MINE EXCURSION
seam waste and shale is either dozed away in pit or loaded and
trucked to dumps in the pit.
Emulsion explosives are used to conduct all blasts on the
mine. This is delivered by bulk explosives delivery trucks which
manufacture the explosives in a plant on the back of the truck
and the explosives are then pumped down the blast hole. Shock
Tube Detonator accessories and pentolite boosters are used to
set off the explosives in the blast holes. Drilling is outsourced to
a company called Capstone.
According to Mabbett Canyon Coal historically made use of
contractors to do the mining but the company established its
own mining company in March 2015, called Canyon Mining
Services, who is responsible for undertaking all blasting works
at Phalanndwa. “Subcontractors are used on an ad hoc basis to
increase required volumes while the washing plant operation,
filter plant and drilling are outsourced,” explains Mabbett. The
mine works a 24/7 shift operation.
Drilling at Phalanndwa is outsourced to a company called Capstone.
All coal produced is planned to be washed according to RB3
specification. The mine will produce run-of-mine coal with an
average calorific value of about 22.5 MJ/kg, an ash content of
about 19%, volatiles of about 24%, inherent moisture of about
5%, a total moisture of about 9% and a sulphur content of
about 1.2%.
The Phalanndwa drum and cyclone processing plant has a
design capacity of 300 tons per hour and achieves an average
yield of about 55%. Its best performance to-date is a production
rate of 185 kilotons per month. Mabbett says that a filter plant
has been added to the operation, that operates on a 24/7 shift
basis. The plant is run by Ingwenya plant contractors.
Canyon Mining Equipment Fleet
• 1 x Hitachi 870 Excavator
• 6 x Bell B40 Articulated Dump Trucks
• 1 x Bell B30E Water Bowser (27000 litre water capacity)
• 1 x Bell 770G Grader
• 1 x Bell TLB
• 1 x Komatsu 375 Bulldozer
• 1 x Komatsu D65 Bulldozer
• 1 x Mercedes 4x4 Self Contained Service Truck
• 1 x 8000 litre Mercedes Diesel Bowser
• 2 x Cummins Engine Driven Dewatering Pumps for pit
dewatering
Extension runs smoothly
Blasting is undertaken by Canyon Mining Services.
Meanwhile, the construction phase of the extension project is
well underway, with the excavation of the colliery’s pollution
control dam currently taking place. Mabbett says that additional
project infrastructure that will be established on site over the
next three months includes the construction of berms and other
associated site infrastructure, along with the construction of an
access road to the mine.
“We are ahead of schedule on the project. Canyon Mining
Services (CMS) has already pulled back two weeks on the
schedule and development activities are running smoothly,
which we hope will continue throughout the course of the
extension project,” Mabbett concludes.
The mine currently employs 310 people including contractors.
The number of employees is likely to increase to 360 once
production has peaked to required levels.
www. africanmining.co.za
African Mining Publication
An Articulated Dump Truck hauls coal to the plant after the first major
blast at Phalanndwa’s Extension Project.
African Mining
African Mining October 2019
19