Power and automation technology group ABB has signed a strategic service partnership with Sierra Gorda SCM to provide holistic services for its copper mine in the Atacama desert in Chile. The contract was booked in the second quarter of this year. The service agreement covers a customised service approach for the entire ABB’s electrical and automation deliveries from 2011 to 2014 that were awarded as part of an earlier contract. The major equipment supplied by ABB includes three gearless mill drives and four high-pressure grinding rolls for breaking up the copper bearing rock. Furthermore, ABB’s scope of supply included gas-insulated switchgears, low voltage and medium voltage control centres, medium and low voltage drives, a distributed control system and a range of automation equipment. ABB has also supplied 28 E-houses: pre-fabricated, walk-in, modular, outdoor enclosures designed to house a range of electrical and automation equipment.
The services offered include advice on start-up, operations and maintenance, as well as getting the most out of the advanced features of its control system. These features include the ability to monitor and optimise the performance of the electrical equipment, remotely diagnose any problems that arise and optimise Sierra Gorda’s maintenance schedules to minimise the possibility of breakdowns. A key area of the service agreement is asset optimisation capabilities that improve the availability, performance and lifetime of equipment by using condition monitoring, advanced diagnostic data and predictive intelligence to plan maintenance activities and detect equipment problems before they occur. High up-time and reliability is an important consideration, especially given the extreme hostility and remoteness of the Atacama desert.
ABB will also offer the Sierra Gorda’s staff professional training courses to help them run the mine as efficiently and safely as possible. This provision of skills development was an important criterion in the award of the contract. Joseph Tis, Vice President Development at Sierra Gorda SCM, said: “A highly tailored service concept and expert support means we can count on ABB as our strategic service partner. We are confident that ABB’s team expertise in mining processes and equipment will help us to improve our production performance in the coming years.”
The tailored service approach is aimed at long-term value creation for the customer. Thanks to the continuous support and optimisation offered by ABB, Sierra Gorda will be able to maximise system availability and keep its operating costs as low as possible. The Sierra Gorda copper mine is located in the Antofagasta region in the far north of Chile, at an altitude of 1,626 m. The estimated output in the first phase of the development is 120,000 t of fine copper and 21,000 t of molybdenum a year. Excavation is due to begin in 2014. The Sierra Gorda project is a joint venture between KGHM International, Sumitomo Metal Mining and Sumitomo Corporation.
