Fraser Alexander : Transforming Mine Waste into Societal, Environmental, and Economic Value

Providing customised solutions to the mining industry for over a century, Fraser Alexander is a global partner adding value to mining, waste, and infrastructure through smart solutions. We speak to Lourens De Koning, COO, about the company’s extensive history and plans for a sustainable future.

TRANSFORMING MINE WASTE INTO VALUE

Having provided customised solutions to the mining sector since 1912, Fraser Alexander is an industry stalwart, passionate about helping its clients avoid daily disruptions, maximise production, and enhance the entire value chain. 

A trusted mining services partner, the company has worked diligently to develop a reputation for reliability, innovation, managing risk, and creating sustainable success with its clients, even during changing times. 

Founded over a century ago as the first tailings deposition service provider in the Witwatersrand region, South Africa (SA), to use cocopans to remove tailings from processing plants, the company has grown to become an industry leader that prioritises a safe, disruption-free day. 

Today, Fraser Alexander is proud to be a fully Black-owned and South African group, expanding its innovative business across the world and offering outsourced services and related infrastructure to move, manage, and add value to minerals, waste, and water. 

“Whilst we primarily focus on tailings management, over the years, we have diversified into many other services, including construction, material handling, transportation, mineral processing, water treatment, and more,” introduces Lourens De Koning, COO.   

The company’s impressive growth and service offerings are exemplified by its rapid expansion across the African continent in countries like Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), alongside current operations in South America, all whilst seeking opportunities to spread its footprint even further in regions such as Central Asia, North America, and Australia. 

“We’re looking to establish Fraser Alexander as a true localised business in each country where we operate. Therefore, our clientele focus and expansion strategy are based on building a sustainable business in those regions,” elaborates De Koning. 

Having held the position of COO for eight years, De Koning plays a key role in shaping the company’s operational strategy and ensuring it thrives as a primary player in the mining services industry. 

With over 22 years of experience in civil and geotechnical engineering, collaborative project execution, leadership, and executive management, he is South African-born and raised, and found his passion for the industry whilst studying civil engineering at the University of Pretoria. 

“Working in the mining sector, understanding the client base, decrypting the economics, and working to expand the business across a large industry is what makes this career exciting,” he impassions.   

TRANSFORMING THE INDUSTRY

Currently, the mining industry is facing a variety of challenges due to environmental and climate change pressures, turbulent geopolitics, rapid technological changes, and a global maintenance skills shortage. 

However, this does not intimidate nor dull the excitement that Fraser Alexander experiences when looking at the future of the international sector. 

“The mining industry is invigorating, often because of the challenges we face. At the moment, we are dealing with the legacy issues of mining and a lack of investment in the sector across Africa,” details De Koning. 

“The sector is putting a lot of effort into redefining the future of mining and how it could become more environmentally friendly, ultimately doing away with the legacies of the past.” 

Whilst it is important to recognise the necessary changes industries must go through in order to encourage a sustainable future, it would be a crucial mistake to overlook the importance mining has on the current economy and daily lifestyle of individuals and businesses across the globe. 

Specifically, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mining sector in SA stepped in to stimulate the national economy and provide assistance throughout the unprecedented event. 

“The evident care for people and operations, as well as the commitment to the continuity of the economy, was remarkable during this time. It showcases how important these sectors are to society,” imparts De Koning. 

Fraser Alexander is working to differentiate itself from the competition through various means, one of which is its values, consisting of excellence, innovation, integrity, care, and teamwork, which underpin all that it stands for. 

“We work hard to ensure our values are something everyone is aligned with throughout our business. During recruitment, we ensure the people who join fit our culture of determination and success,” he specifies. 

The company guarantees this mindset by providing its employees with regimented training, no matter the department. It emphasises upskilling people and transferring knowledge throughout the business for every individual to be readily prepared for whatever challenges the mining landscape may present. 

Equally, Fraser Alexander is steering its focus towards R&D and innovation, looking at incorporating the latest technologies, digitisation, statistical analysis, and mechanisation alongside its vast experience. 

