A collaboration by ABB and mining services group Perenti has been awarded its first contract by Australian mine operator IGO to provide an all-electric mine study for the full underground electrification of IGO’s Cosmos Nickel Project in Western Australia.
The study will consider mine hauling operations, fleet selection, power distribution and electrical infrastructure design, energy efficiency and power management, with decarbonisation and electrification, along with cost modelling.
It includes ABB’s eMine framework for electrification and automation.
Experts from the three companies will work together to provide a pathway for the optimum design of mine electrification at the IGO-owned Cosmos Project.
The study is a significant step in IGO’s commitment to continuously improving its sustainability performance by trialling new technologies and decarbonising its operations, helping to create a cleaner energy future, says ABB.
The mine operator’s goal is to implement a complete mine electrification solution at Cosmos by mid-2025.
“At IGO, we believe in a cleaner energy future, and that extends to our underground mining operations where the electrification of our fleets will create a safer, greener, and more productive operation,” says IGO technical services head Chris Carr.
Perenti managing director and chief executive Mark Norwell says valuing the environment and enabling the energy transition is one of Perenti’s three key sustainability imperatives.
“And this study demonstrates the capabilities of our electrification collaboration with ABB.
“Decarbonisation and electrification are critical to the future of mining, and we are privileged to be working with our client IGO on this pioneering study.”
ABB vice president and business line mining manager Max Luedtke says the study is an “ideal opportunity to further our efforts and collectively drive towards providing electric solutions that effectively decarbonise the mining industry”.
“At ABB, we take pride in sharing our eMine approach for electrification and automation, spanning from pit to port, through such effective collaborations within the industry.”
