The 25-km overland civils work and the refurbishment of the Wolwekrans workshop complex at the Douglas-Middelburg Optimis-ation project are being under- taken by construction and engineering firm Group Five.
“The overland civils contract, which was awarded in June 2008, is challenging but about 50% complete and on track to meet the March 2010 completion date,” says Group Five director Richard Evans.
He adds that a section of the overland civils project, including all mechanical and electrical installation, needs to be completed by December 2009 to bring on line a large area of the coal handling facility. “Wheresand crusher and mad washer with refing water it affects our civil works is that, by June, we need to have completed the civil works in that area, including the main crusher tip, as well as some of the transfer tower foundations and conveyor lines,” says Evans.
The overland civils scope of work comprises the construction of a number of transfer stations, preresume for technical manager of cement industrycast plinths placed either on minipiles or natural ground at 8-m spacings, depending on founding conditions, the primary crusher tip structure and 14 electrical substations. Upon completion of the 25-m-high crusher tips, process and engineering firm Bateman Africa will install the steel superstructure, the mechanical woroll crusher price south africarks and the crushing equipment.
“One of the features of the overland contract is the 14 substations, which provide the electrical reticulation to the entire scheme and are dotted over the 25-km distance. “Logistically, it is a challenge to manage your teams over such a distance, taking account of access routes and current mining operations,” says Evans. The overland contract value is estimated to be R250-million.
The workshop complex scope of work, which is valued at R100-million, involves an upgrade to the existing heavy plant workshops, and includes an effluent treatment plant, change houses and a number of administration blocks and parking areas. This part of the contract was awarded in August 2008 and is also about 50% complete and on track for handover in December 2009.
“We have some specialised contractors working on certain aspects of the project; how- ever, the bulk of the work is done in-house. “We have about 350 staff working on the two contracts,” says Evans.
“Our biggest challenge and achievement on this project has been our adherence to BHP Billiton’s fatal risk control protocol safety requirements, which they apply rigidly,” comments Evans. He adds that BHP Billiton is extremely safety focused and the protocol increases management and safety requirements, and also requires a change in the mindset of all the staff associated with the project.
“However, it is quite satis- fying when you are able to achieve the project’s safety targets, at the same time delivering the infrastructure to the client’s requirements. “This project is our first with BHP Billiton in recent times and we look forward to working together with them on other projects and successfully completing these as well,” concludes Evans.