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Italian Enabling operational efficiency for a West Australian gold mine.
Our client’s sites have been operational since the 1880s and have seen a resurgence in production over the past decade, producing 233,300oz of gold in 2020. This required a complete ventilation upgrade to meet Life Of Mine (LOM) requirements for continued production, mine extensions and brownfield exploration in under-explored sections of the tenements.
Industry – Mining
Mine type – Underground
Mineral – Gold
Location – Agnew, Western Australia, Australia
Product/Scope – Primary Booster Fan
Key features
- Performance on Demand (POD) vane inlet controls to adjust vent flow and power usage.
- Impulse-bladed impeller equipment with an anti-stall chamber to ensure optimum fan performance.
- 1,100 kW / 1,000 V individual fan motors (all run off the renewable power station).
- Flow rate of 280 m³/sec @ 3700 Pa for current production needs with a maximum airflow capability of 350 m³/sec @ 4,200 kPa
- Dual 1.1MW Fan Motor Control Centre (MCC) with custom pre-programmed PLC automation and an HMI interface.
Brief
The customer aimed to increase production and expand exploration. Debottlenecking the existing primary ventilation circuit was required to achieve their goal.
Challenge
Minetek was commissioned to develop a primary booster fan of a size and technology combination not seen before in Australia. The full scope also included removal of redundant equipment, installation of the new fans and MCC with custom pre-programmed PLC automation
Solution
Minetek staff worked around the clock to ensure project goals were achieved within the tight timeframe, and managed to remove the old equipment, install the new fans and commission them in four days.
Due to their size, for the fans to be tested prior to shipping, approval had to be granted from the Power Supply Authorities, and all other facilities in the Minetek complex had to be shutdown to provide enough power.
Carbon neutral underground ventilation.
This required a complete ventilation upgrade to meet Life Of Mine (LOM) requirements and future proof the mine for continued production, mine extensions and brownfield exploration in under-explored sections of the tenements. This mine was experiencing challenges with the volume flowrate of its existing primary ventilation circuit. Debottlenecking the ventilation shaft was required to achieve the goal of increased production and expanded exploration, whilst meeting their carbon neutral Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policy.
Minetek was commissioned to assist the client to achieve its long-term vision and requirements by developing a turn-key underground ventilation solution. This included a Primary Booster Fan with the full scope, including removing redundant equipment and installing the new fans. This solution was an Australian first for a fan of this combined size and technology, all running off the client’s renewable grid network.