Major electrical contract for Queensland coal mine

Queensland-based electrical switchboard manufacturer Power Electric Switchboards, part of the DPSA Group, has recently been awarded a contract to supply a motor control centre, switch room and associated control panels for the expansion of the Carborough Downs Coal Mine.

The mine is located near Moranbah in Queensland’s Bowen Basin and will become one of Australia’s largest coal mines when the upgrade is completed in November 2009.

Power Electric Switchboards General Manager Paul Johnstone said his company had a solid working relationship with engineering, procurement and construction manager Ausenco, which manages the new Coal Handling Preparation Plant (CHPP) portion of the expansion work.

The expansion includes the introduction of a long-wall mining system and expansion of the coal handling and preparation plant and will increase the mine’s production of coking coal and PCI by up to four million tonnes a year.

Carborough Downs Coal Mine is predominantly owned by Brazilian resources company Vale and its joint venture partners, including Tata Steel, Nippon Steel and Posco.