Modern Mining September 2016

COMPANIES

Despite downturn ELBCON

The decision by leading engineering solutions provider ELB Engineer- ing Services to establish its own in-house construction arm – ELB Con- struction (ELBCON) – just over five years ago is an initiative that has paid off handsomely. ELBCON has brought new levels of responsive- ness, control and competence to the on-site execution of ELB Engineer- ing Services’ many projects throughout Africa and – with its reputation now firmly established – is in the process of taking its service offering beyond the boundaries of the ELB Group. Modern Mining recently spoke to Trevor Budd (right), ELBCON’s Managing Director, who says the company – notwithstanding current conditions in mining – is ex- pecting its order book to grow significantly over the coming year.

O utlining the rationale behind the creation of ELBCON, Budd says it was established to de- risk the execution model of ELB Engineering Services. “Prior to the formation of ELBCON, ELB Engineering – which primarily works on an EPC basis – re- lied on contractors to undertake the construc- tion work on its projects,” he states. “While this model once worked reasonably well, it started to break down perhaps a decade or so

ago, reflecting declining skills levels – particu- larly a shortage of competent supervisory staff – in the construction industry. ELB was in- creasingly having to intervene directly on site to ensure that work was completed to the qual- ity standards required and within the budgets and time scales specified. “ELB Engineering Services’ Chief Executive, Dr Stephen Meijers, was concerned by the problems being encountered and was deter- mined to do something about it. I had known

ELBCON has upgraded materials handling facilities at the Matola coal terminal in Mozambique.

28  MODERN MINING  September 2016