Cementation Africa advances early underground mine dewatering design
Successful underground dewatering relies on careful planning, specialised equipment and precise installation to manage restricted access, high pressures and complex logistics. (Image source: Cementation Africa)
Cementation Africa is encouraging mining companies to prioritise underground dewatering during the early stages of mine development, emphasising that proactive planning is essential for managing groundwater inflows efficiently throughout a mine's lifecycle
According to the company, successful dewatering strategies begin during the feasibility phase, where hydrogeological investigations provide critical data on anticipated groundwater volumes. This information forms the basis for designing systems capable of supporting long-term underground operations.
"Hydrogeological studies form part of the mine’s initial feasibility work, with drill holes to understand what volumes the mine is likely to encounter," explained John Goulding, study manager mine engineering at Cementation Africa.
"Cementation Africa, as a leading underground mining contractor, uses this data as the basis for planning a dewatering strategy in a multi-disciplinary engineering process that intersects mine design, shaft infrastructure, power systems and operational logistics."
The company says its approach combines engineering design, construction expertise and operational knowledge to deliver integrated dewatering systems that address the practical challenges encountered in underground mining.
"Our strength lies in our ability to design and execute dewatering solutions across the full project lifecycle - from feasibility through to the operation of pump stations," Goulding said. "This includes the civil, mechanical, electrical and control design aspects that must come together in an underground dewatering system."
By incorporating dewatering requirements at the earliest stages of project planning, mine developers can ensure that pump stations, settling facilities and water storage infrastructure are appropriately located and sized to handle expected groundwater inflows. Early design also allows systems to be configured with sufficient flexibility to accommodate changing mining conditions over time.
Louis du Plessis, project engineer mine engineering at Cementation Africa, noted that the company frequently supports clients during the feasibility stage by providing engineering studies and technical option assessments.
"By conducting studies and technical assessments to guide mines’ decision-making, we can help them determine the most appropriate approach before committing to major infrastructure investments," said Du Plessis.
He added that underground dewatering systems should always be tailored to the specific operating conditions and infrastructure of each mine.
"This means working very closely with our clients, understanding what they need, and designing around that," he said. "This collaborative process leads to engineering solutions aligned with operational realities rather than purely theoretical designs."
The company also highlights the importance of carefully positioning dewatering infrastructure underground. Pump stations must remain accessible for safe maintenance, while pipelines need to be routed through shafts and haulages without interfering with other essential services such as power distribution and mine ventilation.
Despite detailed hydrogeological investigations and modelling, groundwater inflows can remain difficult to predict accurately.
"Even with studies and modelling, there remains considerable uncertainty about the volumes of water that miners will encounter during development and mining," Goulding said. "This makes it vital to design dewatering strategies that can adapt to varying conditions rather than simply operating at a fixed capacity."
To improve operational resilience, dewatering systems can incorporate spare pumping capacity or be designed for future expansion. Flexible configurations also enable water to be transferred between different mining levels as operations extend deeper underground, ensuring efficient groundwater management throughout the life of the mine.
