PRODUCT News
July 2014
MODERN MINING
59
each container includes a 2 000 litre on board fuel tank, complete
with an automatic filling system which is fed from an external
bulk fuel tank. The container is dampened to absorb the sound
generated within its confines and has an acoustic breakout limit
of 85 db(A) at a distance of approximately 7 m.
“We have been involved in supplying generator sets to a large
footprint of customers in South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,
Nigeria and the DRC for the past 27 years, placing us in a posi-
tion to understand and overcome the challenges of working in
Africa. Another advantage we bring to the table is that within
the Zest WEG Group we are able to source a complete portfolio
of offerings, including generator sets, electric motors, drive sys-
tems, transformers, installation systems and electrical distribution
panels,” says McCracken.
Zest WEG Group, tel (+27 11) 723-6000
Modular 60 t/h DMS plant for
diamond-mining operation
SNC-Lavalin’s South African office has successfully fulfilled
an order for the engineering of the civil layout and procure-
ment of equipment for a 60 t/h Dense Medium Separation
(DMS) plant for a diamond mining company in the northern
hemisphere. The DMS plant is part of a greater greenfield
operation and the equipment procured by SNC-Lavalin will
tie in with equipment provided by other suppliers.
“We established a modular group in 2010 to focus on the
specific market requirement for compact plants that can be
broken down into smaller sections and easily transported
anywhere in the world,” says Roger Rousseau, Manager of
SNC-Lavalin’s modular team at the South African office. “This
approach reduces time spent on site, because the equipment
can be cold commissioned prior to being delivered to the
customer. Another benefit is that additional modules can be
installed at a later stage to increase capacity.
“In addition, the modular group specialises in building
containerised plants, which also makes logistics far simpler.
This small projects group has a team of highly skilled profes-
sional members, all capable of multitasking. This gives us a
price advantage when tendering for small projects, while
these smaller customers enjoy the benefit of having full
access to the resources of one of the world’s leading engi-
neering and construction groups.
“SNC-Lavalin offers modularisation and containerisation
opportunities to the African mining and metallurgy sector
to address the risks associated with working at remote sites
on the continent,” he continues. “For companies operating in
Africa, one of the biggest challenges is erecting equipment
in remote locations where there are always concerns about
safety and access to reliable services or resources. The abil-
ity to modularise plants makes it possible to complete most
of the work in a local workshop, while applying the highest
standards of health, safety and quality.”
Rousseau says that on this particular project his team was
able to tap into SNC-Lavalin’s substantial global network of
technical resources and specialists. These experts provided
valuable input with regard to the properties, standards and
specifications of the structural steel needed to construct the
DMS plant for the harsh northern hemisphere climate.
Alistair McKay, SNC-Lavalin, tel (+27 11) 535-4906
