ABB and Perenti collaboration awarded all-electric mine study from Australian operator IGO

• A team of experts from the three companies will work together to design electrification for the Cosmos Nickel Project
• Study will consider mine hauling operations, power distribution, energy efficiency and power management, with decarbonisation and electrification crucial to the future of this industry
• Perenti’s expertise and technical capabilities are combined with ABB’s eMine™ framework for electrification and automation

Experts from the three companies will work together to provide a pathway for the optimum design of mine electrification at the IGO-owned Cosmos Project. This will include 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.

The study is a significant step in IGO’s commitment to continuously improving its sustainability performance by trialling new technologies and decarbonizing its operations, helping to create a cleaner energy future. The mine operator’s aspiration is to implement a complete mine electrification solution at Cosmos by mid-2025.

Perenti’s mining expertise and technical capabilities have been combined with ABB’s eMine™ framework and approach for electrification and automation. The contract with IGO is a milestone as they continue to collaborate and explore approaches to support net zero emissions targets for underground and open-pit mines.

“At IGO, we believe in a cleaner 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,” said Chris Carr, IGO Head of Technical Services. “We are excited about this future and our collaboration with Perenti and ABB to make this a reality.”

“Valuing the environment and enabling the energy transition is one of Perenti’s three key sustainability imperatives, and this study demonstrates the capabilities of our electrification collaboration with ABB,” said Mark Norwell, Managing Director & CEO, Perenti. “Decarbonization 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 further 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.”

Furthur reading: 

>> ABB and Perenti agree to jointly explore solutions to help mining customers decarbonise operations [Press Release: November 2022]

>>The five pillars of electrification › ABB Conversations