Terex Africa partners with MCC at Pilanesburg mine
One of the largest fleets of Terex equipment in the mineral rich North West Province is playing a central role at Platmin’s Pilanesburg mine on the Western Limb of the Bushveld Complex.
The TSX-listed junior company is currently ramping up to full production, with contract miner MCC conducting operations with a 43-strong fleet of equipment supplied by Terex Africa.
This venture sees the partnership of two formidable players – MCC, the largest opencast hard rock contract miner in southern Africa and Terex Africa, the southern African dealer for the world’s third largest construction supplier, Terex Corporation. MCC and Terex Africa are both subsidiaries of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed Eqstra Holdings leasing and capital equipment group.
The Pilanesberg project is located on the western limb of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa’s North West Province, an area which is estimated to contain 90% of the world’s platinum resources and around 80% of its chrome. This project which will recover all six platinum group elements, as well as gold, nickel and copper, operates 23 Terex TR100 rigid dump trucks which carry loads of up to 100 tonnes. These are powered by high-torque rise Cummins KTA38 engines and are ruggedly designed to handle the rigours and challenges of the opencast mining environment. They feature dual-mode retardation, oil-cooled disc brakes or transmission retarder and a high visibility cab with deluxe interior.
An additional TR100 unit has been fitted with an 80,000 litre water tank used to suppress dust on the mine’s haul roads.
The project, which operates in an area of 14,5 hectares, also makes use of 12 electric-driven MT3300 unit rigs with a payload of 150 tonnes. Driven by MTU Series 4000 12v engines, these are one of the most cost-effective dump trucks of their size with fuel consumption of 65 litres per hour.
“MCC has also purchased five R20C and two R30C Terex-Reedrill Hydra-Trac rock drills that boast a hydraulic system that provides faster operation and reduced fuel consumption. They are field serviceable which provides lower cost and maximum availability,” says Kevin Williams, manager of Terex Africa’s recently-formed Rustenburg branch which oversees sales, servicing and maintenance as well as the supply of Terex parts across the North West Province.
“The availability of our machines is world class and averages 90% on equipment that has worked between zero and 70,000 hours. A team of full-time Terex Africa service technicians, including highly trained technical staff with years of experience on these units in real mining conditions, is permanently on hand at Pilanesberg,” says Williams.
“The products operating on our site have excellent availability which contributes to the success of the project and comes with passion and enthusiasm from the team of dedicated Terex staff,” comments MCC engineering manager André Buhr.
Platmin awarded the mining contract to MCC in July 2008. Valued at almost US$600 million, it will run for the first six years of the mine’s 16-year life and Terex Africa looks forward to supplying and maintaining their world class products to ensure the successful continuance of the project.