Main Conveyor Rehabilitation Secunda – South Africa

Minova rehabilitated the Secunda main conveyor roof using Tekcrete Fast M, restoring stability, improving underground safety and enabling reliable coal transport.

Sector / Application

Coal Mining, Mining

Overview

The roof of a main conveyor belt passing through an old shaft (Bosjesspruit) from Irenedale Mine to the coal supply facility was deteriorating and needed to be rehabilitated and re‑supported. The condition of the roof created a high‑risk environment for employees entering the area, and the instability also posed a threat of structural damage to the belt due to FOG.

Minova supported Sasol with product supply, training and technical expertise in the application of Tekcrete Fast M, which resulted in the belt being successfully utilised again. The project also required the construction of scaffolding over the belt drive areas to allow safe access for applying Tekcrete Fast M.

Significant scaling of the side walls and the presence of old, failing roof support created additional hazards throughout the work area.

Solution

The roof first had to be stabilised before any new resin and bolt support could be installed, as employees were exposed to unpredictable and potentially dangerous conditions. Minova supplied Tekcrete Fast M for aerial coverage, providing immediate and reliable support for the crews responsible for installing the resin roof bolts. This material created a safer working environment by reducing the risk of loose material falling during the re‑support process.Minova also provided comprehensive training for the contractor assigned to carry out the project, ensuring that the product was applied correctly and consistently. Periodical underground visits were arranged to observe the work, verify installation quality and conduct checks on the performance of the Tekcrete Fast M as it was applied. These visits ensured that the project remained aligned with safety expectations and technical specifications.Tekcrete Fast M acted as a critical barrier between the high‑risk roof conditions and the employees working below, enabling the safe and systematic re‑support of the entire length of the belt. With the roof stabilised and new support installed, the belt was fully refurbished and deemed suitable to provide a long‑term solution for safely transporting coal to the strategic coal supply for the Synfuels plant of Sasol.