New facility at Tau takes shape
Construction of the new facility at Tau is well underway, and the project has now passed several key milestones. With a high level of activity on site, the work is moving into a new phase.
"We are making good progress with the project at present, and there is a high level of activity on site. At any given time, there are around 150–200 people working here,” says project manager Fredrik Storås.
The project has progressed from groundworks to an increasingly complete and technically advanced facility.
A safer and larger facility with increased capacity
The expansion at Tau is one of the largest investments in the aggregates industry in Norway. A brand-new, modern and safer plant is being built, which will facilitate increased capacity and more robust and future-oriented operations.
Once the plant is completed, production capacity will increase from around three million to five million tonnes of aggregates per year. This represents a capacity increase of nearly 70 per cent compared with the current plant.
“We are building a new plant that meets today’s requirements for both safety and efficiency, and which significantly strengthens our delivery capacity,” says Storås.
With this capacity, the plant at Tau will become one of the very largest crushed rock plants in Norway. Only the plant at Jelsa in Suldal is larger. The expansion also lays the groundwork for increased local economic benefits. Today, the Tau plant has around 70 employees, and once the new plant is completed, it will create around 30 new jobs.
Together with increased activity and the use of regional suppliers, this contributes to greater value creation in the local community over time.
Transition to the installation phase
The groundworks and concrete works are now nearing completion. Concrete contractor Backe is in the final stages of its work and has begun demobilisation, and the remaining groundworks are also in their final stages ahead of the summer.
“The main activities going forward relate to installation,” explains Storås.
This includes, among other things, the installation of conveyors, load-bearing steel structures, electrical installations, water and sewerage works, and cladding works.
Status of the sub-facilities
Several key components of the new facility have now been completed or are in the final stages:
B1 and B2 – intermediate plant
(first stage of crushing and screening)
The main works have been completed. Finalisation work is now underway, including the installation of belts, technical equipment and some conveyors, as well as electrical and plumbing work and the completion of cladding. All screens and crushers have been installed. The screens have been commissioned, and work is in full swing on testing and commissioning machinery and equipment ahead of the start of operations with material at the end of July.
B3 and B4 – fine screening
(further processing and sorting of aggregate)
Around 95 per cent of the main steel structure has been installed. Conveyor installation is underway, the upper levels are being finalised, and electrical and plumbing work will begin in mid-June.
Storage area
The groundworks and concrete works are largely complete. The stackers have been installed and are ready for cold commissioning in mid-June.
Quay and unloader
The structure has been fully assembled. The remaining work involves electrical installations and the fitting of conveyors.
A two-stage start-up
Overall, the project is around six months behind the original schedule, but is now following updated progress plans.
"We are in a position to start up the intermediate plant at the end of July. The remaining parts of the plant, including the fine screening plant and quay, are scheduled to come on stream around the end of September,” says Storås.
The start-up will therefore take place in two stages to ensure a controlled and safe commissioning process.
Next steps
In the run-up to summer, the completion of the conveyors and electrical work will be crucial for the commissioning of the intermediate plant. At the same time, work is underway to complete the steel structures, install conveyors and carry out electrical and water and sanitation works in the fine-sorting plant, the storage area and on the quay.
Future work will focus primarily on safety, quality and a controlled commissioning process in line with the updated progress plan.
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