DRC MINE AWARDS SIS SWITCHGEAR CONTRACT FOR UNDERGROUND SUBSTATIONS
Edited by Sharyn Macnamara
After successfully executing two large contracts over the past two years involving manufacture , supply and installation of numer ous air-insulated switchgear ( AIS ) panels for 11kV substations at the extensive new Kamoa-Kakula cop per mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC ), MV Switchgear has subsequently been awarded a further contract for GELPAG solid insulated switchgear ( SIS ) units for more underground substations at the mine .
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total 233 of MV Switchgear ’ s widely used SBV4E brand of AIS switchgear panels were produced and supplied by the division to equip surface and underground substations at the new mine . They comprised of 140 panels for eight surface substations and 93 panels for five underground substations .
The latest contract for 149 GELPAG SIS units for eight underground substations , awarded late last year for delivery in August this year , came about as a result of having to address changes in underground conditions at the mine as mining operations have progressed .
“ Harsh environmental conditions such as high levels of humidity and dust were found to be present in these underground sections , necessitating the introduction of more specialised switchgear equipped to cope with these conditions ,” said Rhett Kelly , MV Switchgear ’ s Design & Development manager .
“ In such a situation the choice is typically between fixed pattern gas-insulated switchgear ( GIS ) and solid-dielectric-insulated switchgear ( SIS ). We were confident in recommending to DRA Global of South Africa , the engineering consultants for the Kamoa project , our GELPAG SIS product for this purpose .”
With MV Switchgear experiencing a growing demand for GELPAG since introducing it into the local market in late-2020 , it recently arranged – in collaboration with its overseas-based OEM partner – to commence local manufacture of some of the product ’ s ancillary components .
“ Having taken this step , we have substan tially shortened the production lead times , as we can now manufacture the agreed locally produced components in parallel with the OEM ’ s production of the main product , thereby speeding up both final assembly of the product in our plant , as well as delivery to the end-user ,” said Kelly .
The Kamoa mine will be the first recipient of GELPAG panels in terms of the new arrangement .
Johan Jordaan , the division ’ s technology development specialist , explained , “ The components being manu factured locally now and in the future are the LV compartment , internal arc ducting and the drop-down boxes for the cable terminations .
“ While not normally required for the GELPAG product range , custom drop-down boxes have been designed to accommodate the 3-core cable terminations with core balance CTs specified by the customer .
“ To further speed up and simplify production and delivery , we have devel oped an LV connector system which allows the panel ’ s circuitbreaker , disconnector and earth switch wiring to interface with the LV control wiring via a standard multi-pin plug-and-socket system ,” he added .
The company has also developed a wiring test rig to test and verify the wiring of each LV compartment before the GELPAG panels are to be connected to arrive from abroad .
Source : MV Switchgear •
Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash
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