Name and Location
Tweedraai coal project, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Client
Sasol Mining.

Project Description
The Tweedraai project entailed the development of a high-wall access into the Tweedraai reserves, delivering a three-million-ton-a-year mine, the permanent infrastructure of which will also be used for access to the future Block IV reserves.

A small team from Sasol Mining’s Project Management Services department managed the project in-house. The project included an excavation of 1.8-million cubic metres of spoils to establish a platform providing access to the high wall. Seven roads were developed at 5° and 10° in sandstone, with a continuous miner into the coal seam. This was done to prevent flooding of the mine and the continuous inflow of decanting water from the spoils into the mine. The project also entailed the construction of a 4 800 t/h, 3.1-km-long coal conveyor system, two ventilation fans and surface access roads, as well as power and water reticulation.

Value
R1.4-billion.

Duration
Construction on the project started in May 2013. First coal was produced six months later in November 2013. The project was handed over for beneficial use in September 2015.

Latest Developments
The team has started with the FEL of the future Block IV reserves.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Diesel Power Mining division (spoils removal); Diesel Power Civil (all civil construction); Tenova Takraf (construction of the bulk materials handling system) and Jones & Wagener (civil and stormwater management designs).

On Budget and on Time?
The project was completed within the approved budget, with some overall savings.

Contact Details for Project Information
Sasol group media manager Alex Anderson, tel + +27 71 600 9605 or email alex.anderson@sasol.com.
Diesel Power Mining & Diesel Power Civil, tel +27 11 882 2665.
Tenova Takraf, +27 11 11201 2300 or email enquiries.tmm@tenova.com.
Jones & Wagener, +27 11 519 0200 or email postweb@jaws.co.za.