Aveng : Grinaker-LTA Civil Engineering completes Shondoni Mine contract

Monday 14th November, 2016

Aveng Grinaker-LTA's Civil Engineering business unit, as the main contractor in a 50/50 joint venture with Aveng Grinaker-LTA Building, has completed the R533 million Shondoni mine surface infrastructure and building project for its client, Sasol Mining, who took occupation of the mine site in June 2016.

Liam Pieterse, Project Manager for Aveng Grinaker-LTA Civil Engineering, said: 'The team was able to meet the stringent Project requirements and we received positive feedback from the client who were pleased with the project delivery.'

The Shondoni mine is the third coal replacement project for Sasol Mining's operations in Secunda, with the capacity of 9.2 million tonnes per annum to baseline feed stock for Sasol Synfuels' coal-to-liquids operations. The Shondoni mine complex comprises shaft systems, surface infrastructure and a coal-handling system. The aim of the project is to support the relocation of the Middelbult mine to the new Shondoni shaft and replace the ageing Middelbult mine.

The scope of work for the Shondoni mine project included both civil and building works with 200 000 m3 of earthworks, 32 000 m3 of concrete, 1 000 tonnes of reinforcing, 170 000m2 of mesh reinforcing, 900 tonnes of structural steel, 3 million bricks and 18 km of HDPE piping. Further works comprised construction of the change houses, production and management offices, a diesel workshop, two mega litre reservoirs, six oil & silt traps, ISO bins, dirty water and attenuation dams. Furthermore, the project team were responsible for the development of an emergency stockpile area and the construction of internal roads, carports, a bus shelter and concrete paving.

During the tenure of the contract, the Aveng Grinaker-LTA Civil Engineering and Building teams achieved safety milestones of 800 000 and 1 200 000 Lost Time Injury (LTI) free hours with approximately 700 people on site at peak.

'This significant safety record can be attributed to the implementation of a safety recognition system where team members were rewarded for their commitment to maintaining safety on site,' said Pieterse. 'The commitment of the team to live by the company's safety vision of Home Without Harm, Everyone, Everyday is evident in our strong safety performance on this project.'

The project provided employment and skills development opportunities for approximately 230 local community members residing close to the mine. The local labourers together with sub-contractors and Aveng Grinaker-LTA employees were trained through the established onsite training centre with regular workshops on all safety and technical competencies required for the mining project.

The project was awarded to Aveng Grinaker-LTA Civil Engineering in July 2013 and took 34 months to complete.