Technology company ABB has been awarded a contract to deliver gearless mill drive (GMD) and ring-geared mill drive (RMD) technology for gold mining and exploration company Harmony Gold Mining Company’s Eva copper project in Queensland, Australia.

Once installed, the combined GMD and RMD systems will provide high availability and the functionality needed to process copper ore efficiently across the life of the mine.

With global copper demand estimated to surge by 24% by 2035, the Eva project is set to become a new major copper mine in the region, producing about 60 000 t/y of copper over a minimum 14-year mine life.

ABB’s technology will enable grinding with maximum efficiency, reliability and operational flexibility, suitable for a modern concentrator designed around contemporary processing flowsheets and low-risk technology choices.

“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 project, which will play a pivotal role in strengthening the copper supply chain to support the global energy transition,” says ABB Process Industries mining and materials global business line manager Björn Jonsson.

The 24 MW GMD system will power the project’s 12 m semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill, followed by an 18 MW variable-speed dual-pinion RMD system for an 8 m ball mill.

Given that the SAG and ball mills will be the largest power consumers on site, drive system efficiency was a critical factor in the detailed technology evaluation for the project.

The project also includes an eHouse that will be engineered and manufactured in Australia to meet local standards and operator safety requirements.

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.

This 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, ABB states.

It also adds to ABB’s installed base of GMDs and RMDs deployed globally to support the supply of materials essential to modern industry.

Harmony in November last year took a final investment decision to develop the Eva mine at a capital cost of between $1.55-billion and $1.75-billion. The mine is expected to produce 65 000 t/y of copper in concentrate over its first five years, averaging 60 000 t/y of copper and 19 000 oz/y of gold across a 15-year mine life.

The company, which is traditionally a gold miner with assets in South Africa, is diversifying into copper production in Australia and has, in recent years, acquired the Eva project, as well as the CSA copper mine, in New South Wales.