Modern Mining February 2024

Kendal Ash Disposal Facility nears completion

Pierre van Vuuren, Concor Project Manager.

The Kendal Ash Disposal Facility expansion project, responsible for the storage of ash produced by Kendal Power Station until 2023, has successfully reached over 80% com

The expansion of the Kendal Ash Disposal Facility is more than 80% complete.

pletion. With a projected completion date set for March 2024, this intricate venture is rapidly approaching its final stages. Led by joint venture partners Concor and Lubocon Civils, the project accelerated its construction schedule over the winter, capitalising on the dry conditions. Concor’s Project Manager, Pierre Jansen van Vuuren, highlights the stellar productivity in June and July when the teams committed to con tinuous 24-hour shifts to gain momentum before the onset of the rainy season. Spanning a massive area of 2.5 km by 3 km, the project’s components comprise the new 65-hectare Ash Disposal Facility (ADF), two dams each for both clean and polluted water storage, silt traps, an expansive 16 km V-drain system, a sig nificant stream diversion and access road construction. While the stream diversion and the majority of the 14 km access roads have been completed, the principal focus now revolves around the ADF and the basins. The in-situ material is clay soil, which calls for a specific construction method ology. Selected stockpiled excavated materials are being used in a double layered low permeability clay for base protection, topped with carefully selected river sand to prevent liner damage. Cutting edge drainage and leachate collection systems are incorporated to manage water flow efficiently, emphasising sustainability with dirty water reuse for dust suppression and other ADF activities. Concor’s innovative approach in basin construction employs a patented PVC con crete formwork system, boosting efficiency by accelerating the casting panel process. This technique is not only time saving but also labour efficient. 

February 2024  MODERN MINING  39