Hudbay SAC Peru, a subsidiary of Canadian Hudbay Minerals, has ordered technical equipment from Siemens for the power supply and integrated automation at its Constancia copper mine in Peru. The order also includes preassembled power distribution units (E-houses), fully equipped transformer substations with high voltage and medium voltage switchgear, diesel generators, capacitor banks and transformers.

Constancia is situated in the Andes at an altitude of 4,300 m, about 100 km south of the city of Cusco. The mine is owned and managed by Hudbay Minerals, which was founded in 1927 and specializes in the mining of copper, zinc, gold and silver. In Peru, Hudbay is installing new plant and infrastructure equipment for cost-efficient exploitation of the mine. Excavation of copper ore is due to start in 2014.

Siemens is to provide a complete solution (E-EPC) for the medium and low voltage power supply at Constancia copper mine including twelve E-houses. E-houses are equipped with a customised power distribution system at medium and low voltage level, and are assembled complete in individual modules and pretested prior to transport to the installation point. Thanks to their high degree of prefabrication, they can then be erected and put into operation within a short time with no risk of deadline overrun. The delivery package also includes two office containers as well as a permanently installed transformer house with medium voltage switchgear, three diesel generator sets, and six capacitor banks systems with the accompanying distribution transformers. Siemens will also deliver and install a complete high voltage transformer substation for connecting the mine to the grid. The order for Siemens included also the medium and low voltage drives and automation system.

Siemens stated that for Hudbay, “the key factors behind its decision were Siemens’ many years of experience from similar projects in Peru, project support, delivery of all products and services from a single source, and the knowledge of the trade.”