Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 10 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, received first orders worth $51 million under a partnership agreement signed with Kazakhstan's largest copper producer Kazakhmys, ABB reported on Monday.
According to the agreement, ABB will provide comprehensive electrification and automation solutions for two new copper plants in Bozshakol and Aktogay copper mines.
"Partnership agreement signed for a complete electrification and automation solution will improve productivity and power reliability for Bozshakol and Aktogay copper mines," the company said.
ABB will supply the switchyard, switch room and other electrical equipment, together with the control system for the Bozshakol mine in the frame of its first order.
Installation and commissioning of the equipment at Bozshakol is scheduled for September 2013, and at Aktogay one year later.
This agreement follows two previous orders worth $45 million each for gearless mill drive packages, and covers the complete electrification, instrumentation and automation for both sites. The overall scope of supply includes substation and power transformers, high-voltage power factor compensation and harmonic filters, distribution transformers, transportable switch rooms, as well as state-of-the-art Extended Automation System 800xA.
Kazakhmys is a leading international natural resources group with significant interests in copper, gold, zinc, silver and power generation. It is the largest copper producer in Kazakhstan and one of the top worldwide with seventeen operating mines, ten concentrators and two copper smelters.
Kazakhmys' Bozshakol sulphide and clay complex has an expected annual ore processing capacity of 30 million tons. The Aktogay oxide and sulphide facility in the southeast is expected to process 30 million tons of ore annually. Both mines are among the world's largest undeveloped copper deposits.