Cementation Africa advances Mindola shaft at Mopani Copper Mines

Cementation Africa is drawing on its extensive expertise in shaft sinking and underground mining to advance work at the Mindola shaft, part of Mopani Copper Mines in Kitwe

The project is set to support the long-term sustainability of the Nkana mine while enhancing overall operational efficiency.

The project scope includes the construction and installation of a permanent headgear, followed by the rope-up and commissioning of winders. These steps will enable detailed 3D scanning of the shaft, helping to identify alignment deviations and determine the structural reinforcement required to ensure safe and efficient hoisting operations. The work programme also covers the installation and commissioning of an overland conveyor system.

According to Ben Adendorff, Cementation Africa’s in-country executive for Zambia, the immediate priority is preparing the Mindola shaft for production by sliping and equipping the remaining 500 metres.

“To determine the exact degree of misalignment, Cementation Africa will complete a 3D scan of the complete shaft,” remarked Adendorff. While another contractor raisebored this particular shaft, Cementation Africa successfully completed the sinking and equipping of Mopani’s Synclinorium and Mufulira Henderson shafts over a decade ago. The 1,280 m Synclinorium shaft, with a 7 m diameter, was sunk between 2011 and 2014 before being equipped for commissioning and handover in 2016. Meanwhile, the 1,580 m Mufulira Henderson shaft, with a 6 m diameter, was commissioned in June 2020.

“Our current work at Mindola includes the removal of the sinking headgear and winders, and the installation of a new permanent headgear, after which we can rope-up and commission the new winders,” he explained. “This will allow us to scan the shaft from top to bottom with specialised equipment, including the length of shaft already equipped above a depth of approximately 1,000 m.”

This process will verify the accuracy of existing steel guide structures that direct conveyances within the shaft and allow for the correction of any identified issues. Below the 1,000 m level, the remaining 500 m of the shaft will be sliped and lined to maintain a precise vertical alignment for safe conveyance movement.

“We will the proceed with the equipping of the shaft and construction of the loading box steelwork at the shaft bottom,” he says.

Cementation Africa’s track record across complex shaft-sinking projects in southern Africa continues to reinforce its standing in the region. As noted by Hercilus Harmse, engineering services executive at Cementation Africa, the company has delivered major projects including the 1,200 m shaft at Palabora Mining Company, which reached final depth in 2024, and the 2,750 m ventilation shaft at South Deep mine.

“Many of our projects are conducted in environments where there are poor ground conditions or where extensive de-stressing of rock is required,” Harmse said. “We bring this experience into our designs and execution ensuring that we can apply innovative solutions - using our fleet of specialised equipment for rigging, winding and shaft sinking.”

Safety remains central to the company’s operations, as highlighted by new business director Graham Chamberlain. Over the past 12 years, Cementation Africa has recorded more than eight million fatality-free shaft-sinking hours.

“This is the result of consciously building a safety culture on every site and prioritising safety in all our planning and design work, using industry experience to learn from every incident,” commented Chamberlain. “Particularly with equipment that is critical to safe operations, we develop and apply duplicate systems so there is always a backup. With winders, for instance, we ensure that an electronic system will be duplicated by a mechanical system in case of failure.”

Adendorff adds that beyond its technical expertise, the company has made a lasting social impact through its long-standing presence in Zambia. Initiatives include the construction of a school for the deaf in 2016, now supporting more than 100 children, as well as an orphanage feeding programme.

“Our history in Zambia has also made us an employer of choice, as everyone knows our value system and the respect with which we treat our employees,” he concluded.