International diamond producer Gem Diamonds has awarded a R67-million contract to contract mining firm Redpath South Africa for the development of a sand tunnel at the remote and isolated recommissioned Ghaghoo diamond mine, in Botswana.
During the tender process, Gem Diamonds provided each contractor with a specific design for the segmented tunnel; however, the process of clearing the excavated sand was left open. Redpath was the only contractor that recommended the cost-effective use of conveyor belts for the removal of the sand, as opposed to articulated dump trucks.
Redpath South Africa’s unique and inno- vative sand tunnel construction proposal resulted in the company being awarded the contract in May, following a successful tender submission in February.
Redpath mine manager Olaf Iversen points out that the scope of the project involves the development of the tunnel to 112 m vertically below the surface, at an inclination of 80˚. The site, which is located about 200 km north of Gaborone, falls within in the Central Kalahari game reserve.
“The first phase of the project is due to begin production in July, with the establishment of a boxcut 25 m deep and 171 m long into the Kalahari sand, which will provide safe and secure access to the underground mine,” he explains.
The sand tunnel is due for completion at the end of June, 2012.
The boxcut and portal support are expected to be completed in November, by which time the company will begin excavation work for the concrete-lined segmented sand tunnel, 403 m in sand and 121 m in transition formations, from sand to basalt, which acts as a cylindrical shield to protect workers and equipment located underground.
Further, Iversen believes that Redpath South Africa will sustain its excellent safety record during the project through a dedicated training programme designed for the local workforce. Once the construction of the shield has been completed, the company will undertake a full risk assessment, before putting in place the necessary operating and training procedures
.Labourers will work within the 50 t shield in order to move the tunnel forward segment by segment by loading the sand onto the conveyor belt before it is fed out of the mine.
The majority of the 93 Redpath staff members working on the project will be located on site. In order to maximise productivity and reduce logistical challenges, staff members will be working 14-days-on and 7-days-off.
As part of its commitment to social and economic development, Redpath South Africa will employ 78 staff members from communities in the vicinity of the project.
Gem Diamonds held numerous discussions and roadshows for the local communities in order to ensure that the company was able to get the communities directly involved in the project, while creating sustainable skills development in the area.
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