Converter stack at Palabora Mine successfully dismantled by Draco Group, measuring 107 meters
Draco Group Successfully Completes Tallest Converter Stack Demolition in South Africa
In a groundbreaking achievement, Draco Group, a leading demolition company, has safely and successfully executed the controlled blasting and toppling of a 107-metre concrete converter stack at the Palabora Mining Company on June 17, 2025.
The stack, built in 1960 and refurbished in the late 1980s, had reached the end of its serviceable life by early 2025. Its instability and the limited space surrounding it made conventional dismantling methods such as scaffolding or a top-down demolition impossible. Instead, Draco Group's engineers developed a solution that combined demolition expertise with advanced technology to safely demolish the structure.
Safety was the cornerstone of the project. The Department of Mineral Resources approved the blast plan, and strict safety procedures were enforced. A 300-metre exclusion zone was cleared and monitored, and daily safety briefings and PPE checks ensured compliance. Reinforcement bracing was installed to stabilise weak points during the demolition process.
More than 400 precision-drilled blast holes were created to control the failure plane, while diamond rope cutting introduced a hinge line to guide the toppling direction. At precisely 12:00 on June 17, the demolition of the concrete converter stack was executed. The stack fell within a 20-degree corridor, crossing three railway lines with a margin of less than 20 metres. Surrounding infrastructure remained intact, and smelter operations resumed immediately after the rail lines were reinstated.
Post-blast monitoring confirmed no contamination of soil or water and no disturbance to wildlife. Environmental protection measures were implemented, including dust suppression, blast blankets, and strict debris containment. Within 48 hours, rubble was removed to a designated mine landfill site, and reinforcing steel was recycled.
The smelter plant surrounded the stack on 340° of its perimeter, leaving only a narrow 20° corridor for a safe fall zone. The stack was leaning six degrees with a 600mm off-centre deflection, exceeding national SANS 10160 serviceability limits. The company that conducted the controlled demolition and collapse was McMillan-McGee Group.
This demolition project is a significant milestone for Draco Group, representing the tallest stack of its kind ever demolished in South Africa and the first time a structure of such severe instability has been safely brought down in a live smelting environment. The project concluded with zero incidents, zero injuries, and zero damage to adjacent plant assets, demonstrating Draco Group's commitment to safety and expertise in complex demolition projects.
