A 450tonne capacity Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane is building one of the world’s largest mineral sand mines. The crane, the largest crane in Senegal, is performing demanding lifts and carries in the sand dunes at the US$570 million Grande Côte Mineral Sands Project, north of Dakar. The 2250, which is fitted with the MAX-ER capacity enhancing attachment, was bought by Grande Côte Operations, the main contractor and mine operator.
A 450tonne capacity Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane is building one of the world’s largest mineral sand mines.
The crane, the largest crane in Senegal, is performing demanding lifts and carries in the sand dunes at the US$570 million Grande Côte Mineral Sands Project, north of Dakar.
The 2250, which is fitted with the MAX-ER capacity enhancing attachment, was bought by Grande Côte Operations, the main contractor and mine operator.
“The crane is integral to the construction so we needed a powerful machine to rely. It is working perfectly in demanding conditions and the project is progressing exactly as planned,” says Jason Eade, lifting services superintendent at the site.
The 2250’s main tasks are installing the dredge, surge bin and pontoons that will make up the mineral processing plant at the mine. Each pontoon weighs 120tonnes and is 29m long, 5m wide and 4.5m high.
The surge bin is a 225tonne unit that has already been installed. The lift was completed in three sections, with the largest weighing 87tonnes and measuring 22m in radius.
Situated on a mobile dune system, the 400km2 site presents a number of challenges for the crane, among them sand and searing heat.
The crane was transported to Senegal from the USA; was shipped to Dakar and then transported 145km north to the remote coastal site on 29 truckloads.
Manitowoc’s 2250 offers a 272tonne capacity as standard, which can be increased to 450tonnes with the MAX-ER attachment or all the way up to 1,300tonnes with a Ringer attachment.
The Grande Côte Mineral Sands Project will function by dredging sand and pumping slurry into a floating concentrator, where the heavy minerals are separated from the lighter quartz sand.
