30
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
OCTOBER
2014
Due to the sheer size of the cold box, Kimber
admits that a number of logistical challenges
have been encountered in Germany and
South Africa. “The major challenges include
shipping routes and schedules, abnormal
road transport to and from port in both coun-
tries, as well as rigging and availability of
cranes,” he continues.
Kimber highlights the fact that the
Afrox and Linde project development and
execution teams successfully overcame
these obstacles. “Most of the risks and
challenges were identified in the project
development phase and mitigation plans to
effectively address them was put in place,
thereby ensuring that the majority of antic-
ipated challenges were mitigated before
becoming a major issue. This success high-
lights the skill and experience of the Afrox
and Linde teams.”
Kimber believes that the invest-
ment in the ASU is set to become the
catalyst for industrial growth in the
Eastern Cape. “Although the ASU will
not have a direct impact on the local
community, its existence will support
the development of opportunities and
industrial growth, which will have a
profound impact on the local economy.
Most importantly, Afrox customers will
continue to experience our improved
total solutions and extended product
offering,” he concludes.
PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS
The project was approved by Afrox
and its parent company Linde in
2012. An official sod turning cere-
mony was held on 11 February
2014, and the project is now more than 75%
complete, states Afrox managing director
Brett Kimber. “The ASU will improve security
in the supply of oxygen, nitrogen and argon –
all critical process components. It will stimu-
late regional growth, by reducing local distri-
bution and delivery turnaround times.”
According to Kimber, the majority of the
plant’s civil work is nearing completion, and
the ASU is expected to be fully operational
during the first quarter of 2015, as planned.
“The next major milestone is the arrival of
the cold box and storage vessels in August
2014, which are expected to be installed
within one month.”
The cold box is recognised as the heart
of an ASU, and is the central point where
proprietary technology is utilised to cryo-
genically separate ambient air into nitrogen,
oxygen and argon. The Afrox ASU cold box
was designed and manufactured in Germany
by the Linde Group. It weighs over 100 tons,
and is 40 m in height, 5 m in width and 4 m
in breadth.
to gas market
ADDING VALUE
A substantial R300-million investment in a new state-of-the-art
air separation unit (ASU) in Port Elizabeth by sub-Saharan African
gas market leader Afrox is set to ensure a more reliable supply of
atmospheric gases to the Eastern Cape market, while stimulating
growth for existing customers and suppliers in the region.
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About Afrox
African Oxygen Limited (Afrox) is
sub-Saharan Africa’s market leader
in gases and welding products. Afrox
was founded in 1927, listed on the
JSE in 1963, and has prospered by
constantly meeting the needs of
customers and developing solutions
that add value to customer applica-
tions. Afrox operates in South Africa
and in 10 other African countries.
It also manages operations in five
additional countries on behalf of its
parent company, The Linde Group
– a global gases, engineering and
technology company.
Afrox managing director, Brett Kimber.
