Roessing’s big ‘cat’ crawls to its workplace

THE biggest ‘Cat’ of them all might not be the fastest mover on land, but is expected to boost the Roessing mine’s production levels in a big way.

The very first CAT 994F large wheel loader, weighing in at 197 tons, to arrive in Namibia was revealed to the media on Thursday. Resembling a prehistoric dinosaur against the backdrop of Dune 7 outside Walvis Bay, the latest model of its kind was ready to embark on the longest journey of its life at a chameleon’s pace to the mine 70 km to the east.”This is a modern day Martin Luther,” said Alwyn Lubbe, Roessing Communications Of?cer.”Only this time we are con?dent the engine will make the full journey and not get stuck in the desert, like the steam engine of old turned into a national monument outside Swakopmund.”Going at a top speed of 10 km/h, and the 3,8- metre diameter wheels taking up the full breadth of the main road, it was decided to use back roads through the desert.Jannie Loots, Depot Manager of Barloworld, expected the journey to last at least three days, as it was necessary to take an hour’s rest after every hour of travelling.He said only existing roads would be used in order to minimise any environmental impact on the desert.Each wheel weighs 6,7 tons.According to Reiner Przybylski, Roessing superintendent responsible for heavy mining equipment, a new wheel comes with a price tag of between N$420 000 to N$450 000.The total cost of the CAT 994F was N$25 million.The main task of the loader would be stockpile management to ensure constant a feed of ore to the processing plant.Przybylski said it was decided to make the huge investment with the extension of the life of mine to 2016 and further prospects to 2021.The old P & H rope shovel used for stockpile management, which was bought in 1983, was retired after 90 000 hours of operation.”It was going to be too expensive to repair the old shovel,” said Przybylski.”In addition the new machine is much more versatile and could assist loading haul trucks in the open pit in case of a shovel breakdown.”A total of 345 units have been manufactured in the US since the start of production of this model in 1994.The Roessing loader is the 18th one in southern Africa.It was shipped in 28 pieces from the US and arrived at the Walvis Bay harbour in early March.It took more than a month for Barloworld to assemble the giant at its depot in the harbour town.Loots said ?nal adjustments needed to be made with a full bucket before it could be commissioned at the mine.The bucket has a capacity to scoop 27 tons of ore at a time.Six operators will receive two weeks of training on the new machine.”We are very excited about it,” said Gerson Eiseb, supervisor of the operators.Ndinoiti Vatekueleni, who has been at the mine for almost 30 years, said it was a beautiful machine.”I will feel much safer working in this one,” he said.According to Loots all the latest safety features have been incorporated into the design, including the environmentally friendly function of ignition control that would reduce exhaust gases.The 1 174 kW engine is diesel-powered.Resembling a prehistoric dinosaur against the backdrop of Dune 7 outside Walvis Bay, the latest model of its kind was ready to embark on the longest journey of its life at a chameleon’s pace to the mine 70 km to the east.”This is a modern day Martin Luther,” said Alwyn Lubbe, Roessing Communications Of?cer.”Only this time we are con?dent the engine will make the full journey and not get stuck in the desert, like the steam engine of old turned into a national monument outside Swakopmund.”Going at a top speed of 10 km/h, and the 3,8- metre diameter wheels taking up the full breadth of the main road, it was decided to use back roads through the desert.Jannie Loots, Depot Manager of Barloworld, expected the journey to last at least three days, as it was necessary to take an hour’s rest after every hour of travelling.He said only existing roads would be used in order to minimise any environmental impact on the desert.Each wheel weighs 6,7 tons.According to Reiner Przybylski, Roessing superintendent responsible for heavy mining equipment, a new wheel comes with a price tag of between N$420 000 to N$450 000.The total cost of the CAT 994F was N$25 million.The main task of the loader would be stockpile management to ensure constant a feed of ore to the processing plant.Przybylski said it was decided to make the huge investment with the extension of the life of mine to 2016 and further prospects to 2021.The old P & H rope shovel used for stockpile management, which was bought in 1983, was retired after 90 000 hours of operation.”It was going to be too expensive to repair the old shovel,” said Przybylski.”In addition the new machine is much more versatile and could assist loading haul trucks in the open pit in case of a shovel breakdown.”A total of 345 units have been manufactured in the US since the start of production of this model in 1994.The Roessing loader is the 18th one in southern Africa.It was shipped in 28 pieces from the US and arrived at the Walvis Bay harbour in early March.It took more than a month for Barloworld to assemble the giant at its depot in the harbour town.Loots said ?nal adjustments needed to be made with a full bucket before it could be commissioned at the mine.The bucket has a capacity to scoop 27 tons of ore at a time.Six operators will receive two weeks of training on the new machine.”We are very excited about it,” said Gerson Eiseb, supervisor of the operators.Ndinoiti Vatekueleni, who has been at the mine for almost 30 years, said it was a beautiful machine.”I will feel much safer working in this one,” he said.According to Loots all the latest safety features have been incorporated into the design, including the environmentally friendly function of ignition control that would reduce exhaust gases.The 1 174 kW engine is diesel-powered.