ABB has commissioned the world's largest High Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) drive system for Newmont Mining's Boddington gold mine expansion project in Western Australia.
The original, mainly oxide open-pit mine was closed at the end of 2001, but was re-opened this year after exploration identified an extensive 19.57 million ounce gold bedrock resource.
Thyssen Krupp Polysius and ABB worked together to make the mine operational once again.
The delivery comprised two 2800 kW HPGR units of two converter transformers, two medium voltage frequency converters and two squirrel cage induction motors.
This is the largest HPGR drive system in operation anywhere in the world.
By optimising the grinding process, ABB’s ACS1000 drives will help the plant reduce its energy consumption.
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 Boddington mine, located about 130 km south-east of Perth is expected to operate for at least 20 years, with full production of more than one million ounces of gold per year.
This would make it Australia’s largest producing gold mine.