Outsourced plant operations and maintenance specialist Minopex, a member of global multidisciplinary organisation DRA Group, is moving its head offices from the Mozambique capital of Maputo to Tete province, the company tells Mining Weekly.

This move, which follows the establishment of a R15-million Tete-based worker campsite and an R18-million engineering services division, called Ensermo, dovetails with the company’s belief in the importance of having a significant presence in resources-rich Mozambique.

“Over the past two-and-a-half years, we have established a growing presence in Mozambique and have learnt a great deal about the country’s mining law and business climate,” says Minopex Mozambique MD Dave Spottiswoode.

He adds that the company realised early on that finding local companies that offer high-quality, value-for-money services in Mozambique is a significant challenge.

Spottiswoode also emphasises the importance of ensuring that its South African expatriate workforce is catered for.

“Therefore, in December last year, Minopex built a 50-sleeper camp in Tete for our expatriate workers . . . which also houses our utility vehicles and trucks.” New Division On the same b5 ha of land, Minopex simultaneously established its Ensermo Engineering Services Mozambique division work- shop.

Spottiswoode

points out that Minopex is currently the only company undertaking outsourced operation and maintenance work for mining and engineering operations in Tete.

“Ensermo started operating from December 2013, offering our first phase of engineering, splic- ing, mobile field services, scaffolding, on-site fabrication, erec- tion, civil construction, drafting and design, as well as on-site pump refurbishment services,” says Ensermo engineer Louw Grobler.

He points out that Ensermo extended its services in January to include motor rewinding, workshop machining and workshop pump refurbishment, high-density poly- ethylene (HDPE) piping modifications and workshop repairs, as well as lifting and slinging.

“Our Ensermo workshop . . . has been designed to expand as and when different types of engineering services are required and will rapidly be able to grow our current fabrication capacity of 100 t/m,” Spottiswoode enthuses.

Service Offering
Ensermo’s pumps refurbishment service offers complete rebuild, on-site changeouts, service exchange, parts replacement and minor repairs.

The rewinding workshop offers full motor rewinds from 15 kW to 110 kW and minor repairs such as bearing repairs and motor dry-outs, and has a test bench that can test up to 315 kW.

“Our fitting and turning division services small and medium-sized parts, including polishing, shaft clocking, countersinking and key cutting,” says Grobler.

He adds that Ensermo’s boilermaking unit offers steel fabrication, drafting and design capabilities, the fabrication of boxes and chutes, precut liners, welding, cutting and assembling, steel structures, platework, new designs, modification and any steel-related work on site and/or in the workshop.

“Off site, we can also assist with cold splices, mechanical clipping, pulley lagging, crowning, complete belt replacements, on-site audits and inspections, belt alignments and scaffolding – including erection, inspection and certification – and longer-term rentals,” Grobler points out.

Further, he notes that Ensermo’s civil construction division can assist with concrete slabs, trenches, bund walls, office extensions, plinths, buildings and earth- works.

“Our lifting and rigging services include an on-site rigging team and the supply of chain blocks, shackles and clamps, as well as wire, webbing, chain and adjustable chain slings,” adds Grobler.

Meanwhile, Ensermo’s future HDPE piping modification service offering will comprise butt welding, special pipe manufacturing, reducers and T-pieces, while condition monitoring offers the electrical reticulation of distribution boards, substations, motor control centres, panels, mining vacuum circuit breakers, cables, motors, fans, transformers and electrical components.