- The expansion project is designed to extend the mine life to at least 2040 and deliver over $4 billion in revenue
- With over 130 years’ experience, ABB is the market leader with over 1 000 hoisting solutions delivered worldwide
- ABB has the unique capability to design, supply, install, and provide long-term service and support of entire mine hoist mechanical and electrical systems
- ABB is the only supplier of the complete mine hoist mechanical and electrical equipment from with one integrated team.
Leading technology provider ABB has provided a unique hoisting solution to the Karowe Diamond Mine expansion project in Botswana. Owned by Lucara Diamond Corporation through its subsidiary Lucara Botswana (Pty), the state-of-the-art mine was fully commissioned in Q2 2012 and produces large, high-quality, Type IIA diamonds in excess of 10.8 carats. The expansion project is designed to extend the mine life to at least 2040 and deliver over $4 billion in revenue.
In order to expand the existing operations to increase the life of mine, it was decided to sink two shafts a ventilation and productions shaft. The production shaft will accommodate hoisting production with a production winder supported by a service winder. “Throughout the project life cycle, we have supported the project team in order to find the best solution. As an industry leader, this is what we are committed to do.,” explains Danielle Koekemoer, Hoisting Sales Manager at ABB. ABB’s expert hoisting team collaborated with both a Canadian and a South African engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the project.
“Along with the Project Team, we determined what would be the best way to use the existing fleet of winders and how to refurbish them,” explains Danielle. This included for the vertical ventilation shaft. The refurbished equipment included two kibble winders, two sets of stage winders, and auxiliary equipment. All four the refurbished winders were provided from the winder compliment owned by the UMS Group and refurbished under the guidance of ABB by local sub-contractor companies.
At present the shafts are being sunk with the refurbished winders. The kibble winder used to sink the production shaft will be used as the permanent rock winder after the shaft sinking is complete.
After successful completion of the work on the first part of the project, ABB was awarded a contract in excess of R130 million to supply a new auxiliary winder and service winder, which will be used for the transportation of personnel and material to the underground works. Danielle points out that the expertise from ABB’s engineering department was essential to ensure an optimal and viable solution for the client.
“We work with our customers for an extended period of time prior to them procuring the equipment which assists the project team to economize on the number of machines to be supplied and permanent hoists can be deployed to carry out the sinking. That is how we partner with the end user to make sure that by the time the procurement package is sent out to the market that the right equipment is specified that will do the job,” says Mike Davis, Global Product Manager for Hoisting at ABB.
With over 130 years’ experience, ABB is today the market leader in the segment with over 1 000 hoisting solutions delivered worldwide. It has the unique capability to design, supply, install, and provide long-term service and support of entire mine hoist mechanical and electrical systems. It supplies everything from friction hoists to various drum hoists, as well as the shaft equipment necessary for productive hoisting processes.
ABB mine hoist solutions provide a low lifecycle cost, high reliability and system availability, short project execution time and a single source of supply for the complete system, including service and spare parts. Its world-renowned engineering resources are also available for feasibility studies and conceptual solutions to advance a mine’s hoist system by tapping into a vast network of global hoist experts.
ENDS
ABB’s Process Automation business is a leader in automation, electrification and digitalization for the process and hybrid industries. We serve our customers with a broad portfolio of products, systems, and end-to-end solutions, including our # 1 distributed control system, software, and lifecycle services, industry-specific products as well as measurement and analytics, and marine offerings. As the global #2 in the market, we build on our deep domain expertise, diverse team and global footprint, and are dedicated to helping our customers increase competitiveness, improve their return on investment and run safe, smart, and sustainable operations. go.abb/processautomation
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com.
For more information please contact:
Media Relations Issued by NGAGE Marketing on behalf of ABB
Ofentse Dijoe Andile Mbethe
Phone: +27 (0) 010 202 5105 +27 (0)11 867 7763
Email : Ofentse.dijoe@za.abb.com Email : andile@ngage.co.za
