- 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 decarbonization 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
The collaboration set up by ABB and mining services group Perenti has been awarded its first contract by Australian mine operator IGO Ltd. to provide an all-electric mine study for the full underground electrification of IGO’s Cosmos Nickel Project in Western Australia.
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 optimization 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 trialing 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.
Mark Norwell, Managing Director and CEO, Perenti (left) signed an MoU with Joachim Braun, Division President, Process Industries, ABB last year. Image ABB 
Experts from IGO, Perenti and ABB will work together to provide a pathway for the optimum design of mine electrification at the Cosmos Project. Image IGO
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 decarbonize 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 decarbonize 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.”
ABB’s Process Automation business automates, electrifies and digitalizes industrial operations that address a wide range of essential needs – from supplying energy, water and materials, to producing goods and transporting them to market. With its ~20,000 employees, leading technology and service expertise, ABB Process Automation helps customers in process, hybrid and maritime industries improve performance and safety of operations, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. go.abb/processautomation
ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on more than 130 years of excellence, ABB’s ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation.
