Cementation Africa says it is applying its shaft-sinking expertise to upgrade Mopani Copper Mines’ Mindola shaft in Zambia, in a key project that aims to extend the Nkana mine’s life and enhance operational efficiency.

The scope of work comprises construction and erection of the permanent headgear including the rope-up and commissioning of the winders to enable detailed 3D scanning of the shaft to determine alignment correction and structural reinforcement to ensure safe and efficient conveyance operation. In addition, the project includes the installation and commissioning of an overland conveyor system.

According to Cementation Africa in-country executive: Zambia Ben Adendorff the focus is on readying the Mindola shaft for production - by sliping and equipping the remaining 500 m.

“To determine the exact degree of misalignment, Cementation Africa will complete a 3D scan of the complete shaft,” Adendorff explains. “Our current work at Mindola includes the removal of the sinking headgear and winders, and the installation of a new permanent headgear, after which we can rope-up and commission the new winders,” he continues. “This will allow us to scan the shaft from top to bottom with specialised equipment, including the length of shaft already equipped above a depth of approximately 1 000 m.”

He says that this will allow the verification of the correctness of the existing steel members that will guide the conveyances down the shaft, and the addressing of any issues identified below the 1 000 m mark. The bottom 500 m of the shaft barrel will then be sliped and lined to ensure a true vertical line through which the conveyances can travel safely.

“We will then proceed with the equipping of the shaft and construction of the loading box steelwork at the shaft bottom,” he says.

Cementation Africa engineering services executive Hercilus Harmse says that the company’s legacy in some of Africa’s deepest and most challenging shaft-sinking projects has been key to its success in Zambia.

“Many of our projects are conducted in environments where there are poor ground conditions or where extensive de-stressing of rock is required,” Harmse notes. “We bring this experience into our designs and execution ensuring that we can apply innovative solutions - using our fleet of specialised equipment for rigging, winding and shaft sinking.”

Adendorff notes that, while technical capability and experience have made Cementation Africa the preferred contractor in its field in Zambia, the company has also made community contributions,  including the building of a school for the deaf in 2016 - which today caters to over 100 children - and an orphanage feeding scheme.