B concentrating on concentrators - August 2009 - SA Instrumentation & Control

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B&W concentrating on concentrators

August 2009 News

The current concentrator work at Pilanesburg Platinum Mines (PPM), awarded to B&W Instrumentation and Electrical by Dowding, Reynard and Associates (DRA), is the latest in a long line of concentrators that the two organisations have worked on successfully together over the years.

A site view of the PPM concentrator plant

“I have lost count of exactly how many concentrators,” says B&W marketing director Ken Nel, “but suffice it to say that we regard our association with DRA, which goes back a long way, as exceptionally important.”

He adds that DRA is an outstanding contractor with its world-class expertise and exceptional discipline ensuring that standards on the projects are always at the highest level. “It has an enviable record for finishing projects on time on budget,” Nel says.

The job at PPM involves the electrical and instrumentation work for two primary and two secondary crushers, two mills, two flotation roughers and cleaners and a tailings plant area.

“We are responsible for the installation of the racking, cabling and the instruments as well as the lighting and power installation,” says B&W director and contract manager, Johan Rall.

He adds that this includes the MV and LV sub-stations and all the cabling to the various sub-sections of the plant.

The numbers are impressive – 230 000 m of cabling, 11 km of racking, 1250 I/Os, 11 LV sub-stations, 2 MV sub-stations and, at the peak of the project, more than 370 people on site for B&W.

“Time has been the biggest challenge on this contract. This is really fast track with the work having to be completed in eight months,” says Rall. “The ability to execute fast track contracts successfully depends on a combination of things. Good planning, communication, monitoring and people management are essential to finish complex jobs fast.”

Nel concludes, “This is very important to keep B&W’s order book as strong as ever. We agree on a programme and then ensure its implementation through the buy-in of the entire team including site managers and other contractors on site. Interdependency is the bottom line and we strive for good communication between all the parties. It is a method that works well for us and in the medium term we do not anticipate any shortage of work.”

For more information contact Ken Nel, B&W Instrumentation and Electrical, +27 (0)11 907 1663, kenn@bwie.co.za, www.bwie.co.za

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