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Work progresses at Platreef’s Shaft #3, where Cementation Africa’s pre-assembled permanent headgear can be seen to the right.
The survey work is a vital aspect of this process, and Cementation Africa even includes surveyors as part of its underground team working from the stage platform. This ensures that there is no compromise on safety or engineering quality, especially in regard to mission-critical infrastructure like the shaft. Chamberlain highlights that the successful performance and longevity of the shaft will underpin both the lifespan and productivity of the whole mining operation. “With the weight of the skip reaching up to 18 t, this creates considerable momentum when travelling up and down the shaft,” he explains. “Among the quality checks we build into the shaft infrastructure are accelerometers which monitor the whole structure, as well as the movements of the conveyance. Any quick movements or slamming will compromise the guides and steelwork – demanding more frequent technical maintenance and operational downtime.” Shaft #3’s permanent headgear includes a 50 t surface bin into which the skip will discharge crushed material after it is hoisted from underground. To facilitate easier lifting during the assembly stage, the headgear was designed in three parts, Mokgatlha explains. “To streamline the assembly and construction phase, we fitted out each ‘block’ of the headgear beforehand,” he says. “This made it quicker to transition from the temporary headgear to the permanent headgear and to commission it for hoisting by the end of the first quarter of 2026.” With the Shaft #3 project demanding innovative and creative solutions at various points, Chamberlain says the constructive relationship with the client has created a strong foundation for success. “Most projects present circumstances where certain unquantified factors must be identified, investigated, understood and resolved in a safe and productive manner,” he says. “With our respect for the client’s expected outcomes and their respect for our knowledge and experience, our collaboration makes for sound project deliverables.” Mokgatlha highlights clear and regular communication as a golden thread binding the teams from the contractor and the client – providing the basis for effective problem-solving. “With everyone focused on performance within the timeframes, we have developed high levels of trust that are vital for every complex and demanding project,” he concludes. n
The Cementation Africa crew carries out precise slinging activities at Platreef’s Shaft #3.
The loading box, standing at 11 m tall, extends from the 922 m to the 933 m level and comprises around 60t of steelwork. This structure receives the crushed rock from a conveyor belt into a 20 t fixed-volume flask which, in turn, discharges into the skip for hoisting. Much of this process is automated through the use of specialised electronics, cameras and weightometer systems – the arrangement being designed and installed by Cementation Africa and its technology partners. Chamberlain emphasises that the design, procurement and manufacturing of components for equipping the shaft tend to involve long lead times – especially with regard to aspects like steelwork, ropes, stages, headgear and loading box. “All these critical inputs need to be available on site at the appropriate time which requires accurate and early planning as well as fastidious execution,” he says. “At the same time, we also innovated extensively to ensure that the best solutions were applied to the project.” In the shaft design, for instance, the team needed a different approach to the conventional fastening techniques for shaft steelwork. Where a shaft is designed upfront for this infrastructure, nut boxes can be encased in the shaft lining to which buntons and guides can be attached. “In this case, we didn’t have any pre-installed steel elements in the lining, so we designed the steelwork to be pre-rounded to the finished diameter of the shaft,” he explains. “This is carefully surveyed in, so that it can be anchored and bolted securely into place from the stage.”
38 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | DECEMBER 2025 - JANUARY 2026
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