“We started with a team full of engineers. Now we have data analysts, computer scientists, robotics specialists, and others who help us maintain our position at the top of the industry,” expands De Koning.   

INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

Over the course of its long-established history, Fraser Alexander has situated itself as the largest tailing and mine waste management company of its kind, gaining a reputation for transforming mine waste into societal, environmental, and economic value. 

“This achievement was something built over a long period of time. Starting in SA, we were the first company to assist clients in building these tailing facilities, which are some of the largest manmade structures in the world,” explains De Koning. 

Having dominated the South African market, the company was able to expand further, both in terms of its service offerings and the countries and regions it was present in. 

In 1994, the Merriespruit tailings dam failed, resulting in wide-scale destruction that forced the industry to reevaluate its tailings management and engineering procedures. Fraser Alexander was at the forefront of this redesign, not only as a service provider but also as a leader in many of the technical and R&D fronts, which served to further distinguish its ability to innovate and remain an industry frontrunner. 

“This allowed us to work with international clients and strengthen our company name by further contributing to the industry,” insights De Koning. 

Evidently, Fraser Alexander’s vast expertise has asserted its reputation for excellence, showcasing its hard-earned experience in retreating and re-mining in a manner that prevents the possibility of any future failures. 

As the company continues to look towards another century of success, it is prioritising expansion and operational excellence throughout 2025, working to ensure Fraser Alexander remains on top during a volatile period for the sector. 

“We are seeking to optimise current operations and capitalise on the opportunities we have been working on for a long time to advance them to realisation,” informs De Koning. 

Specifically, the company is looking to expand further into South America and the African region in addition to embarking upon the utilisation of brownfields as a means of development. 

It is doing so by mechanising operations specific to these regions and actively upskilling its people to be ready for the new environments and unique challenges they each pose.   

“It’s about affordability, patience, and building long-term sustainable growth in these areas whilst remaining focused on the rich history and successful business we have been maintaining across the African continent,” decrees De Koning. 

Additionally, the company has created the NxtGen Fraser Alexander Team in order to cement its authority over innovation and ingenuity in mining. This team consists of industry titans with over 25 years of experience who are collectively looking at what the future of mining entails. 

Its exploration of the industry includes questions about what the circular economy looks like and how the company should position itself to be relevant in future markets. All of these factors serve to ensure Fraser Alexander remains at the forefront and participates internationally in the sector.    

BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE

Fraser Alexander recognises the crucial need for action and compliance regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives that companies must engage in to better the world. 

The organisation is committed to building a sustainable future, aptly demonstrated through its superb track record in safety, employing and developing local talent, and minimising environmental impacts for the benefit of all. 

Considerable effort goes into ensuring Fraser Alexander is a responsible environmental steward and mitigates any potential impacts that may arise from the functions it performs at mining sites. 

“We’ve observed in many instances that we’re doing good and leaving a better future behind in the places where we operate,” notes De Koning. 

“We’re keeping operations safe, preventing spillages into the environment and communities, and providing jobs and economic stimulation to the regions where we work.” 

“We also offer Mining Residue Training (MRD301) to our clients and everyone operating in the mining industry to ensure that we all act responsibly in the building, management, and closure of tailings facilities”  

The company strives to contribute to the socioeconomic development of the communities that surround its business activities. This is accomplished by increasing the capabilities of community-based small, medium, and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) as potential or existing suppliers, partners, and host clients. 

Ultimately, Fraser Alexander aims to encourage the economic independence of local regions both now and in the future. 

“We’ve taken on the responsibility of addressing localisation through community upliftment, employment, and developing surrounding businesses. It’s a part of our DNA and culture to positively engage within the regions around our operations,” details De Koning. 

“The company always looks for any environmental and social upliftment we can bring as it is a high priority for us.” 

Additionally, Fraser Alexander is creating a positive legacy through programmes that focus on local education, healthcare, upskilling employees, and reducing its mining footprint wherever possible. 

“We believe that these initiatives and programmes demonstrate to the industry and our clients that we will be around long into the future,” concludes De Koning. 

FRASER ALEXANDER PARTNER