Namibian trucker rises to massive challenge

A Walvis Bay trucking company has helped Namibian logistics company Manica meet the challenge of moving a heat exchanger that is 26 metres long, 4.5 metres wide and weighs 115 000 kg 580 kilometres from the port of Walvis Bay to a new acid plant in Tsumeb. Dundee Precious Metals is building a new copper treatment works in Tsumeb as the first phase of a R2.4-billion project. The acid plant will produce between 270 000 and 340 000 tons of sulphuric acid a year, according to Concor Engineering, which has been appointed to undertake the structural engineering and civil work on the plant. “The challenges in transporting the cargo are huge. No company had trucks strong enough that could transport this load,” says Holger Kleyenstüber of Manica Logistics. Walvis Bay Plant and Tool Hire, decided to purchase a Kesselbruecke trailer, “which easily solved all our headaches”. The Kesselbruecke is described as a high weightcapacity, expandable, public road rig. “We also had to do a complete road route survey. Unfortunately, most of Namibia’s power lines are lowhanging, thus each line had to be lifted,” he says. The biggest challenge for the transport of the heat exchanger during January 2014 will be manoeuvring the giant load through towns such as Omaruru and Otjiwarongo. “Road signs will need to be taken down and trees cut to make space for this load. Another challenge is the road at the mine itself. This road was not designed to carry such heavy loads, and work is being carried out to stabilise the road,” he says. Manica has projectmanaged the offloading of 630 000kg of parts and material to date for the project. “Cargo is arriving from all over the world. The plant is scheduled to be up and running towards the end of 2014,” adds Kleyenstüber. CAPTION Manoeuvring giant components through the streets for a new sulphuric acid plant in Tsumeb, Namibia.