Royal Bafokeng Platinum

Royal Bafokeng Platinum are completing the conversion of the Maseve concentrator from the current Mill-Float (MF1) circuit flowsheet treating about 110 000 tonnes per month, to a Mill-float-Mill-Float (MF2) circuit flowsheet, to treat 160 000 tonnes per month. All upgrades have been sized to facilitate a future expansion from 160 000 – 200 000 tonnes per month.

The works are broken down as follows:

• – HIG Mill Support Structure
• – Primary Milling
• – Secondary Milling
• – Primary Rougher Floatation
• – Return Water

The Project was initially started by another contractor, but in the beginning stages they unfortunately went into business rescue and terminated the contract.  G4MC was approached to complete the remainder of the work.  In the spirit of the project G4MC employed all original staff and labour and successfully completed the project on time.

HIG Mill structure – the structure’s outer dimensions are 13m x 8m x 15m high and constructed on a foundation measuring 19m x 20m x 1.5m thick.  The columns are 3m x 2.1m supporting beams of 2.1m x 2.5m high.  The total volume of reinforced concrete was more than 1100m3 and nearly 90 tonnes of reinforcing fixed.

Most of the reinforcing was pre-fixed into cages and lifted into position by crane.  The 12m high columns were poured in two lifts thanks to the user-friendly UNI-LIGHT formwork used.  The entire beam, with all the cast-in plates and bolt pockets, was cast in one pour.  The structure was supported using quick-stage, weighing in at 84 tonnes.