N E W S & V I E W S • D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 7 Rebuilding a stronger and responsive NCT The well-known fire triangle posits that three essential elements are required to sustain fire. These elements are heat, fuel and oxygen. Take away or reduce any one of these essential elements and one can kill or reduce or control the fire. The devastating fire at the NCT Richards Bay mill, occurring at the end of September 2023, certainly illustrated the combined and destructive effect of a huge fuel load (chip and log piles), coupled with heat (chip piles burning) and plentiful oxygen (gale force winds changing direction). This was an experience that no-one in the industry ever wishes to see again and NCT has taken this to heart in the rebuild of the complex. The rebuild process has been aimed not just at restoring the production capacity of the mills. It is focused on prevention of re-occurrence and reaction in the event of a fire occurrence. Prevention of re-occurrence without a yet quantified and proven-beyond-doubt “cause of fire” may seem an impossible task. By applying the principle of the fire triangle however, and engineering means to control at least two of the main elements deemed most manageable i.e. heat and fuel, NCT is actively closing out chances of a repeat ignition event or spread of fire in the unlikely event that ignition should occur. Armed with post-fire experience and learnings, NCT has effectively first embraced a Strengthened Approach, the three supportive elements of which are Reflection, Re-group and – Rob Thompson – Member Services Manager –
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