Double-shaft coal mine contract to employ sprayed shotcrete support

Murray & Roberts Cementation has secured a turnkey contract to raise-drill and support two ventilation shafts at Debswana's Morupule Colliery in Botswana. Both shafts, each with a 6.1m diameter, will have a final depth of 100m.

The scope of work includes the project management of the manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of two 1MW fans in the up-cast shaft. Allan Widlake, business development executive at Murray & Roberts Cementation, states that the company brings its extensive project management expertise to the table and has a solid track record equipping major vertical shafts.

"What is most significant about this contract is that support of the shafts will be done using a remote controlled shotcrete machine which will spray a concrete lining into the inside of the shafts," he said. This new technology has been brought in from Australia and represents a significant investment from Murray & Roberts Cementation.

Morupule Colliery supplies coal to Morupule power station and this contract forms part of the current expansion programme whereby the mine's capacity will be increased from 1Mt/y to 3Mt/y. The contract will begin in November 2010 and is scheduled for completion in June 2011.

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