NPC Cimpor (Pty) Ltd has been awarded the contract to supply ready-mixed concrete for the construction of the new Dube Tradeport (DTP) and King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) development at La Mercy, north of Durban.   NPC Concrete has set up 2 batching plants to supply the 180,000 cubic metres of concrete to this project.  With concrete plants at Sterkspruit and Umlaas Road in the west, Tinley Manor and La Mercy in the north and at ParkRynie and Margate in the South, NPC Concrete is increasingly becoming a dynamic player in NPC group.  NPC Cement, the Flagship company in the group, is the key cement maker and supplier to the province.

King Shaka International Airport

The new airport, which is planned for completion in time for the 2010 soccer World Cup, will replace the current Durban International Airport (DIA).   NPC will be supplying ready-mixed concrete for the massive project from its on-site plants which are capable of producing up to 1000 cubic metres a day.  One of the new airport’s outstanding features is the runway which will be significantly longer than the runway at DIA which will enable KSIA to handle large aircraft such as the new jumbo Airbus A380.   

Significant project for NPC Concrete

NPC Concrete Managing Director Avi Bhoora says that the company’s two concrete plants at DTP/KSIA includes a new high output wet batch plant.  “Our new wet batch facility is expected to provide most of our ready-mix output over the life of the 18 month or longer contract.  During that time we anticipate producing 180 000 cubic metres of ready-mix making this a phenomenal project.  In terms of concrete supply this will, to the best of my knowledge, be the biggest project in the region – larger even than the 2010 stadium and the Durban harbour widening project.” 

BEE participation

Bhoora says that NPC will operate in harmony with the project’s overall BEE objectives.  “The delivery of concrete from our plants to the numerous sites around DTP/KSIA will be handled primarily by contracted owner-operated trucks rather than our own vehicles.  This shifts a portion of the profit potential to these BEE entities.   In order to make this work for all concerned, we have undertaken to contract with BEE LODS (Lorry-Owner Driver Schemes) for 5 years since that is the only way they can receive the necessary truck financing.  NPC Concrete is accepting the market risk that there will be work for these contracted businesses during the three year period after the airport is complete.”

Consistency of wet batch concrete

Wet batch concrete is mixed in a stationary concrete plant rather than the mixer-delivery truck. Bhoora says, “We are introducing wet batch concrete technology (also known as central mix or pre-mix concrete) to our network of plants in KZN because of the quality control it offers.  All of the ready-mix ingredients are mixed in our plants themselves enabling us to supply a higher volume of well-mixed, consistent concrete, load after load.”  
 

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