A local contractor with the Newcrest Mine in New Ireland Province is reducing concrete waste from mine operations to create concrete bar chairs for construction work.
Placement Solbow Joint Venture (PSJV) is managing concrete waste at the Lihir operations and in doing so, saving costs.
PSJV use concrete bar chairs during construction work, especially to hold the reinforcing steel bar (called rebar) above the ground so it ends up in the middle of the concrete foundation when the concrete is poured.
Without the chairs, the rebar would sit on the ground and would be exposed to water and rust. Additionally, it will not hold the concrete together.
The concrete bar chairs in this case replace plastic saddles to deliver the same result.
PSJV site manager, Robin Arman, said there was always excess concrete after every pour during construction work at Lihir, valuing up to K100-K200 or more.
He said concrete was expensive in Lihir and making concrete bar chairs from excess concrete meant there was savings on costs and waste was reduced.
This initiative also increases strength as plastic saddles often trap air pockets, although they are specifically designed to minimise them.