Aurecon

The KOV pit is a copper and cobalt open pit mine in Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Although out of operation for over ten years, it still contains one of the richest and highest grades of copper concentrate in the region. In 2006, DRC Copper and Cobalt Project (DCP) decided to reopen and continue operating the mine. 

The KOV Dewatering Project involved the design of a dewatering and desilting system for the KOV pit; procurement of all equipment and services; supervision of equipment installation; and the final testing and commissioning up to handover to the client. The dewatering and desilting system consisted of floating pump stations on the water and a set of booster pumps that carries a concentration of 5% silt in water to a decanting dam where the silt is settled out of the water and the clean water decanted into the nearby river.  The project also involved the design of a clean borehole water management system.