The BHP Prominent Hill mine is a major copper, silver, and gold mine in Australia. In April 2022, the mine announced its plan to install a new hoisting shaft with the objective to extend the mine life, reduce operational risks and costs and significantly lower the emissions intensity of the site compared with its trucking fleet.
ABB was selected to design and supply the production hoist – its highest payload
Koepe hoist in Australia – which has the capacity to carry 39,400kg of ore to the surface and the largest drivetrain to be installed.
The hoisting shaft provides access to mineral reserves outside of the current trucking mine plan enabling the mine to increase its production from around 4.5 million tons to 6 million tons. Without the revised hoist design, the mine would have been unable via a trucking operation to meet its sustainability targets by 2033 or ensure competitiveness. Installing the hoist adds four years to the mine’s life and increases their production to 6.5 million tons per annum.