Name of the Project
Tweedraai coal project.

Location
Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Client
Sasol Mining.

Project Description
The Tweedraai project entailed the development of a high-wall access into the Tweedraai reserves, delivering a three-million-ton-a-year mine, the permanent infrastructure of which will also be used for access to the future Block IV reserves.

A small team from Sasol Mining’s Project Management Services department managed the project in-house. The project included an excavation of 1.8-million cubic metres of spoils to establish a platform providing access to the high wall. Seven roads were developed at 5° and 10° in sandstone, with a continuous miner into the coal seam. This was done to prevent flooding of the mine and the continuous inflow of decanting water from the spoils into the mine. The project also entailed the construction of a 4 800 t/h, 3.1-km-long coal conveyor system, two ventilation fans and surface access roads, as well as power and water reticulation.

Jobs to be Created
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
R1.4-billion.

Duration
Construction on the project started in May 2013. First coal was produced six months later in November 2013. The project was handed over for beneficial use in September 2015.

Latest Developments
Sasol’s Secunda mining operations experienced a challenging six months to December 31, 2016, with the onset of a prolonged protected strike by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union at its operations, which started at the end of August 2016.

Notwithstanding a 16% decrease in mining production volumes resulting from the strike action, mining continued to deliver on the company’s full coal supply commitment to the integrated Sasol value chain through
external coal purchases and increased gas consumption at Secunda Synfuels Operations.

The profitability of the mining business was significantly impacted by the R1-billion net additional cost as a result of the strike.

The company reported in April 2016 that the team had started with the front-end loading of the future Block IV reserves.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Diesel Power Mining division (spoils removal); Diesel Power Civil (all civil construction); Tenova Takraf (construction of the bulk materials handling system) and Jones & Wagener (civil and stormwater management designs).

On Budget and on Time?
The project was completed within the approved budget, with some overall savings.

Contact Details for Project Information
Sasol group media manager Alex Anderson, tel + +27 71 600 9605 or email alex.anderson@sasol.com.