Boksburg-based pumps supplier Integrated Pump Technology has supplied 20 Bravo 900 submersible slurry pumps and 20 M20 control panels to copper company Kamoto Copper Company, a subsidiary of Katanga Mining, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“These heavy-duty electrical submersible slurry pumps are the largest of their kind in the Grindex product family,” says Integrated Pump Technology sales and marketing GM Klint Bawden.

Meanwhile, Integrated Pump Technology export sales manager Chris Heunes explains that the company’s products are being deployed at three different areas of DRC-based copper and cobalt miner Katanga Mining’s operations in the DRC. These are the Luilu metallurgical plant, the Kamoto concentrator and KOV openpit mine.

“Our Bravo range has proved particularly successful for Katanga Mining, which has been using Grindex products for three years now and has about 300 pumps in operation,” he highlights.

Heunes adds that, EC Mining has been formally appointed as the distributor for Integrated Pump Technology for the DRC and is in the process of establishing a fully-fledged service and repair workshop at Kamoto Copper Company to cater for its after- market needs. The company already has a full service and repair facility in Kitwe, Zambia, and a branch in Lubumbashi, in the DRC.

Bawden emphasises that pump- ing slurry is one of the most demanding applications for any pump, owing to such issues as sediment build-up that lead to costly downtime and repair costs.

“The Bravo range from Grindex is robust and hard-working enough to result in reduced operating and maintenance costs.” These pumps, with a maximum submersible depth of 20 m, do not require any support superstructure, which makes for quick and easy installation and less space needed for the operation.

The cartridge seal is preassembled for quicker and easier mounting, while the hard-iron impeller and pump housing feature high-wear resistance, which is critical in slurry applications. The large throughlet means the pump can handle solids of varying sizes.

Further, a leakage sensor allows for early detection of any problems, while the single adjustment screw makes it easy to tweak the impeller for optimal performance. The agitator has been designed specifically for coarser slurries and is able to stir up and pump sand, sludge and solids in suspension.

Integrated Pump Technology has also supplied about 50 stainless steel Inox pumps to Katanga Mining over the last six months. “These are specialised electrical submersible drainage and sludge pumps that can handle acidic operating conditions,” Bawden explains.

Features include zinc anodes for added protection, with all cast parts made from acidproof stainless steel.