Simuma cement-processing plant off to a good start
The turnkey contact from the Natal Portland Cement Company Pty
Ltd (NPC) for a new 12,000 t cement storage silo and handling facilities
at the Simuma site near Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, RSA has progressed
as per schedule since its inception in mid 2005. NPC is a subsidiary
of CIMPOR of Portugal.
The engineering design of the five-compartment storage silo, the
mill and mill building, the steelwork and foundations of the packer
building, the civil work for the conveyors and the structural steelwork
has largely been completed. This includes the process, civil, structural,
and mechanical engineering designs of the conveyors, additives plant,
grinding circuit, storage silo and packer and palletiser facility.
Particular care was taken with respect to the suppression of noise
and vibration in the mill building. Noise emission from the mill will
be kept well within stringent limits by using insulated walls, special
doors and minimising the transmission of noise between floors. Sealing
the building in this way meant that special provision had to be made
to dissipate the heat build-up in the building. The foundations of
the building also have to ensure that vibration is not transmitted
from the mill through the rest of the building.
Construction for the foundation for the mill shell was completed
before the end of 2005 so the shell could be installed early in the
new year and the building constructed around it. Work on the weighbridge
pits and the walls of the silo has commenced.
Procurement is proceeding well, with orders placed for most of the
main components, particularly the long-lead items. The mill shell
and ancillary equipment are already on site; these items and the palletiser
being sourced from sister companies of NPC in Brazil. HAZOP studies
also involved NPC and the critical-package suppliers.
Health and safety issues are very important. All sub-contractors
are made thoroughly aware of site rules and regulations and daily
risk-identification meetings are held with a strong focus on the prevention
of heat exhaustion, particularly during the hot summer months in KwaZulu-Natal.
To the end of 2005, the total man-hours worked by all personnel involved
in the project exceeded 55,000 hours, with zero lost-time incidents.
Please contact David Gale, Bateman Engineering Manager, Cement, on
+27-11-201-2300 or email cement@BatemanEngineering.com,
for further details.
