Manica Logistics to transport 630 tonnes

Freight service provider Manica Group Namibia has begun transporting cargo for an acid plant in Tsumeb, Namibia.

The cargo is being transported from the port of Walvis Bay 580 km to Tsumeb on a low-bed trailer. In total 630 tonnes of parts and materials will be moved. The largest piece of cargo for the project is a heat exchanger, weighing 115 tonnes and measuring 26 metres long and 4.5 m wide. It is due to be transported in January 2014.

Holger Kleyenstüber, spokesperson at Manica Logistics, said, “The challenges in transporting the cargo are huge. No company had trucks strong enough that could transport this load. A local company, Walvis Bay Plant and Tool Hire, decided to purchase a Kesselbruecke truck, which easily solved all our headaches. We also had to do a complete road route survey. Unfortunately, most of Namibia’s power lines are low-hanging, thus each line had to be lifted.”

When scheduled to move the heat exchanger, the team will face challenges that include manoeuvring through the towns of Omaruru and Otjiwarongo.

Holger said, “Road signs will need to be taken down and trees cut to make space for this load. Another challenge is the road at the mine itself. This road was not designed to carry such heavy loads (200 tonnes), and work is being carried out to stabilise the road.”

Construction of the plant is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2014.