SKF has secured a contract with the operator of the Las Bambas mine in Peru to provide lubrication management services for all electric motors in the mine’s concentrator plant. Engineered specifically for Las Bambas, SKF said the lubrication solutions will contribute to increased equipment reliability and cost effectiveness.
Las Bambas, now in its first full year of operation, is a joint venture project between operator MMG (62.5%), a wholly owned subsidiary of Guoxin International Investment Co. Ltd (22.5%) and CITIC Metal Co. Ltd (15.0%). MMG’s major shareholder is China Minmetals Non-ferrous Metals Co. Ltd. (CMN), a subsidiary of China Minmetals Corporation (CMC).
During 2016, MMG expects Las Bambas to produce 250,000-300,000 mt of copper in concentrates, and 400,000 mt/y of copper when it reaches its full production rate, targeted for 2017.
SKF’s two-year agreement with Las Bambas includes engineering, planning and scheduling, execution and management of all lubrication-related activities for electric motors. In addition, SKF will supply lubrication system components and tools to the mine.
The SKF Three-Barrier Solution, consisting of sealed SKF Explorer spherical roller bearings, housings and SKF Taconite Seals, also has been deployed for the mine’s overland conveyor belts, with shafts measuring between 500 mm and 700 mm. The bearings and housings provided will have integrated sensor positions for condition monitoring that offer the improved contamination protection needed in severe weather conditions.
