The Collahuasi Copper Mine is being developed in northern Chile and is anticipated eventually to be the third largest in the world. The initial production is planned to be 1 million tpa of copper concentrate. The product will be transported by a slurry pipeline to the port, which will have a capacity for vessels up to 60,000 dwt. Ausenco Sandwell initially conducted a study related to the marine structures and the shiploader for Collahuasi. Subsequently, Ausenco Sandwell was awarded an EPC contract for these structures and shiploader. This work was expanded to provide a substation to provide all electrical services for the shiploader system including feed conveyors and auxiliaries. The substation was provided in a highly compressed construction schedule. The substation is rated 750 kVA at 3.3 kV, and is mounted on the shiploader pivot platform. The design was particularly challenging due to protection from wave action, moving shiploader equipment and unusual grounding requirements. It was supplied as modular construction and incorporated high voltage switching, transformer, Motor Control Centre (MCC), Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and fibre-optic communications.

View the full factsheet here.