FLSmidth to operate and maintain greenfield cement plant in Angola

Fabrica de Cimento Do Kwanza-Sul S.A. (FCKS) is building a modern 4,200 tpd cement production plant, near the town of Sumbe about 300 km south of Angola’s capital, Luanda. The Kwanza Sul province is rich in mineral resources and has a population of 2.5 million people.

All the machinery for the FCKS plant, from crushers to kiln and mill to packers including automated control systems, was designed and is being supplied by FLSmidth under a contract signed in 2008. The contract was with ETA Star International LLC of Dubai which is building the plant for FCKS.

Operating and maintaining the plant
Recently, the customer has also chosen FLSmidth to run the plant after it is commissioned. An operation and maintenance (O&M) contract has been signed under which FLSmidth will recruit, train and employ all the necessary plant operators and maintenance personnel. The contract also includes sourcing and inventory control of spare parts and lubricants.

The plant will be run by a local FLSmidth organisation, with local personnel under the supervision of key FLSmidth staff. To develop worker competencies in the area, FLSmidth will set up a training centre in collaboration with the Angolan educational authorities. The centre will provide courses in mechanical, electrical, process and safety skills.

The aim of the centre is to qualify local workers not only for the cement plant at Sumbe but also for the industrial environment of modern process plants in general. This involvement in the local community is a significant contribution to the development of the Angolan nation. In this way, the FCKS project and the O&M contract are a clear example of both the customer’s and FLSmidth’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility.

Training a skilled local workforce will enable the plant to maintain a high and stable production level, while paving the way for transfer of know-how and expertise in efficient and cost-effective production methods. The O&M contract runs for a period of five years.

For more new orders visit www.flsmidth.com/announcements