Thiess Gove Alcan Pty Ltd
Gove Peninsula, NT
2004- Market value of Aluminium is in excess of $ 400US/ tonne.
Increased throughput required from existing facilities to meet global demand.
Alcan commits to $2 billion upgrade of existing facilities at its Gove refinery to increase throughput by 81%, from 2-3.8Mtpa.
3rd Quarter 2006-IES is Sub-contracted to Thiess to perform a high risk component of the work in the Alumina handling process.
IES Sub-contract agreement construction packages included:
Establishing and maintaining a safe work environment was vital to the successful delivery of this project. There were three major risk areas, a major part of the work was 85 metres above ground, integration with Brownfield process, and continuous 12hr shifts. IES adopted a cross-matrix management approach to identify and mitigate risks and control the day to day hazards. This meant that daily reporting, information sharing and handover of detailed internal work between day and night shift crews ensured the total well being of the team and protection of the client’s investment.
“The Burton Coal Infrastructure Expansion Project primarily involved the duplication of the 400tph coal preparation plant, additional raw coal conveyor, reconfiguration of the ROM primary sizing station, surge bin upgrade, Mallawa product truck dump station with associated skyline conveyor system, reclaim tunnel and reclaim conveyor extensions. The complex coal preparation plant produces coking and thermal coal utilising dual dense medium circuits, spirals and fines flotation with belt filters.
The project was a resounding success and Illawarra Engineering Services’ contribution to the construction and commissioning effort is greatly appreciated and acknowledged. The deployment and utilisation of the same supervision and labour as that used on the previous Dalrymple Bay project ensured a positive outcome for the project in all respects. The integration of your experienced teams with our labour force to work across the entire site on the structural, mechanical and pipework workscope was a key factor in achieving efficient operations. As a result the project was completed safely with no reportable incidents or lost time injuries, weeks ahead of schedule, and under budget.
Of special note was the major shutdown works requiring the ROM sizing station to be reconfigured by removing the feeder breaker and upgrading to a large primary sizer unit including major structural and platework modifications. Simultaneously the surge bin single outlet cone was removed and replaced with a new bifurcated cone to accommodate the new module feed conveyor. Illawarra Engineering Services took a leading role in championing the operation on a twenty four hour round the clock basis. The detailed preparation, planning, co-ordination and efficient execution of the work resulted in the shutdown being completed three days ahead of schedule, allowing the plant operations to commence coal production earlier than anticipated.
Please pass on our gratitude to all of your team members for a job well done.”
Ian Ash
Operation Manager, Thiess Process Engineering
Thiess Gove Alcan Pty Ltd
Gove Peninsula, NT
