In the stope
Johan Meyer —
ahead of schedule
Johan Meyer, executive head of projects and
technology at Exxaro, tells Leon Louw that his main
goal is to bring the R20-billion’s worth of projects
in his portfolio safely into production, ahead of
schedule, and within budget.
(Ed.’s note: The interview was
conducted in October 2018.)
Belfast is now well into the construction
phase. The first silo has been completed,
which is quite a significant milestone.
Construction of the run of mine (ROM)
silo is under way, so up to now, the
construction phase is on schedule and
within budget. The project has moved
from the earthworks stage, when
you visited earlier this year, into the
construction and civil works phase.
And has construction of the
processing plant started?
Yes. Our contractor DRA and its team
on the ground have done a fantastic job.
We have started with mechanical works,
and the overland conveyor from the mine
to the silo is in the process of being built.
The foundations are already in place. So,
we are slightly ahead of schedule, given
our mandate, but there is still a lot of
construction to be done.
[34] MINING MIRROR FEBRUARY 2019
What is your role and what
responsibilities do you have?
As executive head of projects, I have to
ensure that projects are delivered ahead
of time and below budget. My mandate
at Belfast is very clear: produce coal by
middle of 2020. At this point in time,
I am comfortable that we will start
feeding the export market in the first
quarter of 2020.
Johan, Exxaro’s Belfast project
in Mpumalanga is progressing
according to schedule; what is
the current stage of the project?
Johan Meyer, executive head of projects and
technology at Exxaro (middle).
How many employees will
Belfast employ?
The workforce will probably peak at about
1 200 construction employees in the first
quarter of 2019, but remember, we will
still be busy with construction then. These
numbers will then gradually diminish as
we enter the operational phase.
What is the biggest risk at the
Belfast project?
Community expectations are extremely
high. With the high unemployment
rate in South Africa, so many people
are expecting to get a permanent job at
the mine. Community needs have to
be managed carefully. More than 70%
of the current workforce (including the
contractors) are recruited locally. This
process needs to be managed properly to
prevent unrest, so we have to keep the
communication channels open.
Will the mine start producing
coal in 2020?
Yes, in the first quarter of 2020, but
as I said before, we are looking at
ways to fast-track the project without
compromising on safety and quality. My
drive is zero harm. If all goes well, I am
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