VBKOM was awarded the contract for Operational Readiness Support Services to the new HME Filling Station Project at Sishen Mine in 2012. Since that time VBKOM has been on board supporting the project through its various feasibility stages and ensuring proper end-state planning through-out.

2015 - Construction commences

It was a memorable day when the construction of the huge diesel tanks actually got underway in early 2015, but due to various operational and economic reasons however the project was requested to fast-track its efforts in an attempt to have the tanks operational in quarter two 2016. The project is being pushed to deliver 3 months ahead of schedule and it is therefore critical to manage schedule interfaces, budget expenditure, and quality of works. VBKOM is driving the commissioning schedule hard and making sure that all necessary stakeholders are adequately involved and performing to the milestone dates.

At the time of this article the project is entering its commissioning phase and VBKOM is endeavouring to ensure perfect handover from the project to the owner mine, through structured Operational Readiness principles. Within the next three months, diesel tank levels, decanting from suppliers, dispensing to a 4-bay forecourt will all be put to the maximum test in a C1-C5 commissioning schedule. Several interfaces are included in the facility, such as diesel, lubricants, grease, anti-freeze, and nitrogen delivery, storage, and dispensing.

Owner Enablement

By engaging with critical stakeholders such as Dispatch, Recruitment & Training, material vendors, maintenance contractors, mining (HME equipment requirements), product accounting, and civil and structural construction, VBKOM is ensuring that the owner mine will be completely enabled to operate the new facility when the project is completed ahead of time.

Project Facts

Some interesting facts about the Project:

• The fuel station is called “Nooitgedacht” and will supply 70% of Sishen’s HME fleet with product
• The two diesel storage tanks of Nooitgedacht (no.5 & 6), each has a capacity of 1500m3 (i.e. 3 million litres of diesel) which at current diesel price of R9.50/L holds R28.5 million!
• It takes 75 Shell tanker trucks (each with a capacity of 40,000L) to fill up the 2 tanks
• Four types of lube will be stored:
  • Azolla ZS 68 Hydraulic Oil (23m3 tank)
  • Rubia TIR 7400 Engine Oil (46m3 tank)
  • AC 1 Transmission Oil (23m3 tank)
  • AC 3 Transmission Oil (23m3 tank)
• Nooitgedacht will have 4 bays at the forecourt where HME vehicles will receive diesel:
  • Normal speed diesel is available at Bay 2,3,4 (450L/min)
  • High speed diesel is available at Bay 1,2 for bowser filling (1500L/min)
• The filling station has a fire suppression system consisting of 2x water tanks (474m3 each) and a foam tank (15m3)

VBKOM - Mining Engineers South Africa

Contact us for more information about our mining services.