Expansion at Richards Bay Coal Terminal starts well
Earthworks have commenced at the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) Phase Five expansion project, and all the major subcontracts have been awarded. These include the contracts for the civil design and earthworks, tandem tippler, stacker / reclaimer, conveyors and electrical design and supply.
The ZAR1.0 billion (US$140 million) hybrid-type contract, which relates to the Phase 5 expansion of the RBCT coal terminal located in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, was awarded to Bateman Engineering in September 2006 and is due for completion by mid 2009.
The expansion will increase the designed annual throughput capacity of the terminal to 91 million tons.
Currently, Bateman Engineering, the main contractor for the project, with total overall responsibility, is involved with major subcontractors in the detailed design for the project.
As a brownfields project, the contract needs to be carried out without interrupting normal operations at the terminal, the largest single coal export terminal in the world. In some instances this will require shutdowns to existing equipment.
RBCT also requires phased-in access to and use of new facilities, such as the tippler and associated equipment before the completion of the project. This is to allow early beneficial occupation of these sections of the project.
At project peak it is estimated by Kuseni Dlamini, the Executive Chairman of RBCT, that there will be 3,000 people employed, including staff from Bateman Africa, RBCT, Portnet and subcontractors. Safety is an important consideration. Risk analyses are being carried out for each activity and both Bateman Engineering and the client have full-time safety officers on site. The Richards Bay estuary is an environmentally sensitive area and there are therefore stringent environmental constraints imposed upon the project, such as regulations in terms of the surface water and damage to flora and fauna.
RBCT’s current shareholders include Anglo Coal, Xstrata Coal, Eyesizwe, BHP Billiton, Kangra Coal, Sasol and Total Coal SA. The expansion project will enable RBCT to also handle coal from South Dunes Coal Terminal Company whose shareholders include Kumba, Eskom and Anker Coal and new generation emerging black empowered exporters. There will also be an open allocation to cater for additional exporters with an emphasis on black empowerment.
For further information, please contact Ian McTurk,
General Manager, Bulk Materials Handling,
Bateman Engineered Technologies,
on +27-11-201-2300, or
email MaterialsHandling@BatemanEngineering.com.
