Modern Mining June 2018

feature POWER SUPPLY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY MD of JBSS, who can be seen sixth from the left.

JB Switchgear completes another project in Africa JB Switchgear Solutions (JBSS), based in Brakpan, has recently provided a containerised substation to Resolute Mining’s Syama gold mine in Mali, further cementing its reputation as a supplier of turnkey electrical solutions to Africa’s mining industry.

L ocated 300 km south-east of Mali’s capital, Bamako, Syama is trans- forming into an underground op- eration with full underground min- ing due to start at the end of this year. The underground project will extend the mine life till at least 2028. Howden South Africa, in conjunction with Howden Australia, was awarded a contract to increase the underground ventilation of the mine. Following a tender process, JBSS was appointed by Howden South Africa to pro- vide a complete skid-mounted containerised underground substation to power two new 750 kW fans. What makes this substation unique, says JBSS, is the requirement for a specially modi- fied 8-metre container to optimise space in the underground location, as well as the fact that the two 750 kW fans are powered by variable speed drives (VSDs) which are fitted inside the container. JBSS integrated the motor control centre and the VSDs in a single panel of uni- form depth and height without duplication of equipment. The variable speed drives produce around

30 kW of heat inside the container and, to overcome this excessive heat load,

JBSS designed a ducting system incorporating maintenance-free spin filters with roof exhausts to eject the main VSD heat losses directly out of the container. The remaining heat losses inside the container are kept under control by a 32 000 BTU air conditioner. JBSS reports that it successfully completed the project on time, within budget, and to the full satisfaction of the customer. Founded by Johan Basson, JBSS has built up a formidable track record in servicing the min- ing industry all over Africa and is probably one of the top three companies in its field. While South Africa remains its single biggest mar- ket, around 60 % of its workload comes from outside the country’s borders. African coun- tries which it has supplied include Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mali, Botswana, the DRC and Sierra Leone. It has also worked on projects in Australia, Canada and South America. Interestingly, Basson established JBSS

Employees of JBSS display their long-service awards. With them is Johan Basson,

– which now has a total employee complement of about 100 people and manufactures its products in its own factory – after he had retired from a long career in the electrical industry, including serving as MD of RBF Technology. He is very active in the industry, serving on SABS technical committees, working groups and industry associa- tions, which in turn ensures that JBSS remains up to date with the latest trends and technologies. He believes the industry has an acute skills shortage and has ensured that

34  MODERN MINING  June 2018