Modern Quarrying Q3 2019

A front-end loader loads one of the customer trucks.

ON THE COVER

L ocated in Contermanskloof, Durbanville in the Western Cape province of South Africa, Kliprug Quarry has been fully productive for five years. Owned by Afrimat, a leading open- pit mining company supplying industrial minerals and construction materials to the market, Kliprug serves the greater Cape Town and Atlantic seaboard area. Despite the tough nature of the construction industry in South Africa, compounded by the lack of meaningful government projects, Kliprug continues on a sustainable growth path. Since its inception, the operation has seen remarkable, continued sales growth. This is despite available figures indicating that government’s infrastructure budget has been shrinking during the past five years. The downward trend in the construction sector has worsened, particularly in the past two years. Industry figures show that government’s infrastructure budget has deteriorated from R947,2-billion during the 2017/18 budget, to R834,1-billion in 2018/19, representing a massive 12% nominal decrease. Against this negative background, Kliprug’s sales of aggregates have steadily increased to reach record volumes in May this year. The quarry has also expanded its market reach, allowing it to service all sectors of the market. Of note is the fact that the young quarry is situated in a very competitive market area with four other well-established quarries within a 5 km radius. According to Bevin Cornelius, key account manager for Aggregates Western Cape, Kliprug is the only quarry of the five that doesn’t have either an asphalt plant or readymix/precast concrete operation on site. What makes it tick? A combination of factors have ensured the quarry’s success in a very short space of time. Quarry manager Dave Hierons explains that the people factor is key among reasons why the operation In the face of a tough aggregates market and a highly competitive market landscape within its vicinity, Afrimat’s Kliprug Quarry continues to buck the trend with a steady growth trajectory that has seen it achieve record volumes in May this year, writes Munesu Shoko . BUCKING THE TREND

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 3 - 2019