201409 ABB signs Sierra Gorda strategic

service partnership
Panorama

Publishing Date
17 Sep 2014 10:31am GMT
Author
Mining Magazine
Processing
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
June quarter of this year.
The service agreement covers a customised service approach for the entire ABBs 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,
ABBs 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, walkin, 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 Gordas 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 Gordas 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 ABBs 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. ABB
stated that thanks to the continuous support and optimisation it offers, 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 1,626m. The estimated output in the first phase of the development is
120,000t of fine copper and 21,000t/y molybdenum. Excavation is due to begin in 2014.
The Sierra Gorda project is a joint venture between KGHM International, Sumitomo Metal
Mining and Sumitomo Corp.