Zijin Mining’s Veliki Krivelj adopted ABB dual pinion mill drives and other solutions that offer frozen charge detection, controlled roll back, automatic positioning, variable speed and cascade monitoring functionalities. (Photo: ABB)
ABB reported it entered an agreement with Zijin Mining Group to install mill equipment control technology to Veliki Krivelj copper mine, a surface mining operation with an annual ore processing capacity of 2.5 million metric tons (mt).
ABB will provide ring-geared mill drives and intelligent control systems for one SAG mill (2 x 6.5-megawatt [MW]) and one ball mill (2 x 7.5 MW), including electric control systems, drives, motors, transformers and end-to-end services, which will increase productivity, reduce downtime and boost energy efficiency.
As part of a modernization project, the solutions will help optimize the performance of the mill, ABB said. “ABB’s mill solutions reduce energy consumption, reduce mechanical stress, improve the service life of equipment and boost operational performance,” said Stephen Zhu, lead of ABB Mining, North Asia and China.
ABB has worked with Zijin Mining since 2018, the company reported.
Located in Borski, Serbia, Veliki Krivelj was acquired by Zijin Mining Group in 2018 as part of a deal with the Bor copper mine, which included three open-pit mines, an underground mine and a smelter. The $350 million investment is one of China’s largest investments in Serbia to date. Zijin Mining Group expects to invest $227 million to transform and expand the existing production capacity of Serbia’s Bor copper mine and smelter.
