IHC Merwede acquires Cape Town consultancy
MMP was founded in 1993 as a consultancy to serve the growing marine diamond mining industry off the West Coast of South Africa. Unique to IHC MMP is its ability to engineer and deliver tailor-made underwater mining systems and equipment.
The company also has prior proven experience and project management capability in underwater mining which distinguishes them from other mining consultants. The deep sea mining industry is expanding and, as such, the number of enquiries for deep sea dredging and mining solutions are increasing significantly. Numerous studies for systems to explore, develop and mine rare and precious minerals, such as diamonds, gold, gas, hydrates and other heavy minerals, from the depths of the oceans are already in progress.
The demand for raw materials is expected to double in the next 25 years, according to studies by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).