JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Construction of energy and chemical company Sasol’s Shondoni mine, near Secunda, is approaching completion, with operations at three coal production sections expected to start this month through the new incline conveyor.
The mine, which is set to replace the ageing Middelbult mine, has the capacity to add 9.2-million tons a year to baseline feed stock for Sasol Synfuels’ coal-to-liquids operations.
Coal will first be stored in a 15 000-t-capacity surface bunker before being transferred to Sasol Coal Supply (SCS) via a 21 km conveyor system. The single belt conveyor, curved overland, was the last key element that needed to become operational before coal from underground could be fed onto the system.
In addition to the conveyor, 36.5 km of road was constructed, 37 200 m2 of concrete and block paving laid, and 21.5 MW of power capacity installed. A 4 000-t-capacity surface bunker was also constructed for temporary storage at SCS.
Meanwhile, in February, engineering, procurement, construction and management company WorleyParsons handed over the surface infrastructure and licensing of the winder and shaft complex.
Since February, the surface infrastructure at the mine has been completed to facilitate full operational status, with occupation by production personnel starting in April. At project peak, 1 190 site-based mining employees will be on site in two office blocks comprising 156 offices and covering 4 950 m2.
WorleyParsons lead civil engineer Frikkie Naudé says that construction of the surface infrastructure included moving an earthworks volume of 1.09-million cubic metres, construction of 39 500 m3 of concrete, and the supply and erection of 9 300 t of structural steel.