Perenti and ABB have been granted an initial contract by IGO Ltd to conduct a study for the entire underground electrification of IGO’s Cosmos Nickel Project.
According to Perenti, the electrification study is an essential step in IGO’s commitment to continue improving its sustainability performance by testing innovative technologies and decarbonising its operations, therefore contributing to creating a green energy future.
Perenti and global technology giant ABB signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November 2022 to work on developing a service product that combines Perenti’s mining knowledge and technical capacity with ABB’s electrical and technological expertise.
Experts from Perenti and ABB will collaborate with IGO on the research to propose a route for the optimal design of mine electrification at the Cosmos Nickel Project. The study will take into account all elements of electrification, including:
- Mine design optimisation for electric operations
- Production and operating philosophy
- Fleet selection
- Power distribution and electrical infrastructure design
- Electrification system and battery management
- ESG and safety impact analysis, and
- Cost modelling of both Capex and Opex
“At IGO we believe in a green 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. We are excited about this future and our collaboration with Perenti and ABB to make this a reality,” IGO Head of Technical Services Chris Carr said.
Perenti Executive Sponsor of Decarbonisation Raj Ratneser stated, “Valuing the environment and enabling 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.”
“Congratulations to IGO on taking on such an ambitious project, which combined with their renewable power project will largely decarbonise their Cosmos mining operations,” said Max Luedtke, Vice President and Business Line Mining Manager, ABB. “The progress between ABB and Perenti is advancing every day and this study is an ideal opportunity to advance 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.”
