CRUSHING POWER The Osborn-equipped underground crushing station, in Mali, is a similar installation to the new export order for the Kibali gold mine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Elandsfontein-based manufacturer Osborn Engineered Products South Africa has received a significant export order for jaw crushers and apron feeders for the Kibali gold mine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Kibali, owned by gold producer Randgold Resources, has a reserve base of 11.6-million ounces and ranks as one of the largest gold mines in Africa.
The new Osborn machines will be employed at two new underground crushing stations established to increase the mine’s output.
Osborn export sales manager Joe Sequeira says the company netted this order for two 42" × 48" single-toggle jaw crushers and two 1.8 m × 5 m apron feeders, based on the proven record of Osborn’s robust machines in similar underground applications.
“We have successfully built and installed the same setup for underground crushing stations at the Somilo mine, in Mali, and at Petra Diamonds’ Cullinan mine, in Gauteng, South Africa. We also recently supplied Petra Diamonds with a further eight Osborn apron feeders for Cullinan’s underground silos and crushing stations,” he explains.
Additionally, an Osborn vibrating grizzly feeder and 42" × 48" jaw crusher have been operating successfully underground for about 15 years at gold producer Anglo Gold’s Obuasi mine, in Ghana.
Kibali Application
“Osborn’s tough, long-wearing machines are ideally suited for the arduous operating environment at Kibali, which is in the remote Moto goldfields of north-east DRC, some 560 km north of the city of Kisangani,” Sequeira adds.
He explains that the single-toggle jaw crushers are designed for high-capacity throughput, owing to the elliptical movement of the swing jaw. This feature also assists in the discharge of the crushed material.
“Further, Osborn apron feeders capably handle heavy, lumpy and abrasive materials, thereby providing a reliable means of controlling the feed rate to prevent surge loads to primary crushers, belt conveyors and other plant and equipment,” Sequeira notes.
Osborn will supply the jaw crushers for Kibali with split frames to facilitate their transport underground into the crushing stations.
Sequeira explains that this is a standard Osborn offering. “The sections will be half the weight with split frames and will [as a result] be easier to manoeuvre underground and to be lifted with a crane.”
While Osborn apron feeders can also be supplied as a split frame, this has not been necessary for the Kibali order.
“[The feeders] will fit under the cage when transported underground. We will, however, remove the head and tail shaft, including the feeder pans, owing to weight restrictions. The units will then be reassembled underground,” Sequeira says.