Electricity + Control December 2019

TRANSFORMERS + SUBSTATIONS Product News

Turnkey containerised substation for DRC mine Innovative and fit-for-purpose design secured WEG Automation Africa, formerly Shaw Controls, the contract for a containerised substation and control room for a remote tin mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to Tyrone Willemse, Business Development Consultant - Projects and Contracts - at WEG Automation Africa, the isolated location of the mine and challenging logistics made the modular solution ideal. The substations are each housed in a six-metre-high cube container. A total of 14 units were supplied, comprising MV rooms and LV rooms. Willemse says, “The units’ dimensions and robustness had to allow for a long journey, including a very difficult 200 kilometre stretch of road to reach the mine site. “Every part of the process plant has its own designated MCC that provides electrical power and control for areas including the primary crushing circuit, the plant feed, regrind mill, tailings thickener, and the product dewatering and handling circuits.” In addition to meeting safety compliance regulations, the design includes three-way locking systems, LED lighting, fire detection systems and a safety interlock to the fire system for air conditioners. Backup power supply is provided to all the exit lighting. To ensure easy cable entry, glanding plates were carefully located not to overlap with the container’s support beams. “Working closely with the engineering house, careful, upfront planning ensured nothing was overlooked,” Willemse says. “In the design, full consideration was given to the placement of elements like platforms, walkways, doors, viewing windows and

air conditioning units. We also took responsibility for the logistics of getting everything to site.” This turnkey solution demonstrates WEG Automation Africa’s containerised substation design and engineering capability and its full local manufacturing capacity. Willemse highlights that this lifts it above other MCC manufacturers or assemblers. The containerised

solution comes with a full data pack, quality control documentation and an operation and maintenance manual in accordance with ISO 9001. “With our expertise, capacity and experience of working in Africa, we were able to reduce risk and turnaround time by tackling the entire contract in-house,” Willemse says. “The way we work and our facilities enabled us to carry out extensive testing and cold commissioning and gave the mine peace of mind that the unit would function as required when it arrived on site.” For more information visit ZestWEG Group: www.zestweg.com

Electrical installation in the MCC 600 container. Every part of the process plant has its own designated MCC.