Tag Archives: Bisie

Trafo Power Solutions bolsters dry-type transformer contingent at Alphamin’s Bisie mine

Base metals, Environmental, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, , , , , ,

Five years since Trafo Power Solutions supplied Alphamin’s Bisie tin mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo with two dry-type transformers, the mining company has now ordered another three of these modular substations equipped with dry-type transformers to keep up with the mine’s expansion.

“This latest order is testament to the operational performance of our dry-type transformers at Bisie mine over the past five years,” David Claassen, Managing Director of Trafo Power Solutions, said. “There were numerous challenges that our design had to accommodate, not least of which is a very arduous section of road in the journey to the mine.”

The mine’s location in the Walikale Territory of DRC is remote, being about 180 km northwest of Goma. Like the initial order, the three 3,000 kVA, 400 V/11 kV substations will be supplied in standard 6 m containers to facilitate transportation. However, specialised steel bracing is required – to withstand the challenging road conditions, especially over the last part the journey.

“These conditions make the road almost impassable by any vehicle other than a six-wheeled Unimog,” Claassen says. “There is intense vibration and tilting of the cargo on these trailers, so our design and bracing is done with this in mind.”

He notes that the mine had considerable foresight in specifying the first dry-type transformers, especially given the relative novelty of this option at the time. At that stage, it tended to be standard practice to use oil-filled transformers for this type of application. Apart from the logistics, the substation solution also had to withstand the equatorial climate and frequent lightning strikes.

“The region where the mine is located is ranked in the top five most vulnerable to lightning strikes, so there is a high risk of damage to equipment related to electrical surge,” Claassen says. “We therefore designed robust surge protection solutions on both the medium voltage and low voltage sides of the substations, and for the transformers.”

Given the warm climate, Trafo Power Solutions designed a fully redundant N+2 cooling system for the transformers; this means that each transformer is cooled by two fans, with another two fans on standby. Among the advantages of dry-type transformers in this climate is that the MV winding is completely cast in resin, so is highly resistant to humidity.

Alphamin bolsters gravity separation options with second Gekko IPJ

Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , , , , ,

Alphamin Resources has purchased a second IPJ2400 for tin recovery at the Bisie tin project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gekko Systems says.

The purchase of a second Gekko InLine Pressure Jig (IPJ) unit follows good performance from the first IPJ installed at this site in 2018 (pictured).

In addition, the Ririwai tin project has purchased an IPJ1500 in Nigeria.

The IPJ is a continuous gravity separation device that rapidly and efficiently pre-concentrates high-value and high-density mineral particles such as tin, tantalum, sulphides and free gold, Gekko says.

With installations worldwide, the unit has multiple applications including assisting in gangue rejection and combining with flotation to recover coarse minerals at the plus-100 micron range. The IPJ has significant benefits such as low water consumption, low footprint, ease of operation and 30 years of operational history.

DRA to work on Syrymbet, the ‘largest undeveloped tin deposit in the world’

Mineral project development, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , ,

DRA Global says it has been awarded the process and engineering design of the definitive feasibility study (DFS) contract for the JSC Tin One Mining Syrymbet project, believed to be the largest undeveloped tin deposit in the world, located in northern Kazakhstan.

The project is focused on implementing the only tin production plant in Central Asia using the most advanced technologies through the best environmental practice, DRA says.

The DRA scope of work includes the concentrator plant design and immediate process related infrastructure and facilities. DRA will also provide all the necessary services to develop the project capital cost. The DFS is currently being produced and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Lawrence Rossouw, of Tin One, said: “DRA has an impressive studies track record. With several thousand studies completed across all commodities, the Tin One leadership team is confident that DRA will deliver a comprehensive technical and economic report that will allow Syrymbet to progress closer to achieving full production.”

Pierre Julien, DRA Global Executive Vice President, said: “DRA has a unique insight into developing tin projects. As the EPCM provider on the Alphamin APH (JSE) Bisie tin project (in the DRC), the team can draw on invaluable experience to provide a detailed DFS on time and within budget.”