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.