Stefanutti Stocks Mechanical ‘shows its steel’ on Kwale Mineral Sands Phase 2: A milestone pan-African project, delivered on time

8th June 2018

Stefanutti Stocks Mechanical ‘shows its steel’ on Kwale Mineral Sands Phase 2: A milestone pan-African project, delivered on time

Stefanutti Stocks Mechanical (SSM) have demonstrated their ability to compete in the pan- African mining sector by successfully executing Phase 2 of the Kwale Mineral Sands mine expansion project in Kenya (KP2). The project was awarded in June 2017 and scheduled for completion in April 2018. 

SSM proudly confirms that they completed this project on time, while adhering to the high safety and quality standards inherent to their operational ethos.

This is a great milestone for the company, through which they have provided their client with an extended operational capability while ensuring maximum return-on-investment.

This is according to Marius Botes, Managing Director of SSM.

“We took the lead in this exciting, multi-disciplinary project, which included the provision of civils, structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, piping and platework (CSMEIPP). 

The scope of work was to complete the civil works for the new plant’s operational areas, including fabrication and installation of steel structures to extend the process buildings; as well as installation of the new gravity separation units and the associated piping,” Botes explains, adding that the end-client was Australian mineral sands producer Base Resources. 

Early involvement in the constructability planning of KP2 was furthermore provided by seconding senior team members to work in the client’s Australian offices.

“This resulted in complete synergistic alignment of all parties involved – enabling improved pre-planning which, in turn, led to significant risk mitigation, time- and cost-savings for the client,” Botes comments.

SSM - which is ISO 9001 and 14001 certified, with a NOSA four-star rating - is part of the Stefanutti Stocks Mechanical and Electrical division of Stefanutti Stocks (Pty) Ltd, an industry stalwart and South Africa’s foremost listed construction group. 

The KP2 project has been one of several pan-African projects for the company, which is quickly building up a solid pan-African construction and project execution track record.

“We are currently leveraging this to aggressively seek and secure further minerals processing plant construction projects throughout the rest of Africa.

As such, the KP2 project has been pivotal in expanding our geographic and operational footprint. We drew on our significant experience in managing pan-African CSMEIPP projects in order to execute it timeously and successfully,” Botes explains.

“Unlike working in South Africa, the logistics involved in this project were highly complex, as all the required steel had to be containerised and shipped to Kenya.  We knew - based on the nature of the project - that precision and accurate pre-planning would be critical. We therefore engaged a specialised team with substantial pan-African logistical experience,” Botes adds.

SSM’s management team on the KP2 project also have extensive previous pan-African experience in CSMEIPP; as well as in the construction and upgrading of minerals processing plants. This enabled them to meet the project objectives and deadlines while adhering at all times to the stringent safety and quality standards.

 “We are extremely pleased that we were able to deliver so effectively and timeously on such a milestone pan-African mining project.

We have not only forged a strong, lasting relationship with our client Base Resources; but based on this success we look forward to taking the lead in many similar projects across Africa,” Botes concludes.