ENGINEERING DIVISION

The combination of local government’s nationwide infrastructural upgrade, and the increased demand in the sector for companies that can offer the full-spectrum of services for construction projects, all contributed towards the decision to bring vital specialised skills in-house and offer clients a comprehensive range of specialist services all under one roof, hence the revival of Basil Read’s Engineering Division.

Furthermore, after actively seeking to acquire an engineering concern for some time and investigating prospects both locally and abroad, Basil Read concluded a merger deal with the multi-disciplinary EPCM engineering firm, TWP Holdings at the end of 2009.

The merger of these two foremost construction groups has resulted in a tour de force within South Africa’s EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) arena. With Basil Read already gearing up to take on larger, more complex projects post 2010, and where the Basil Read group has already identified shortcomings in the local infrastructure – TWP will play a key role in terms of the total package the company can offer its clients. The merger also effectively gives the Basil Read group the ability to approach clients across a much broader spectrum of sectors with a fast-track turnkey solutions offering.

TWP has become increasingly involved in some of the largest and most complex projects in the mining industry and is regarded as a foremost engineering consultancy. TWP is also well-known for offering its clients all the resources traditionally held in-house by the old guard mining houses, and its employees across the spectrum of mining disciplines have been involved with some of the biggest and most challenging projects in the world.  The value of projects currently under TWP management exceeds R 80 billion and parts of its project pipeline extend beyond 2016. With its core business still based in engineering design, procurement and construction management, the union of Basil Read and TWP will see more work conducted in the EPC arena.

CURRENT PROJECTS

	Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) The No. 4 Shaft project which is part of Vedanta’s Konkola Copper Mine’s (KCM) deep mining project (KDMP). In June 2006, TWP was awarded the design of the headgear, shaft steelwork and underground and shaft rock handling systems for the new 1, 5 km deep No. 4 Shaft. The new shaft is being sunk by the main contractor, Grinaker-LTA, which is also deepening the existing No. 1 Shaft from 1 km to 1, 5 km. In addition to the shaft design, TWP is involved in designing the underground pumping and settling system, general electrical reticulation and control as well as instrumentation associated with the project. The sinking portion of the permanent steel headgear was designed to South African standards and the contract for manufacture was awarded to DSE Structural Engineers and Contractors in December 2006. Delivery of the sinking portion of the headgear began in March 2007. At the request of the client, TWP designed the permanent portion of the steel headgear to Chinese “GB” standards utilising Chinese grade steel. The design of the permanent headgear was completed in March 2007 and the contract for the manufacture of this portion of the headgear was awarded to a Chinese supplier, Shanghai Matsuo Steel Structure Co. Ltd.
	TWP’s first manganese plant at Assmang’s Nchwaning Manganese Mine Nchwaning is located in the Kalahari Manganese Field of the Northern Cape where it forms part of Assmang’s Black Rock Mine Operations. TWP consulting initially became involved with the project in 2007 when it was awarded a contract for the design of the plant. This lead to it being awarded the EPCM contract with construction starting in October 2008. As the first manganese beneficiation plant to be undertaken by TWP it represents a significant project for the company and in technical terms, the plant represents the best of established practice worldwide.
PAST PROJECTS
	Modikwa Platinum Mine This TWP project includes the full EPCM as well as overall responsibility for the construction of a Platinum mine from concept through to establishment and full production. Involvement went from EMPR and mineral rights negotiations, local community liaison right through to commissioning. The project involved roads, conveyors, compressors, pipelines, tailing dam, concentrators, four decline and two vertical shafts, mining development and equipment, etc. From start on site to commissioning it took 20 months and the project was completed without a single fatality with a total value R 1.8 billion.