Following the announcement by Waterberg Coal Company that it has entered into a Letter of Intent with ARDBEL in February 2014 for the development of the 22 million ton per annum Coal Handling and Processing Plant and associated civil works at the WCC’s works situated in the Waterberg Region, Limpopo, South Africa, WCC has formally instructed ARDBEL to commence with the preliminary design of the project.

In addition to the preliminary design and basic engineering works, ARDBEL (a joint venture between ELB Engineering Services and the DRA Group) was appointed as the contractor for the detailed design and execution of the 22 million ton per annum Coal Handling and Processing Plant and associated infrastructure at WCC’s mine in the Waterberg region. Waterberg Coal Company’s CEO Stephen Miller confirmed that this is a pivotal point not only for WCC in the development of a coal project which is strategic to South Africa’s future energy requirements but also shows investor confidence in South Africa and mining opportunities. WCC is an Australian based company listed on the ASX and the JSE and the nature of operations and principal activities of the WCC Group are coal and mineral exploration in South Africa.

“What an exciting and significant project for ARDBEL”, says Ken Bromfield, Managing Director of ARDBEL.  “It is only 18 months since the ARDBEL JV (Joint Venture) was formed through the collaborative efforts of ELB Engineering Services and the DRA Group, with the specific purpose of re-defining large scale materials handling and infrastructure engineering services to the mining industry.  Drawing from the pool of specialist skills of two well established mineral processing, mining infrastructure and materials handling engineering companies in Africa, ARDBEL offers exceptional project management of bulk materials skills backed by a wealth of experience and financial stability”.

ARDBEL, through its parent companies, has significant experience and capabilities in the design and execution of complete CHPP type projects from Run of Mine Crushing and Screening circuits, Coal Processing Plants to Train Loading Stations, including associated infrastructure. Being based in Africa we are in the same time zone as our client’s African projects and in a position to draw from a pool of experienced and talented staff accustomed to meeting the challenges of working and operating in African countries.  We furthermore have a proven record in Africa of providing design, construction, commissioning, training and operating services.

With its huge infrastructural development programme and massive mineral resources, the large-scale Materials Handling requirements of Africa are substantial and growing exponentially.  Given an extensive combined African footprint consisting of over 20 countries, ARDBEL is extremely positive regarding the potential growth that the collaboration offers in terms of further expanding their “home market” in Africa.