ABB has commissioned the world’s largest high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) drive system for the Boddington Gold Mine Expansion project in Western Australia.
Newmont Mining Corp, America’s biggest gold producer, has begun production at its Boddington mine, located about 130km south-east of Perth.
The original, mainly oxide open-pit mine was closed at the end of 2001. Recent exploration identified a 19.57-million-ounce gold bedrock resource, the basis of the Boddington Gold Mine expansion project.
Thyssen Krupp Polysius and ABB worked together to make the Boddington Gold Mine operational again. The newly-reopened mine is expected to operate for at least 20 years, with full production of more than 1 million ounces of gold per year to be reached during 2010, making it Australia’s biggest producing gold mine. ABB drive systems are an essential part of the plant design, says ABB. Full production will be reached during 2010.
The delivery comprised 2 x 2800 kW HPGR units of two converter transformers, two medium voltage frequency converters and two squirrel cage induction motors.
This will be the largest HPGR drive system in operation anywhere in the world, according to ABB. By optimising the grinding process, ABB’s ACS1000 drives will help the plant reduce its energy consumption, the company claims.
The variable speed drive system provides operational flexibility through a variable speed range and is ideal for the processing of inhomogeneous types of ore at different throughput rates, the company says.