Project Background
Kinross Gold Corporation operates the Tasiast Gold Mine in Mauritania, one of the largest gold mining operations in West Africa. The facility processes thousands of tonnes of ore daily through complex piping systems and pressure vessels. Maintaining the integrity of these critical assets is paramount to operational continuity and safety.
The Challenge
The harsh operating environment at Tasiast, combined with the corrosive nature of gold processing chemicals, creates significant challenges for maintaining asset integrity. The client needed a reliable partner capable of conducting comprehensive corrosion assessments across hundreds of meters of piping and multiple pressure vessels, all while minimizing operational disruption.
“RSL's systematic approach to corrosion mapping gave us the confidence to make informed maintenance decisions. Their data quality and professional reporting exceeded our expectations.”
— Site Maintenance Manager, Kinross-Tasiast
Our Approach
RSL mobilized a team of ASNT Level II and Level III certified technicians equipped with the latest Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing equipment. We developed a grid-based inspection methodology that allowed us to create detailed thickness maps showing wall loss patterns across all inspected assets.
Results & Impact
Our comprehensive corrosion mapping program identified 12 critical areas requiring immediate repair intervention and 34 areas for monitoring. The detailed thickness data enabled the client to develop a risk-based maintenance strategy, prioritizing repairs based on remaining life calculations. This proactive approach prevented an estimated $2.4 million in potential unplanned downtime costs.
