A lift that can carry about 80 people at a time and travel at 60 metres a second to reach 2.5km below the surface is one of the features of Gold Fields's treasured South Deep mine. The world's second-biggest gold ore body is wholly mechanised, the first in South Africa. The mechanised mine has, however, struggled to reach full production in more than a decade that it has been in the hands of Gold Fields. GIt now has a new set of faces leading operations. Over the last two years, they have repositioned the mine. Positive cash flows started last year for the first time since it was bought in 2006.Many who were there when South Deep reported loss after loss, and when management was criticised for not having a clear plan, will know that a lot has improved from the days when the roof of the mine leaked puddles on the shaft floor. "In the last two years the team had time to assess the mine and work out what plan could be more profitable and sustainable in the long term," said Nick Holland...
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