ABB has been awarded a contract to deliver gearless mill drive (GMD) and ring-geared mill drive (RMD) technology for Harmony’s Eva Copper Mine Project, a major new open-pit copper mine in Queensland, Australia. Global copper demand is estimated to increase 24% by 2035, and Eva Copper is set to become a major new copper mine in the region, producing about 60,000 tons of copper annually over a minimum 15-year mine life.
ABB’s technology will enable ‘grinding’ with ‘maximum efficiency, reliability and operational flexibility’. The contract reflects the accelerating demand for critical metals and minerals, alongside renewed momentum in large-scale mining projects across Australia, with the energy transition being a key driver. This project also adds to ABB’s installed base of GMDs and RMDs deployed globally ‘to support the supply of materials essential to modern industry’.
Björn Jonsson, global business line manager, mining and materials, at ABB’s Process Industries division, said: “ABB will bring together local manufacturing capabilities, global expertise and proven technologies to support Queensland’s most significant new mining project. Our mill drive systems will support reliable, efficient grinding at the heart of the Eva Copper Mine Project, which will play a pivotal role in strengthening the copper supply chain to support the global energy transition.”
ABB’s 24MW GMD system will power the project’s 40ft SAG (semi-autogenous grinding) mill, followed by an 18MW variable-speed dual-pinion RMD system for a 27ft ball mill; and given that the SAG and ball mills will be the largest power consumers on site, drive system efficiency was a critical factor in Eva Copper’s detailed technology evaluation.
The project also includes an eHouse that will be engineered and manufactured in Australia. While local manufacturing will enable streamlined engineering, shorter logistics pathways and easier integration on site, engineering will be delivered through a global ABB team spanning Australia, Finland, and Switzerland.