KWALE MINERAL SANDS Aggreko has supplied a 350 kVA power package to the Kwale mineral sands mine in to supplement local grid supplies
Temporary power and temperature control solutions provider Aggreko says it is experiencing growth in demand for its rental temporary power products within the African minerals sector as mining companies increasingly opt for rental solutions to backup or supplement supplies from the local grid, or to act as primary power for projects located off the grid.
The company provides critical power supplies for mining projects throughout the world, which include full life-cycle project power from initial project construction and development to full production and project ramp-down, says Aggreko East Africa GM David Edwards.
“In situations when existing power supplies go off line, owing to equipment breakdown or maintenance, or when grid supplies fall short, Aggreko provides rapid response emergency power to keep mines operational,” he explains.
Aggreko recently supplied a 350 kVA power package to the Kwale mineral sands mine in south-east Kenya operated by Australian titanium producer Base Resources. The company’s system was brought in to supplement local grid supplies and to power the silt dam pumps.
It was the second time Aggreko supplied power to Kwale. During project construction, a 200 kVA system was on site for six months to power project offices and lighting throughout the mine.
“As mining continues its rapid expansion throughout the continent, the renting of critical power supplies is becoming increasingly prevalent. With eight service centres in Africa, supported by regional operations in Dubai and Paris, Aggreko provides an unparalleled level of service for the African mining sector. For our customers, it means working with the global market leader, yet they are dealing with our people based locally,” Edwards elaborates.
He adds that the growth that Aggreko has seen in mining across Africa has been accelerated by the continual expansion of its local presence throughout the continent, with service centres located in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban, Walvis Bay, Luanda, Nairobi and Lagos.
Mozambique Office
Aggreko, in June, announced that it would supply a 10 MW temporary power solution to the Moma mineral sands mine, in north-east Mozambique, owned and operated by Ireland-based Kenmare Resources.
The Aggreko plant will be synchronised with the local electricity grid. It will provide the Moma facility with high-quality, flexible power to supplement grid supplies during periods of peak demand. This will include providing full prime power 24/7 during peak summer months and peaking power during evening hours when demand on the grid is at its highest owing to increased domestic consumption.
The company says that its solution will ensure that operations at Moma continue to be powered from the local grid, while the mine is able to operate 100% independently when the need arises.
Kenmare Resources MD Michael Carvill explains that the miner chose to work with Aggreko because of the company’s reputation in powering African mining operations.
“By combining a standalone Aggreko plant with our supply from the local grid, we are ensuring continuous power supply to the Moma facility. This gives us sufficient power to run our operations and ensure minimal disruption caused by unstable grid supply, particularly during the summer months,” he explained.
About Aggreko
Aggreko employs more than 6 000 people operating from 202 locations. In 2013, the company served customers in about 100 countries and had revenues of about $2.5-billion. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange, is a member of the FTSE-100 index, and is headquartered in Scotland.
Recent projects included providing power for the 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup, the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the Ryder Cup.
For the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the company provided temporary power for broadcasting of all matches in each of the 12 host cities. Aggreko also provided power and temperature control services for the International Broadcast Centre, at Riocentro, Rio de Janeiro.
This included powering television, radio, the Internet and press media for all 64 matches of the competition. The contract encompassed the supply, installation and operation of over 46 MW of generating capacity, 1 000 distribution panels and 200 km of electric cables.