Sarens takes on Koniambo

The Koniambo project, a nickel mine in New Caledonia, off the coast of east Australia will be constructed on site using tower systems to lift massive prefabricated modules that have been built in China.

The load-in will be carried out by Sarens using SPMTs. It will then travel in four shipments to a wharf near the mine site, from which they will be transported to site on more then 120 axles SPMTs and erected by help of a tower lift and skidding system.

Sarens will lift modules weighing 2,500 tonnes up to 60 m high and units weighing 2,200 tonne to 100 m. Firstly, a jacking system will be used to overcome the height of the main module lifting beams before tower lifts take place.

This jacking operation will be followed by a SARtower pushing lift/jack process, to a maximum height of 67 m. This will be followed by a skidding operation. The main processing plant comprises a stick built furnace flanked by a 2,450 tonne module measuring 20 x 35 x 31 m and a 2, 700 tonne module measuring 20 x 35 x 35 m.

A further three modules will be stacked above the furnace, those being: 2,300 tonnes, 21 x 35 x 15 m, directly above the furnace; 2,500 tonnes, 28 x 30 x 25 m, in middle of the three modules; 2,200 tonnes, 28 x 30 x 25 m, the uppermost module installed 67 m above the ground.