PRODUCT News
58
MODERN MINING
July 2014
The ability to provide an engineered
backup power supply solution that will
ensure optimum reliability in a remote
mining region secured Zest WEG Group
a contract to supply containerised gen-
erator sets for First Quantum Mineral’s
Kansanshi mine in Zambia.
The contract award, which is for
three 1 500 kVA and two 1 250 kVA con-
tainerised generator sets, was based on
Zest WEG Group’s track record in the
mining industry, the capabilities and
Containerised gensets supplied to Zambian mine
experience of its team, its manufactur-
ing capacities and know-how, as well
as the cost effectiveness of the solution
supplied.
“The African continent suffers from
a general lack of reliable electricity grid
power capacity. While Zambia’s power
supply is slightly more reliable than
that available in many other African
countries, there is still a need to provide
an alternative power source for the
sustainable operation of the Kansanshi
plant,” says Bruce McCracken, Sales Manager for
Zest WEG Group’s generator set division.
Kansanshi is the largest copper mine in
Africa and is situated 10 km north of the town
of Solwezi and 180 km to the north-west of the
Copperbelt town of Chingola. Kansanshi is now
capable of producing 340 000 t/a of copper and
more than 3 400 kg of gold per year. A multi-
stage expansion project aims to increase copper
output capacity to approximately 400 000 tonnes
by 2015.
“Although the Zest WEG Group has supplied
products to the mine in the past, this is the first
time we have been requested to provide gen-
erator sets. Each package comprises a Cummins
QSK50G3 diesel engine coupled to a single bear-
ing alternator rated for 550 V and mounted on
a purpose made simplex type base frame,” says
McCracken.
He explains that each combination set is
enabled for singular or synchronous operation.
“The units can operate singularly or together,
which facilitates and satisfies a larger electrical
output from the generator backup system. This
capability is required due to the varied load
demand experienced on the mine. In addition,
the units act as backup for each other in the
event of failure of one unit. This ensures that
backup generator power will always be available
to the mine.”
McCracken points out that the generator sets
are placed in 12 m custom-modified ISO certified
shipping containers, manufactured by Zest WEG
Group to suit the specific configuration of the
generator solution and the precise needs of the
customer. “By placing generator sets in contain-
ers, we enable the swift and easy transportation
of the generator set and all its components
to any location required by the customer, in a
ready-to-run format,”McCracken points out.
In addition to the generator set components,
Zest WEG Group has recently supplied containerised
gensets to the Kansanshi mine in Zambia.
