According to managing director Costar Takawira, Baldmin Projects, a locally based South African company,
was awarded a multimilliondollar contract in Tanzania to design, manufacture, install and commission a gold process plant that will be processing 250 000 tonnes per month. This is a greenfield project worth over USD 18 500 000, that will boost employment in Zimbabwe, South Africa and in East Africa. The project is expected to have an 18-24 months life cycle.

The Tanzanian tender was awarded after the successful completion of the 80 000 tonnes per month gold processing plant at Mazowe Mine in Zimbabwe worth +/- USD15 000 000 and the refurbishment of Sabi Gold Mine, which was idle for more than three years and had been on care and maintenance.

Sabi Gold Mine is now producing, and the team is working on the plant upgrades so that the mine will be able to produce as it did a few years ago. The team led by Shingie Sibanda, Harare manager, and engineer Saimon Mutavikwa, worked flat out to make sure that the plant was back on line so that Sabi Gold Mine can contribute to the Zimbabwean economy. The plant is expected to operate at between 50-100% capacity whilst concentrated effort will be put to the development of the mine underground and hoist upgrades. This will create employment in the local town of Zvishavane and surrounding areas.

Takawira said that the work was started in 2016 in partnership with Chandiwana Mines. The Baldmin Projects’ team was responsible for the procurement, re-engineering and refurbishment works at the mine to make sure that the plant is in a good working condition.

Most of the work was done locally and on site, whilst 40% mainly raw materials were supplied by Baldmin
Projects in South Africa.

Besides Sabi, Baldmin Projects has been involved in maintenance programmes at the following mines in Zimbabwe: Redwing mine, Shamva and How Mine.

Baldmin Projects was also awarded another project in Zimbabwe, a Matte Crushing Plant in the midlands region (Unki mine in Shurugwi), which has now been completed and manufacturing is expected to start in the beginning of 2018.

Baldmin Projects’ vision is to create employment in South Africa and Zimbabwe and work with the ministry of mines in creating opportunities for small to medium scale miners as well as large scale miners in Zimbabwe. According to Takawira, Baldmin Projects is a locally based company that specialises in turnkey solutions for the mines and always develops tailormade solutions for its clients based on their budgets.

A new block of offices, warehouse and workshops are under construction in the Waterfalls area (Harare) which will make life easier for clients to source spares, consumables and have repairs done. Most of Baldmin Projects’ equipment will be relocated from South Africa so that the Harare works will be the main plant for the crusher assemblies and various mining equipment.

Takawira said, “We are currently working on our newly developed small plants for artisan miners which will promote conventional methods of gold extraction and make sure the mining is formalised. We have managed to come up with concepts that will be a game changer on the local market and we are engaging the federations of small scale miners in Zimbabwe, which has shown lots of potential.

Our vision is to be the most preferred supplier in the mining industry and as our motto says, The Golden Standard in Engineering & manufacturing solutions.”

Baldmin Projects will be adding another wing to its portfolio in the midlands area where it intends to build a model plant for small scale miners. “We came up with the concept as means of boosting the gold production in Zimbabwe, hence creating more employment in the informal sector by introducing mechanisation,” said Takawira.

“Baldmin Projects does 95% of its work in house which makes our prices very competitive, coupled with the wealth of experience of our team, clients are guaranteed quality work and after sales support. Baldmin Projects wants to penetrate the African market, provide cost effective solutions to both small scale miners and commercial mines.

Our solutions are tailormade to suit each individual client and are monitored by a team of highly qualified professionals from inception until the project is completed. The projects division is fully supported by our engineering workshops which are capable of manufacturing gear boxes, mills, gears, etc to mention a few.

Our experience says it all and clients are promised better services and timeously deliveries (short lead times) as we do most of the work in-house.”

Costar Takawira
Managing Director Baldmin Projects
Cell: +27 71 297 1017
Direct: 011 028 2603
costart@baldminprojects.co.za
www.baldminprojects.co.za