05 Jul 2015

The BCL Mine smelter has been shutdown to modernise and upgrade it to run for a longer service campaign.The refurbishment will cost about P700 million and will take 62 days.

It is the seventh service campaign since 1973, and it commenced on July 1. Addressing a media forum recently, BCL divisional manager for metals production, Mr David Keitshokile said a tender for the refurbishment of the smelter has been awarded to Kentz Engineers & Constructors through a competitive bidding process.

He also noted that sub-contracted packages relating to demolition, mechanicals, refractory bricks, civil and concrete works, structural steel and piping fabrication, among others, would be awarded to domestic and international companies.He further noted that the contractor’s workforce would range from 1 500 to 2 000 in addition to the usual 4 500 BCL employees.

He said the operational structure would be organised into two 12 hour shifts a day. Mr Keitshokile said the main operations impacted by the refurbishment were the flash smelting furnace, waste heat boiler, drying plants, electric furnaces, converters and the smelting furnace.

He said the smelting furnace determines the lifespan of the smelter which was currently in its 11th year. He also noted that the lifespan of the smelter was normally seven to eight years, adding that the purpose of the shutdown was to modernise the smelting furnace.

He stated that all the regulatory logistics such as work permits have been complied with. He disclosed that all stakeholders, including civic society, government departments, law enforcement agencies and the Botswana Unified Revenue Services, among others, have been appraised of the shutdown. ENDS