Middelburg — Liberty Coal has recommissioned its Marion 8200 dragline at Optimum Colliery after years of neglect and vandalism. The dragline, now back in operation after a refurbishment costing R500 000, is expected to boost surface mining operations and help the colliery reach its goal of one million tons of coal per month.
Acting CEO Hlayiseka Chauke said the refurbishment marks a key operational milestone.
“The increase in production rates will directly translate into the creation of more jobs at the mine,” he said. “Our goal is to mine efficiently to ensure the business is sustainable and the jobs created at the mine are also sustainable. The refurbishment of the dragline demonstrates Liberty Coal's commitment to investment into the mine and investing into the future.”
The dragline, which has a boom just over 100 metres long and can excavate coal to nearly 80 metres depth, had been out of service since 2018 when the mine was under business rescue.
The refurbishment included a new operator’s cab, integrated offsite camera systems, as well as advanced performance and engine monitoring technology.
Structural integrity assessments and non-destructive testing (NDT) were conducted on all major load-bearing components, and the bucket system, rigging, and fairlead assemblies were refurbished to ensure optimal performance.
Chief Operating Officer Peter Nordin highlighted the collaboration involved in the project. “The refurbishment programme was executed through collaboration between Liberty Coal’s in-house engineering and maintenance teams and specialist contractors with expertise in large-scale mining equipment. All work was completed under strict safety and quality assurance procedures,” he said. “Returning this asset to service strengthens our stripping capacity and supports long-term production objectives.”
Liberty Coal said the dragline recommissioning followed all engineering standards and mine safety protocols, including functional testing of the hoist, drag, and swing systems before returning it to service.
