TDS Projects Construction has been awarded the contract for two distinct but integrated projects at Exxaro Matla’s Mine2 and Mine3. This entails both mine development and infrastructure development.
TDS will be working alongside 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.
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. It will also include development of the roof support, gunniting of walls and roof incline sections and maintaining equipment.
Two Declines that will be developed at Matla 3 and 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 turn-key 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 waste water extension and electrical reticulation.
"This infrastructure development will advance Exxaro’s coal mining operations at Matla,” says TDS Managing Director Hennie Coetzee. “We are extremely enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with Newrak on this project and we look forward to establishing a long and successful relationship with Exxaro.”
According to TDS Operational Director, Willie Pieters, Exxaro will benefit from TDS’s unique approach and methodology. “TDS has a field proven construction management methodology and proven safety track record. To ensure smooth project delivery we will also be using a new financial management system, a tagging and reporting system and dashboard reporting from a project management perspective,” says Pieters.
Pieters further explains that there is also immense value for their clients in the fact that TDS Projects Construction is part of The Thuthukani Group which has extensive capabilities and a completely turn-key service offering. “Our sister companies, Thuthukani Engineering Solutions and SFS Steel Fabrication will be utilized in the Matla project to form part of our total solution offering which includes our commitment to ‘value engineering’. This refers to our unique mining and construction methodology that is designed to unlock value for our clients’ future operations. This includes cost savings that are achieved through our methods and approach and the deployment of our highly qualified team who have extensive mining-specific experience.”
The project will kick off on 7th September 2018 with the first blast taking place at Mine 3 for the mining development phase. The infrastructure development will commence on 30th September 2018 and completion of work on Mine 3 is estimated for August 2019. The estimated commencement date for work on Mine 2 is mid-2019.
