Company Announcement - To Kamoto Copper Company Of The Democratic Republic Of The Congo
Integrated Pump Technology of South Africa has supplied 20 Bravo 900 submersible slurry pumps and 20 M20 control panels to Kamoto Copper Company (a subsidiary of Katanga Mining) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These heavy duty electrical submersible slurry pumps are the largest of their kind in the Grindex product family, says Klint Bawden, General Manager: Sales & Marketing, Integrated Pump Technology.
Chris Heunes, Export Sales Manager, Integrated Pump Technology, explains that the company’s products are being deployed at three different areas of Katanga Mining’s operations in the DRC. These are the Luilu Metallurgical Plant, the Kamoto Concentrator and KOV Open Pit Mine. “Our Bravo range has proved particularly successful for Katanga Mining, which has been using Grindex products for three years now and has about 300 pumps in operation.”
Heunes says that EC Mining has been formally appointed as the distributor for Integrated Pump Technology for the DRC and is in the process of establishing a fully-fledged service and repair workshop at Kamoto Copper Company to cater for its aftermarket needs.
“Pumping slurry is one of the most demanding applications for any pump, due to such issues as sediment build-up leading to costly downtime and repair costs,” Bawden explains. “The Bravo range from Grindex is robust and hard working enough to result in reduced operating and maintenance costs.” These pumps, with a maximum submersible depth of 20 m, do not require any support superstructure, which makes for quick and easy installation and less space needed for their operation.
The cartridge seal is preassembled for quicker and easier mounting, while the Hard-iron™ impeller and pump housing feature high wear resistance, which is critical in slurry applications. The large throughlet means that the pump can handle solids of varying sizes. A leakage sensor allows for early detection of any problems, while the single adjustment screw makes it easy to tweak the impeller for optimal performance. The agitator has been designed specifically for coarser slurries, and is able to stir up and pump sand, sludge and solids in suspension.
Integrated Pump Technology has also supplied about 50 stainless steel Inox pumps over the last six months. “These are specialised electrical submersible drainage and sludge pumps that can handle acidic operating conditions,” Bawden explains. Features include zinc anodes for added protection, with all cast parts made from acid-proof stainless steel.
MORE ABOUT INTEGRATED PUMP TECHNOLOGY
Integrated Pump Technology is the sole importer and principal distributor for the Grindex range of dewatering, slurry and sludge pumps for southern Africa. A network of 16 strategically located, specialised pump distributors supported by dedicated account managers ensure effective service and customer support. Headquartered in Johannesburg, a newly built 1200 m2 service facility supports this distribution structure in terms of sales, repairs and rental offerings. The facility encompasses a state of the art automated pump test facility and boasts a highly experienced service team. Grindex submersible pumps have been available in South Africa for 25 years and are a household name in mine dewatering.