South Africa's Saldanha Ore Terminal Launches 16-Day Maintenance Shutdown

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 6, South Africa's Transnet Port Terminals commenced the annual shutdown maintenance of the Saldanha iron ore terminal, with operations set to continue until October 21, totaling 16 days. This round of maintenance covers the terminal's cargo handling system, primarily including replacement of equipment components, civil engineering works, overhaul of two rail tipplers, maintenance of ship loaders, and inspection and repair of the bucket wheel structure of stacker-reclaimers. The terminal routinely schedules a 12-hour weekly maintenance window, and this concentrated maintenance period is intended to carry out work that cannot be completed within the regular windows.

This round of work will also involve concentrated maintenance of mechanical and electrical components related to the terminal's conveyor belts, as well as the installation of a new spray system on the ship loaders. The Saldanha iron ore terminal relies heavily on conveyor belts for rail wagon unloading, stockpiling, reclaiming, and ship loading. Transnet has designated conveying and handling equipment as the primary maintenance targets in this operation.

Meanwhile, the terminal's new No. 3 rail tippler is undergoing testing and optimization and is approaching full operational status. This equipment is part of Transnet's Saldanha infrastructure project, which involves an investment of 4 billion rand. The related works also include new cargo handling equipment, wet and dry dust suppression systems, and dust suppression facilities in the tippler area. The No. 3 tippler had previously entered the testing and commissioning phase.

Saldanha is a terminal in South Africa dedicated to iron ore exports, with an annual throughput of over 50 million tonnes. Since the terminal began operations in September 1976, it has cumulatively handled over 1.4 billion tonnes of exported iron ore. Transnet also plans to continue implementing capital projects related to terminal emission control in the next two fiscal years.