The way forward for mining at Namdeb took one other necessary step ahead just lately as the corporate procured 4 Caterpillar D11 dozers from Barloworld Namibia on a hire to purchase settlement. The machines will help with the operation of the Dry Mining Unit (DMU) plant, a key innovation aimed toward reworking the way in which Namdeb carries out overburden sand mining.
The D11s are Caterpillar’s largest and strongest dozers and are categorised as ultraclass mining dozers, fitted with semi-universal blades and might transfer as much as ~27.2 cubic metres of fabric in a single push. Talking through the handover of the machines, held on 17 June 2026, Barloworld Nation Supervisor, Nick Kyriacos, expressed his pleasure in delivering the machines to Namdeb. “From Caterpillar and Barloworld’s perspective, with the ability to ship 4 D11s to an operation like Namdeb and have all of them in manufacturing could be very thrilling for all of us. We’re proud to assist Namdeb with tools that can contribute to a extra environment friendly and cost-effective manner of mining and assist drive the enterprise ahead.”
Namdeb Chief Working Officer, Jurgen Jacob, counseled the Barloworld and native Caterpillar crew for his or her continued assist and repair excellence. “These D11 Caterpillar machines are an enormous step ahead for our operation, and we’re very happy with each the efficiency and high quality of service offered by the Barloworld crew generally. We’re wanting ahead to creating good use of those machines,” he famous.
The machines will play a essential position in enhancing effectivity and productiveness, serving to to unlock the subsequent section of Namdeb’s mining future. Namdeb prolonged its appreciation to Barloworld and the Caterpillar crew for his or her partnership and continued assist as they work collectively to construct a extra environment friendly and sustainable future for mining. By way of the procurement of those dozers, Namdeb added that it’s reaffirming its dedication to Mining for Good.
Namdeb just lately introduced that it had began commissioning of its first DMU on April 1, 2026. It acknowledged: “The Dry Mining Unit (DMU) represents considered one of Namdeb’s most enjoyable steps towards reworking the way in which we mine, safely, effectively, and sustainably. As a part of our ongoing journey to innovate and stay globally aggressive, the DMU introduces a wiser and more cost effective manner of shifting huge volumes of sand.” The primary tonnes of sand have been fed into the DMU on 20 April with every unit then processing 800-900 t/h however with the intention to ramp as much as 2,000 t/h.
DMU know-how was developed for mineral sands mining each by Australian firm Piacentini & Son with fabrication in Bunbury, WA and by South African firm ADP Group with fabrication in Cape City, with provide to their respective regional markets. ADP was acquired by Australian engineering firm Lycopodium and finally rebranded as Lycopodium Africa. Within the Namibian market the 2 firms at the moment are collaborating by 50:50 JV Lycopodium Piacentini Namibia (LPN) to ship DMU tasks within the nation.
The DMU know-how is described as the wedding of underwater observe crawler know-how with high-capacity skid-mounted supplies dealing with and sand pumping programs, right into a single remotely managed cellular sand processing machine. The remotely operated tracked unit receives ROM materials in extra of 1,500 t/h right into a ROM bin. This materials is drawn out through a feeder at a managed tonnage, discharged through a pulping chute, fluidised and screened right into a moist bin. Thereafter it’s drawn out and pumped as much as two kilometres by a centrifugal pump and booster stations. The DMU is cellular and relocated each seven days to comply with the mining face.
The effectivity in comparison with typical tramming is substantial, with the machine relocated usually to maintain tramming distance to a minimal, thereby decreasing diesel gas consumption and carbon emissions. It’s estimated that the facility saving might be important in comparison with the standard load and haul methodology.
