Mining’s old guard needs strong medicine
A new report details subpar investor returns in the mining industry over the last decade, particularly big cap diversified companies which have not adapted to new realities.
Baden, Switzerland, October 23, 2012 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, recently won a contract from mining equipment provider Tenova TAKRAF to supply power and automation equipment for the material handling and processing systems at the Antucoya greenfield copper project in northern Chile.
The Antucoya open-pit copper mine, located about 125 kilometers northeast of Antofagasta and 1,700 meters above sea level, is owned by Antofagasta Minerals and Marubeni Corporation. The mine and its processing facilities are expected to produce an average of 80,000 tons of copper cathodes per year over its expected lifetime of approximately 20 years.
ABB’s total scope of supply comprises engineering, delivery, start-up supervision and commissioning of the electrical power and automation system for ore agglomeration, conveying, leach pad stacking and reclaiming.
The delivery includes energy efficient variable-frequency ACS2000 drives for agglomeration drums and ACS800 drives for belt conveyors and machines that will optimize leach pad stacking and reclaiming systems. The software solutions – based on ABB’s System 800xA AC 800M Controller and GPS positioning, will enable automatic operation and control of the agglomeration, leach pad stacking and reclaiming operations.
ABB’s long-term relationship with Tenova TAKRAF, as well as its competence in material handling projects and reputation for delivering state-of-the-art conveyor systems and mining machines, were factors in winning this order.
