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COVER STORY
16
MODERN MINING
December 2015
A
t present the 2,2 km long termi-
nal with six berths is the single
largest export coal terminal in
the world with a throughput of
approximately 91 million tons
per annum. In order to achieve these staggering
figures, however, the terminal operator relies
on close cooperation with equipment suppli-
ers to ensure ultimate reliability and availabil-
ity of equipment on site on a 24/7 basis.
Advanced equipment
According to Nico van Aarde, Manager Sales
Makeover for
Richards Bay
and Market Development for Sandvik Mining,
an important factor in awarding the contract
to Sandvik Mining was the company’s track
record of supplying and supporting similar
projects at the Port of Saldanha and elsewhere
across the globe. In these instances the com-
pany has earned an enviable track record of
providing advanced solutions for port materials
handling projects and delivering unwavering
support throughout the project life-cycle.
The equipment will be purpose-built, fab-
ricated off-site and transported to the coal
terminal, where it will be installed and com-
missioned in a carefully planned manner in
order to minimise disruption to the busy coal
handling facility while the upgrades take place.
A new substation will also be constructed (and
five others reconfigured) in order to provide
power requirements to all parts of the terminal,
minimising the effect on operations whenever
circuits need to be switched off for installation
and/or maintenance purposes.
Furthermore, Sandvik Mining will be
required to meet strict standardisation require-
ments set out by RBCT as well as providing
The Sandvik PL300 is a
rail-borne, gantry-mounted,
telescopic-boom shiploader
with a steep luffing function.
Sandvik Mining has been awarded a contract to replace
the two existing Fives Lille-Gail Applevage shiploaders
and two Dravo stacker/reclaimers at the Richards Bay
Coal Terminal (RBCT). The purchase of a pair of Sandvik
PL300 shiploaders, two rocker-type Sandvik PD200 stacker/
reclaimers and a new substation from Sandvik Mining is a
bold and timeous move by the terminal operator to ensure
its sustainability for the future.