The sod turning ceremony for the project: from left, from Kimberley Mines, David Noko, General Manager, Craig Robertson, Surface Manager, Joseph Tsotetsi, Union Representative, and Chris van Zyl, Project Manager, with Scott Brebnor, BATEMAN Project Manager.

The 50 year old NTP pan plant in the background (right), with the tailings conveyor that will be diverted to the new DMS modules.

Commencement of the trial erection of the DMS modules for the Kimberley NTP upgrade.

The partially completed DMS modules in the greenfields area with the existing NTP in the background.

DMS replaces pan technology at Kimberley Mine

BATEMAN has been awarded a R53M contract by De Beers to supplement the existing pan technology with dense-media separation (DMS) technology to process diamondiferous material in an upgrade to their New Treatment Plant (NTP) at Kimberley Mines, Northern Cape, RSA.

The NTP facility was established some 50 years ago and is dependent on underground material for the generation of the 'puddle' (a mixture of water and mud in which the separation takes place), on which the pan operation depends. Its source is currently a blend of underground and dump material but, once underground operations cease, the plant will be fed from the dump only. While it was initially planned to close down the NTP, the feasibility study by De Beers and BATEMAN determined the good potential for converting to a DMS-based operation.

The project commenced in mid February 2004 for hand-over at year end. The contract comprises the design and supply of three new 150 t/h DMS fines modules with 70 t feed hoppers, modification to the conveyor systems to divert material to the DMS modules, provision for ancillary facilities such as pumping of process water to the new DMS modules, the electrical supply, the motor-control centre and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) facilities, as well as all earthworks and civil construction. Once the project has been completed successfully, the -8 mm material from the blended feed will be diverted from the pan plant to the three DMS modules, with the remaining material continuing to be processed through the pan plant.

The contract was awarded as part of De Beers' innovative partnering philosophy which was introduced to enhance client-contractor relationships through the fostering of a co-operative approach. This approach is a move away from the traditional confrontational approach between client and contractor in the management of large projects.

For further information, please contact Scott Brebnor, Project Manager, Modular Plants, on +27-11-899-4960 or email modular@batemanengineering.com.

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