Mining Mirror September 2018 | Page 52

Cradle to grave Prevent running on empty The high cost of fuel will have a significant impact on transport companies and their customers. However, companies can save by implementing good driving habits. According to Arnoux Maré, managing director at Innovative Staffing Solutions, the recent fuel hikes are particularly challenging for small and medium- sized transport companies. “They have to make administrative or operational changes every time there is a significant hike in the fuel price. For businesses operating on tight budgets — as so many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) do — this can be particularly challenging,” says Maré. He adds that the impact of driving habits on fuel consumption is often underestimated, but a few adjustments to driving behaviour can go a long way towards saving costs at the fuel pump. “By ensuring their drivers adopt smart driving habits, transport companies can decrease their fuel usage significantly.” Maré mentions a few habits that a company needs to adapt to save fuel. “A vehicle’s tyres, brakes, leaks, and lights, among others, need to be checked on a regular basis. Drivers should not constantly brake and accelerate or drive at high speed. Keeping tyres inflated at the correct pressure results in less resistance on the roads and less fuel usage. A good rule of thumb for transport companies is to frequently check tyres and wheel alignment, or after incidents such as hitting a pothole or curb,” says Maré. In addition, he adds that driving in higher gears, where applicable, also reduces fuel consumption. Development at Matla imminent Exxaro has awarded the contracts for mine and infrastructure development at its Matla colliery, close to Secunda in Mpumalanga. Johannesburg-based mine contractor TDS Projects Construction will be working alongside Rustenburg company Newrak Mining, with whom they have entered into a joint venture for this project. Under the terms of the contract, the project will be jointly managed by the two companies. The parties will work together firstly on mining development that will focus on tunnel drilling and blasting to make way for decline and vertical infrastructure construction in Matla’s Mine 2 and Mine 3. TDS will then head up the infrastructure development project. [50] MINING MIRROR SEPTEMBER 2018 According to Hennie Coetzee, managing director at TDS, the scope of work for the mine development phase of the project for Matla 2 and Matla 3 will consist of drilling, blasting, mucking, and the hauling of inter-seam material and coal to develop the initial run-around. Furthermore, it will include development of the roof support, guniting of walls and roof incline sections, and maintaining equipment. Coetzee says the two declines being developed at Matla 3 and the two inclines at Matla 2 will link the current coal seam 4 works with the seam 2 reserve. For the infrastructure development, TDS is providing full turnkey infrastructure development. This includes complete design, procurement, fabrication, installation, construction, and commissioning for civils, road inclines, plinths, mechanicals, decline and incline conveyors, EC&I, supply water and wastewater extension, and electrical reticulation. TDS Projects Construction is part of the Thuthukani Group, and its sister companies, Thuthukani Engineering Solutions and SFS Steel Fabrication, will also be utilised in the Matla project. The project will get under way in September 2018, with the first blast taking place at Mine 3. Infrastructure development will start later in September 2018 and TDS expects to have the project completed by August 2019. Work on Mine 2 will start in 2019.