A well-respected name in South Africa for the past 74 years, Gauteng based Scribante Construction is steadily diversifying from its traditional civil engineering focus with a growing portfolio of mining contracts. A development being spearheaded by a series of new earthmoving equipment acquisitions that include 90 tonne payload Cat 777 rigid trucks, a fleet of Cat D10T and D11T dozers, and Cat 992K wheel loaders during the first half of 2011.

Chief executive officer, Franco Scribante, says renewed buoyancy in mineral resources has strengthened the company’s mining penetration and Scribante is presently active on 11 sites predominately spread across either the Rustenburg or Middelburg regions.

“We’ve carried out an extensive list of civil infrastructure projects on mines over the years so adding to these activities with a formalised contract mining division makes logical sense, given our expertise in bulk earthworks and materials handling,” explains Scribante.

Typically, infrastructure developments vary from platform and lay down areas, to haul road construction, box-cuts for new mining portals (including blasting and temporary wall support), railway lines and sidings, plus water and waste water facilities.

The excavation of some 350 000m3 during the construction of a new box-cut for Modder East Gold Mine in 2006 is just one of Scribante’s milestone projects, completed within a six month period. Other examples include a 36 month contract for Aquarius Platinum entailing 400 000 tonnes a month of stockpile management; and a R150m infrastructure project for Impala Platinum ranging from bulk earthworks to new platforms, pollution dams, pipelines and railway infrastructure.

“So mining isn’t a new area for us. At Richards Bay Minerals, for example, we’ve worked as a contractor for the past 20 years, carrying out dune mining, as well as ongoing rehabilitation,” he adds.

The coal segment is particularly active with Scribante recently securing a major project in the Middelburg region. This is where one of Scribante’s new 105 tonne Cat 992K’s is being deployed to handle the substantial volumes.

Scribante has a predominately Cat fleet, which is supplied and supported by Caterpillar’s southern African dealer, Barloworld Equipment.

Cat dozers alone number in excess of 40, ranging from smaller D6 units to Cat D11T’s, with their operating weight well in excess of 100 tonnes, the latter performing a key role in mine rehabilitation works.

Adds Scribante: “Our ongoing fleet modernisation programme will continue to support current and future business expansion and over the next five years we expect that around 90% of our work will be in the mining sector.”

For further information, contact:
Franco Scribante
Chief Executive Officer
Scribante Construction
Tel: 011-466-9232
www.scribanteconstruction.co.za