HUSAB PROJECT Turnmill Proquip Engineering was responsible for fabricating adsorption and elution columns for the ion exchange plant at the Husab project, in Namibia
Vanderbijlpark-based medium to heavy engineering company Turnmill Proquip Engineering completed its scope of work for a contract to fabricate the adsorption and elution columns for uranium miner Swakop Uranium’s Husab project, in Namibia.
Swakop Uranium states that, once Husab reaches full production, it will be one of the largest uranium mines in the world. The miner adds that the Husab mine’s potential production is more than the total current uranium production of Namibia and will elevate the country to being the third-highest uranium producer worldwide.
Turnmill Proquip Engineering started the project in April 2014 and completed its part by March 2015. The company was commissioned, with full responsibility, to undertake several engineering tasks comprising the design, supply, fabrication, testing, surface protection, packaging, delivery and site installation supervision, as well as acceptance of the adsorption columns and elution columns in the ion exchange (IX) plant.
The adsorption and elution columns will operate in the IX area of the Husab mine process plant.
The IX plant will consist of nine parallel trains, each including one adsorption and one elution column. The columns will be installed outdoors. The adsorption and elution columns are designed for a minimum operating life of 25 years, capable of 24/7operations, with downtime for only normal maintenance.
The project’s components were transported using trucks from Vanderbijlpark for final delivery to the Husab mine.
Turnmill Proquip Engineering supplies manufacturing, fabrication, machining, welding and refurbishment services to industrial petrochemicals and mining com- panies in South Africa and Africa.
The company offers turnkey services including design, detailed structural analysis and project management.
Turnmill Proquip Engineering has a certified quality management system in place, which is in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 certification, which was performed by TÜV Rheinland, and ISO 3834 Part 2 certification, which was awarded by the South African Institute of Welding.