The first major mine development for ZIMPLATS at their Ngezi Opencast Mine site marked a significant advancement. Previously, vehicles were loaded by front-end loaders onto trucks, which transported the ore to the SMC Concentrator at Selous, located about 70km north, for crushing and concentrating.
This new development included a truck tip, ROM bin, crushing station, and conveyors discharging to a covered stockpile area, with automated recovery from a tunnel beneath the stockpile directly onto road trains. The road trains, each carrying 100 tonnes of crushed ore, then transported the ore to the SMC plant, where it was discharged onto another conveyor for delivery into the concentrator plant.
Hogarths was responsible for the fabrication and installation of steelwork, platework, and the installation of free-issue mechanicals. All steelwork and platework were fabricated, painted, and delivered from Hogarths’ Bulawayo workshops.
Hogarths also managed the erection and installation of all steelwork, platework, and free-issue mechanicals. At the time, no on-site facilities were available, and Hogarths had to set up temporary accommodations, messing, and other on-site facilities.
