ABB has won an order worth around $32 million from Kansanshi Mining, a subsidiary of Canadian mining and metals company First Quantum Minerals (FQM), for the construction of a new substation and upgrade of an existing one. The facilities will help to provide reliable power supplies to Africa’s biggest copper mine, being built in the northwestern province of the country. Kansanshi mine has undergone several expansions since it began operating in 2005. From an initial production capacity of 110,000 t of copper, it is now capable of producing 340,000 t/y of copper and more than 120,000 oz/y of gold A multi-stage expansion project aims to increase copper output capacity to some 400,000 t/y by 2015.
ABB says “Global demand for raw materials is one of the main growth drivers in Africa. The Zambian economy is highly dependent on the copper mining industry, which accounts for around 80% of the country’s gross domestic product.” The new copper mine will be the biggest of its kind on the African continent and will help reinforce the country’s number eight global position in terms of copper production, ABB adds. “The mining project is also expected to bring employment opportunities in the Zambezi Basin area, with a completely new town being built to support it.”
“These substations in Zambia will enhance transmission capacity and improve reliability and quality of power supply to the mining operations,” said Brice Koch, Head of ABB’s Power Systems division. “Our advanced technologies, project management capability and extensive experience play a key role in the successful execution of such complex and time-critical projects.”
The turnkey project encompasses design, engineering, supply and installation. Key product supplies include high- and medium-voltage air-insulated switchgear and power transformers. The substation will also be equipped with automation, control and protection systems conforming to international IEC 61850 standards, to enable local and remote monitoring and control the power assets.
ABB will also supply telecommunications systems and solar photovoltaic-powered repeater stations to facilitate reliable long-distance transmission of digital signals via fibre-optic cables to a remote-end substation located some 400 km away.
The new substation will be a main node in the new 330 kV transmission ring linking the capital Lusaka and the copper belt area with two main supply transmission line systems and will help improve power quality in the Zambian network. The project is scheduled for completion by 2014.
Vancouver-based FQM is a mining and metals company currently operating seven mines. Its 2012 production included 307,115 t of copper, 36,759 t of nickel and 201,942 oz of gold.
