Leading the way in mineral innovation

Mintek Company was applauded for leading the way in mineral processing, metallurgical engineering products and technology on 4 July.

Mineral Resources Minister Ngaoko Ramathlodi said Mintek’s innovative advancements in technology, mineral products and scientific research have been endorsed by different countries.

“Mintek has grown in leaps and bounds… Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe and Ghana are some of the countries that have endorsed its innovative scientific research standards and they are using chemical products that are manufactured by Mintek,” said Ramathlodi.

Mintek celebrated 80 years of excellence in mineral and metallurgical innovation, comprehensive accredited analytical and mineralogical services since its establishment in 1934.

Guests were welcomed by a melodic choir comprised of Mintek’s staff.

Ramathlodi said this company has helped to nurture skills development among the youth and in rural areas where small business owners are trained in bead work, jelwellery making, granite and clay making as part of its small-scale division beneficiation programme. Part of the celebration included displays of various handicrafts.

Theresa Ditsie, supervisor of the small-scale mining beneficiation division, explained that Mintek has an artisanal mining programme in which its sources people from rural areas, who are then trained, supported and funded in different skills development courses.

“We use recycled glass to make jellewery from beer bottles. We also train them [the artisanal miners] in safety mining and clay testing and our programmes are accredited by the Mining Qualification Authority (MQA),” explained Ditsie.

Among the guests were science experts and academics, pensioners, staff members and business people. Some of the traders who displayed their handicrafts praised Mintek for helping them establish and sustain their businesses.

Thabo Tankiso Mokoena, of Wittville Creative Minds, said “Mintek has given me the opportunity to start a business and make something of myself. We need businesses like these, which help us to sustain our businesses and market our products.”