Cosira Group is awarded major steelwork contract at Trekoppje Mine by AREVA

10 September 2010

The Cosira Group is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the structural, mechanical, platework, and piping (SMPP) supply and installations for the MAXI back-end of a new uranium plant at Trekoppje Mine, in the heart of Namibia, for AREVA. 

According to John da Silva, CEO of the Cosira Group, one of the largest structural steel fabricators in Southern Africa, the Cosira Group is delighted, in the midst of stiff competition, to have been awarded this enviable project. “AREVA is a strategically important customer for the Cosira Group, specifically relating to its work in the uranium and power generation industries, which have see significant growth on the back of demand for nuclear power generation,” says da Silva. 

Trekkopje is the next AREVA open pit mine to be developed in Southern Africa and will be the largest of its type and the first uranium mine to make use of an alkaline heap-leach process. Bateman Engineering has commenced the engineering and procurement (EP) on the Maxi phase of the Trekkopje project. Namibia is Africa's second largest producer of uranium and accounts for 10% of the world's production. There is also strong government support for expanding uranium mining and some major interest in using nuclear power. 

AREVA, awarded the complete SMPP contract to Cosira Namibia, a subsidiary of the Cosira Group in May 2010 with construction work beginning in mid July. AREVA Resources Namibia, a subsidiary of AREVA Resources Southern Africa is currently developing the Trekkopje Mining project, situated 70km north-east of Swakopmund in Namibia. AREVA is developing the Trekkopje project in three distinct phases, the Mini, Midi and Maxi projects.  Bateman Engineering as the EPCM contractor was responsible for appointing the SMPP Contractor for the Maxi-Back End Plant SMPP. 

The Cosira Group’s scope of work will include the supply and fabrication of approximately 3 100 tonnes of steelwork, 17 km of piping and 1 500 tonnes of mechanicals. “Furthermore,  the contract will also involve the erection of some 90 tonne column lifts on site, where  conditions in the dessert terrain can present numerous challenges,” explains Cosira Project  Manager, Nelo dos Santos.  

“The Namib Dessert where the Trekoppje Mine is located, within a harsh environment,” says  dos Santos, “In addition to the generators and water treatment facilities that will need to be  established on site, the construction team will also need to take severe windy conditions,  heavy morning mist and possible winter sandstorms into account,” he says. “Environmental  awareness is another important aspect in an environment where natural resources are  limited and therefore the site teams will need to work as efficiently as possible to ensure that  no resources are wasted.”  

Another challenge that Cosira will need to overcome will be transporting almost 3 100 tonnes  of fabricated steel by road from its Vulcan facility across the border to Namibia.” However,”  says dos Santos, “this is not the first time that the Cosira Group has successfully completed  projects in other African countries, and we are confident that this contract will be no  exception.”  

The contract which has been fast-tracked from 17 months to 12 months until completion, and  will entail all fabrication and corrosion protection of steel structures, as well as some major  platework, including tanks and columns, and pipework. The drawings have already been  issued to Cosira by the client and fabrication and detailing are already well underway at the  Cosira Vulcan facility.  

Dos Santos explains that the timeous completion of this project will be highly dependent on  good communication between the Cosira Group and the client. “All fabrication must be  completed well in time, and most of the structures will be assembled on the ground before  being lifted to their positions during the construction process,” says dos Santos.  

The client will also be able to track the progress of work at all times, by utilising Cosira's  state-of-the art enterprise logistics system, Magellan, which allows the Cosira Group to plan  ahead, keep track of all parts throughout the production and plant process, and be proactive  in correcting any discrepancies well ahead of time. Furthermore, the client is able to track  their order at any stage of the process by logging onto the Cosira intranet.  

“We are also happy to be moving back to Namibia in executing this project and we see this  contract as a stepping stone to other potential contracts in the area. Our contract has  commenced immediately and we expect to be finished by early September 2011,” concluded  da Silva.