Modern Mining September 2022

SUPPLY CHAIN News

BBE completes refrigeration and air-cooling system for VUP

Mine Ventilation and Cooling Systems specialist BBE Projects was contracted to design, supply, construct and commission a turn-key air-cooling system for the Venetia Diamond Mine, which is currently approaching the final stages of its transition from open pit to under ground mining. The underground infrastructure comprises two vertical shaft sys tems for personnel transport, ore transport, routing of services, lateral

FUCHS shows confidence in Africa with new office complex and warehouse A 30% increase in production volumes and a 70% increase in sales over a six-year period was the main reason behind FUCHS LUBRICANTS SOUTH AFRICA developing a two-phase expansion project, the company said. MD Paul Deppe said the project was testament to the confi dence the German parent company had in the Southern African market. “Our sustained growth trajectory in South Africa will require increased capacity in future. What we have achieved to date is evidence of our long-term vision for the region.” The project was first envisioned five years ago, with a proj ect management team assembled in 2018 to thrash out the specifications for a planned new warehouse and lubes plant. “It was a fantastic partnership at the end of the day that allowed us to realise a project of this scale and complexity.”  The air-cooling system has been built to be extended with the addition of a third refrigeration machine as cooling demand increases. The plant building has a space provision, and the concrete shell for a third condenser cooling tower was con structed with the intention of equipping mechanicals and electricals at a later stage, as the mine develops.  access levels on 54, 94, 100 and 103 level, and shaft bottoms at 107 level. In addition, the need for cooling was identified as part of the ventilation and occupational hygiene planning for the underground mine. In order to construct an adequate cooling and ventilation system, the mine engaged the services of specialised and experienced consulting engineers who are focused on mine ventilation, refrigeration and cooling. BBE Consulting, a company of the BBE Group, has been involved in the Venetia Underground Project (VUP) since the Pre-Feasibility phase, and has been able to deliver the air cooling system relatively quickly – from submitting a bid to contracting for the project. Despite the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic, work continued and the air-cooling system is currently in the final stages of being commissioned.

BBE completes refrigeration and air-cooling system for VUP.

FUCHs new office complex and warehouse.

38  MODERN MINING  September 2022