngloGold Ashanti B2gold, and Allied Gold Corp along the way.
Notably, in June 2010, the business listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Now offering an end-to-end service in the mining industry, Capital is following a five ( Drilling, MSA, Mining, Innovation and CDI pillar approach to ensure growth and longevity, as explained to Business Enquirer by Capital’s General Manager for West and Central Africa, André Koekemoer.
“We initially started with Capital Drilling, which we considered to be our ‘bread and butter’ for a long time, the natural progression was to add load and haul and mining services to this with Capital Mining,” explained André, “In 2017 we acquired MSALABS which provides geochemical laboratory services for the exploration and mining industries”.
MSALABS, in partnership with Chrysos Corporation™, the developer of PhotonAssay™ technology, deploys these units to its laboratories globally and now has the largest number of units operating or under installation worldwide.
Using groundbreaking x-ray assay technology, PhotonAssay™ can provide more accurate analysis of gold, silver and copper in hours, as opposed to days and weeks.
“In addition to its efficiency, it’s an environmentally friendly alternative to fire assay on-site and in the laboratory,” added André.
Adding to these pillars, Capital Investment proactively invests in exploration and mining companies where they are strategically aligned to the company’s operations, and WellForce International is a leading provider of technically advanced downhole tooling and geophysical logging services. Currently WFI falls under Drilling and is therefore a division.
“Well Force has developed HiTT, a unique software solution displaying the trajectory of the drill hole towards its target,” shared André, “This revolutionary software provides a highly visual 3D solution to realign the drill hole to its target”.
Finally, Capital Innovation screens for future technology to support the delivery of safety, productivity, financial, or environmental benefits for the company and its clients.
“Capital Innovation launched Mine Power Solutions in a joint venture with Enerwhere. MPS provides modular solar-hybrid systems which combine the low cost of solar power together with the reliability of conventional diesel generators,” explained André, “the modular, transportable micro-grids are built to withstand harsh environments and can be deployed quickly and easily to any location, perfect for the mining and exploration sector in Africa and the Middle East”.
The solutions require zero upfront capex, along with considerable financial savings, and help its clients to reduce its diesel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 40%.
Commitment to Professional Skills Development
In addition to its investments into innovation, Capital have also focused on training and skills development, having recently established a joint venture with Tanzanian based International Apprenticeship and Competency Academy Limited (IACA).
The initiative aims to provide skills training for the mining industry and beyond, as well as facilitating an improvement in the standards of training to both Capital employees and its clients. Importantly, it is the first training provider in the country to deliver internationally accredited and recognised training programs through the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB UK).
“With our drive towards innovative approaches, we ensure this is considered across the business. With this in mind, our partnership with IACA integrates augmented reality simulation software for training in skills such as welding, as well as offering online testing,” shared André.
Safety is integral to Capital, and its relationship with IACA also provides access to the International Health and Safety Passport, enabling development of globally recognised safety capabilities across the business.
Capital’s unrivalled commitment to safety is demonstrated by Lost Time Injury (LTI) Free safety milestones across its operations, including 15 years at its Mwanza facility in Tanzania.
Amongst its safety initiatives and procedures, Capital pays particular focus to educating its employees.
“Most importantly we work with our employees to ensure they understand the controls to mitigate any risk and are empowered to act if they are unsafe in their workplace or they identify an unsafe condition or behaviour,” shared André.
This culture is reinforced in its Safety Risk Leadership Walks (SRLW). The program aims to facilitate specific, direct communication regarding tasks and workplace risks between our employees and our management teams.
During each walk, which take place at Capital’s operational sites, leaders assist teams to identify potential hazards and provide support to eradicate behaviours or conditions that have the potential to cause significant harm.
It also provides an opportunity to reinforce Capital’s safety values, the need for employees to follow procedures and our ‘Speak Up’ culture.
A Complete Mining Service
With its five pillar strategy in place, Capital is future focussed, with André offering solutions across all verticals.
“As we step into the next phase of our growth, Capital will seek to expand its primary base of resources,” he said, “whilst we remain strong in gold, we are also spreading further into resources such as Copper, Nickel lithium and iron”.
With the capability to offer a complete mining service to its clients, Capital is also focussed on working with its clients from a project’s start to finish.
“At Capital, we do it well, and we do it consistently, and this is why we have long-term relationships with some of the industry’s largest mining companies” closed André.