Marthinusen & Coutts recently completed installing four mill motors at an undisclosed copper mine in north-west Zambia. The massive electric motors, with diameters of 40 and 28 foot and with each stator quadrant weighing about 100t, are the largest the company has installed to date and probably the biggest in Africa.
Marthinusen & Coutts’ scope of work comprised installing stator quadrant windings on the four mill motors, which were manufactured by Siemens. The four motors are gearless mill drives and include two 26 MW ball mill motors and two 28 MW semi-autogenous grinding mill motors. Among the challenges here were the remoteness of the mine, about 400km north-east of Kitwe, and working in a heavy rainy season while also trying to meet an incredibly tight deadline.
Showing posts with label Zambia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zambia. Show all posts
Thursday, 14 August 2014
Wednesday, 13 August 2014
Smelting expansion on Zambia’s cards
The capacity of Zambia’s existing three copper smelters is insufficient to process the increased volumes of concentrate produced by the country’s copper mines, even with a new 1,2 million tonne per annum smelter comes on line.
Canadian-based mining company First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi copper mine, in the north-west province of Zambia, has accumulated stockpiles of more than 200 000 tonnes of copper concentrate, worth about US$ 350-million dollars, which will be reduced only when the new smelter at Kansanshi starts operating later this year.
According to First Quantum CEO Matt Pascal, it is the largest single copper smelter ever built. “Even once the smelter is commissioned later this year and goes into full production during the next couple of years, there will still be too much concentrate in Zambia for the smelting capacity. As a result a new smelter expansion project is already on the cards,” he says.
Canadian-based mining company First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi copper mine, in the north-west province of Zambia, has accumulated stockpiles of more than 200 000 tonnes of copper concentrate, worth about US$ 350-million dollars, which will be reduced only when the new smelter at Kansanshi starts operating later this year.
According to First Quantum CEO Matt Pascal, it is the largest single copper smelter ever built. “Even once the smelter is commissioned later this year and goes into full production during the next couple of years, there will still be too much concentrate in Zambia for the smelting capacity. As a result a new smelter expansion project is already on the cards,” he says.
Monday, 11 August 2014
Zest Energy to commission Diesel Power Plant in Zambia
Zest Energy is moving towards commissioning its first reference site for diesel power generation in Zambia. The order was placed by Mopani Copper Mines in August 2013 and calls for the supply and installation of a 12 MVA diesel power plant.
The scope of this project comprises the supply of six Perkins 4016 TAG2 diesel engines and 400 V alternators, complete with spare parts for operations and maintenance, six 2 250 kVA dry type 400V/11 kV step-up transformers, 11 kV switchgear for the integration of generators from the power plant, all equipment needed for the generator plant control room including synchronisation and protection systems and all cabling within the mine’s generator plant building.
Alastair Gerrard, Zest Energy projects manager, says all equipment being supplied will be installed in a newly built plant building. Three complete synchronisation panels are also being supplied for integration of the local energy utility Copperbelt Energy Corporation’s 11 kV incomers. The system will have the additional functionality to perform at peak.
The scope of this project comprises the supply of six Perkins 4016 TAG2 diesel engines and 400 V alternators, complete with spare parts for operations and maintenance, six 2 250 kVA dry type 400V/11 kV step-up transformers, 11 kV switchgear for the integration of generators from the power plant, all equipment needed for the generator plant control room including synchronisation and protection systems and all cabling within the mine’s generator plant building.
Alastair Gerrard, Zest Energy projects manager, says all equipment being supplied will be installed in a newly built plant building. Three complete synchronisation panels are also being supplied for integration of the local energy utility Copperbelt Energy Corporation’s 11 kV incomers. The system will have the additional functionality to perform at peak.
Saturday, 19 July 2014
Generators to back up Kansanshi mine in Zambia
Zest WEG Group is supplying containerized generator sets to First Quantum Mineral’s Kansanshi mine in Zambia. The order includes three 1 500 kilovolt ampere (kVA) and two 1 250 kVA generator sets.
Bruce McCracken, sales manager for Zest WEG Group’s generator set division says each package comprises a Cummins QSK50G3 diesel engine coupled to a single bearing alternator rated for 550 volt and mounted on a purpose made simplex type base frame. Each combination set is enabled for singular or synchronous operation.
“The units can operate singularly or together, which facilitates and satisfies a larger electrical output from the generator backup system. In addition, the units act as back-up for each other in the event of failure of one unit. This ensures that back-up generator power will always be available to the mine.”
Bruce McCracken, sales manager for Zest WEG Group’s generator set division says each package comprises a Cummins QSK50G3 diesel engine coupled to a single bearing alternator rated for 550 volt and mounted on a purpose made simplex type base frame. Each combination set is enabled for singular or synchronous operation.
“The units can operate singularly or together, which facilitates and satisfies a larger electrical output from the generator backup system. In addition, the units act as back-up for each other in the event of failure of one unit. This ensures that back-up generator power will always be available to the mine.”
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