Keeping SA’s biggest diamond mine pumping
Limpopo, South Africa
Located among the scrubby bush and red sands of Northern Limpopo’s high bushveld region, the largest producer of diamonds for South Africa resides. Initiating operations in 1995, the mine provides 40% of South African diamonds. Today, the mine is a vast open-cast mine that employs over 4,300 people and, in 2018, produced 4.8 million carats in diamonds. A prolific South African diamond company has recently begun sinking shafts for underground operations at this Limpopo mine that will significantly expand its lifespan.
But all of that activity would ground to a halt if the onsite equipment failed. As is typical of open cast mining, this particular site runs significant dewatering operations to keep it open and safe for operators.
“Water management and conservation are very important to the site. It operates in a semi-arid region and has adopted an environmental management programme to best accomplish environmental sustainability.”
To meet these goals — sustainability and safety — the mine’s equipment needs to run at its best and most cost-effective. Part of this promise depends on the performance of several Heidra 100TD submersible pumps from Godwin, a Xylem brand. These industrial workhorses are designed and reinforced to safely, conveniently, and predictably manage the most challenging working conditions.
The Godwin Heidra 100TD hydraulic submersible pump is a compact, self-contained pumping unit featuring a diesel-driven power pack and hydraulic pump end. With variable speed diesel engine power, the Heidra 100TD can meet a variety of flow and head requirements up to 176 m³/hr and total dynamic head requirements up to 22 metres.
After numerous years of excellent service, though, the pumps no longer provided optimal performance, and the mine mulled over what to do with them. Xylem and its partner, CJS Engine Services, proposed refurbishing the pumps. This exercise would cost far less than replacing them yet remedy performance issues and ensure longer equipment lifespans.
The project was initiated and concluded in mere months. Xylem provided temporary pumps to stand in, and the incumbent units shipped to a Xylem workshop where they underwent total rebuilds - from the motor to the trailer to the pump. Yet despite all this attentive work, the refurbishment cost the mine 50% less than replacing the units, and it didn’t have to halt operations during the project.
The project initiated in mid-September 2020, and the three pumps were removed, refurbished and installed by the end of December with most of the work accomplished in that month. CJS Engine Services refurbished the motors, while Xylem took care of the rest, and provided technical assistance and engineering skills.
But above all, the organisation could engage directly with Xylem as the pump OEM and a Level-3 provider. After years of dealing with intermediaries, the company and diamond mine found a partner that cut through the noise and delivered on expectations.
“Though the project’s engineering and technical accomplishments didn’t go unnoticed, it was the high levels of engagement, understanding, relationship-building and professionalism that impressed the leading international corporation the most.“
The mine now depends on three custom-specced Godwin Heidra submersible pumps that have given years of loyal service and will continue to do so as operations grow. But more crucial, they have a partner in Xylem who can continue to support their pumping equipment and create long-term value. With Xylem and CJS Engine Services, Godwin’s Heidra keeps SA’s largest diamond mine pumping.