First Quantum's Kansanshi mine
Power and automation technology group ABB has won $32-million order to build a new substation and upgrade an existing one at First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi copper mine, in Zambia.
ABB power systems division head Brice Koch said on Thursday that the substations would enhance transmission capacity and improve reliability to Africa’s largest copper mine, being built in the North-Western province of the country.
The new substation would be a main node in the new 330 kV transmission ring linking the capital Lusaka and the Copper belt area with two main supply transmission line systems and would help improve power quality in the Zambian network.
The project is scheduled for completion by 2014.
ABB said that the turnkey project encompassed design, engineering, supply and installation. Key product supplies included high- and medium-voltage air-insulated switchgear and power transformers. The substation would also be equipped with automation, control and protection systems conforming to international IEC 61850 standards, to enable local and remote monitoring and control of the power assets.
ABB would also supply telecommunications systems and solar photovoltaic-powered repeater stations to facilitate reliable long-distance transmission of digital signals via fibre-optic cables to a remote-end substation located some 400 km away.