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Construction of tailings storage facilities at Tharisa platinum mine to be completed in six months

TAILINGS STORAGE FACILITY
Fraser Alexander is using articulated dump trucks and scrapers to construct the tailings dam

Fraser Alexander CEO Velile Nhlapo tells Mining Weekly about the company’s latest tailings contract

TAILINGS STORAGE FACILITY Fraser Alexander is using articulated dump trucks and scrapers to construct the tailings dam

8th July 2016

By: Donna Slater

Features Deputy Editor and Chief Photographer

  

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Mine development and construction company Fraser Alexander has concluded a contract for platinum-group- metals (PGM) miner Tharisa Minerals to install and commission a tailings storage facility at its Tharisa mine.

The mine is located on the south-western limb of the Bushveld complex, in the North West.

Fraser Alexander, a 100% black-owned company, is undertaking the project, which is currently in a preliminary phase – as an extension of Phase 1 of the current operations at the Mooinooi site, including earthworks and drains on the tailings dams. The project is expected to be finalised in the next six months, but could be extended if Tharisa Minerals requires a larger tailings storage dam.

Phase 1 comprises the construction of the tailings dam, which will be followed by an expansion using mined material. This includes the use of articulated dump trucks and scrapers to establish the footprint of the dam.

Currently, the project is on time and within budget, with no complications expected, says Fraser Alexander CEO Velile Nhlapo. New Jobs The project will provide 21 new jobs for people living in the area, in addition to the 24 Fraser Alexander employees, who comprise two teams already working on the project.

In terms of challenges, he says the volatility of the mining industry in the Rustenburg region and social unrest have affected operations at the project only negligibly.

A project such as the tailings storage facility helps to enhance the order book of Fraser Alexander, notes Nhlapo, adding that it enables the company to deploy skilled and experienced members of staff to a tailings-specific project.

Meanwhile, the recent tailings dam failure of Brazil-based miner Samarco is producing major ramifications for tailings operations and miners in the region and globally, says Nhlapo.

He tells Mining Weekly that Fraser Alexander is well insured for such occurrences: “We have risk management procedures in place to ensure we do not experience dam failures at any of our existing 200 operations. “We are insured for over R750-million, and also have sound environmental management and rehabilitation plans in place.”

Africa Expansion
Fraser Alexander is planning to expand into other African regions where it is not currently represented. This includes the building of a ‘Zambian hub’ in the Zambia city of Kitwe. Through the hub, the company aims to ensure there is adequate senior management in the region to serve Zambia and enhance the service for surrounding Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.

Fully Operational

The Zambian office is expected to be fully operational before the end of the year, with the appointment of senior manager Harvey Nkosi to represent the SADC region.

Fraser Alexander has more than 200 contracts in South Africa and is, therefore, aiming to use its locally grown expertise to offer African clients its mining solutions. It is operating in more than 15 African countries, including Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Namibia and Tanzania. Fraser Alexander also has projects in Australia and South America.

Fraser Alexander aims to expand into Ethiopia, Lesotho and Mozambique, as well as Seychelles, among others.

 

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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