ABB to help Australian coal terminal operate at peak efficiency

ABB has been awarded a $29 million order to provide complete electrical and automation systems for the conveyors at a new coal export terminal currently under construction in north-eastern Australia. The order was booked in the second quarter.

The Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET), located in Gladstone, is owned and being developed by existing and potential coal exporters in Queensland to provide increased long-term export coal capacity. The initial stage of the project will provide 27 million t/year in export capacity, with first coal shipments planned for 2014. Once fully commissioned, the multibillion-dollar terminal will provide more than 80 million t/year of capacity through the Port of Gladstone.

ABB’s conveyor control system will optimise the overall performance, reliability and energy efficiency of the conveyor systems over their expected lifetime.

“We are pleased that our integrated power and automation solution for conveyors was selected for this project, as it offers superior performance over traditional conveyor drive control systems,” said Axel Kuhr, Country Manager for ABB in Australia. “The speed and efficiency of these conveyors will help the coal leave the export terminals in Australia for their markets in Asia more quickly; this can positively impact mine profitability and expansion plans in the region.”

ABB is responsible for the design, engineering and supply of an integrated electrical and control solution for the terminal’s 5.5 km long overland conveyor and the 2 km long jetty conveyor systems. The scope of supply includes 13 modular switchrooms and five control rooms, complete with structural and electrical ancillary equipment. ABB will also provide distribution transformers, 22 kV switchgear, low-voltage single- and multidrives, and a mine conveyor control program (MCCP) to manage ABB’s ACS 1000 medium-voltage drives and motors.

Project delivery is scheduled for late 2013.