Truco rubber in demand throughout Africa, from new mines to renewal projects

In Northern Guinea, the US$45m Anglogold Ashanti owned Siguiri Gold Mine will be installing pulp and slurry hose from Truco valued at R270 000 in its processing plant. Having required close cooperation between Truco and local engineers, this project involves pipe diameters as large as 650mm.

"Our technical advice and experience is as much in demand as our products," says Mike Stuart, Director - Hose Division. "On most of these projects, we have assisted clients in improving their original specifications in favour of more efficient, durable solutions".

"Another positive aspect for us is our recent success in expanding our proven capabilities. A good example would be the R300 000 order from a diamond mine for pulp hose of up to 934 mm in diameter and 6m in length. This means that the built-in flanges were more than a meter in diameter," Stuart enthuses.

Tanzanian gold mine Buhemba also recently selected Truco for conveyor belting and water delivery hoses totalling over R250 000. From Mali, Truco was approached by the Anglo American owned Sadiola Gold Mine for various mining, pulp and delivery hoses, bends and split couplings, ranging between 50mm and 300mm in diameter. Also in West Africa, in Ghana, the Goldfields owned Tarkwa Gold Mine and the new Golden Star Resources Wassa Mine is in the process of sourcing conveyor belting, as well as various hoses with diameters of up to 350 mm from Truco. With Rand-strength placing a damper on local capital projects in South Africa, Truco is currently concentrating on several new and ongoing projects throughout the rest of the Continent.