TLT-Turbo Africa has been awarded the contract for the supply and installation of a turnkey solution for underground ventilation and fumes extraction for Kamoa Copper SA, located in the DRC. Kamoa Copper SA forms part of the Kamoa-Kakula copper project, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group and the Government of the DRC, which has been independently ranked as the world’s largest, undeveloped, high-grade copper discovery.
TLT-Turbo Africa will design, manufacture and supply a bifurcated axial flow fan station for the extraction of mine fumes as well as auxiliary and booster fans for Kamoa’s underground operation. It will also oversee installation and provide assistance with the commissioning. The Kamoa Copper ventilation project is the first of many projects of strategic importance within the sub-Saharan Africa region that the company is involved in.
The contract was secured in October 2018, with commissioning due to begin in July 2019. TLT-Turbo Africa was appointed by DRA Projects, which is handling EPCM on the project. DRA managed the tender process and is currently overseeing the execution phase.
According to TLT-Turbo’s Madeleine Pretorius, the project presents unique challenges from a logistical point of view. The site is remote, and it involves multiple border crossings and often poor road conditions. Pretorius states: “This means complicated logistic solutions. TLT-Turbo has the benefit of a broad suite of options to minimise the complexity of abnormal loads.”
She adds that the offering and approach positions them as a preferred supplier for ventilation solutions in challenging locations: “We provide an energy efficient solution where power costs are high, and availability can be erratic. Our products are designed for long-term reliability and durability, with simple maintenance requirements and minimal down-time, which is critical for projects in remote locations.”
Mike van Oerle, sales manager at TLT-Turbo Africa, says that the company’s approach will provide several benefits to Kamoa’s operations. This includes standardised equipment that is designed for simple installation and maintenance, which means that the fans can be maintained on site, without the need for costly expert inspections. TLT is providing highly efficient products to meet Kamoa’s interim ventilation and power requirements, with flexibility for future re-deployment at an alternative ventilation position.
Both van Oerle and Pretorius assert that delivery of the scope of work on this specific project speaks to TLT-Turbo Africa’s capabilities and expertise. The collaboration with DRA has paved the way for excellence in service delivery. “Working with an experienced EPCM company such as DRA, our project team is able to draw on their unparalleled knowledge of the sub-Saharan African mining environment. Both teams work together to provide solutions that address the challenges experienced by our customers,” adds Pretorius.
“Our ability to understand customer requirements led to a cost-effective solution, focusing on total cost of ownership,” concludes Oerle. “Combining this with an experienced project execution team means that we can ensure Kamoa receives quality products and on-time delivery.”
For more information contact Vusi Madlopha, TLT-Turbo Africa, +27 11 871 6600, vusi.madlopha@tlt-turbo.africa, www.tlt-turbo.com
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