Namdeb deploys scada at diamond mine

SCADA/HMI

May 2006 SCADA/HMI

Citect, one of the world's largest, independent, realtime intelligence and industrial automation software companies, is helping Namdeb, a partnership between the Namibian government and De Beers, optimise its diamond recovery process. Citect's Professional Services worked in conjunction with Namdeb's Plant and Operations Management to ensure a highly efficient, low cost extraction process.

Namdeb is the biggest exporter in Namibia with diamond exports accounting for more than 30% of Namibia's total exports and 10% of its gross domestic product (GDP). The Elizabeth Bay mine is situated in the desert sea-bed, and the costs involved with shifting the annual 3 to 4 million tons of sand and rock are enormous. Thus, Namdeb is continually looking for innovative ways to improve production and reduce costs. The company chose Citectscada to monitor and control the processes from the primary crushers and tipping to the diamond recovery plant. The Elizabeth Bay Liberation plant is now fully automated to reduce operating costs. In addition, the plant has implemented Citectscada Reports to improve production reporting.

"Citect's scalability facilitates future plant upgrades and expansion without requiring modifications to the existing hardware or software. Its single global database simplifies scada software management by allowing changes to be made at a single point that are immediately updated at all Citect stations," says Ian Holl, Namdeb project manager.

The project consists of 45 000 I/O tags and takes advantage of Citectscada's fully redundant distributed architecture. Namdeb also benefits from Citectscada's distributed trending system that handles large numbers of variables without compromising performance or data integrity. Citect's own programming language, Cicode, provides Namdeb with control of all the elements in its runtime system: realtime data, historical data, operator displays, alarms, trends, security and more.

"Citect is very pleased to be part of this unique mine and its world-class project to enable the treatment of cemented, wet and/or clay-rich ores. Citectscada enables Namdeb to monitor and control the processes to optimise operations," adds Wilhelm Swart, managing director for Citect Africa.

About Citect

Citect is a leading, independent global provider of industrial automation, realtime intelligence, and next generation manufacturing execution systems (MES). Using open technologies, CitectHMI/scada and Ampla connect to multiple plant and business systems. The products are complemented by services, customer support and training, and sold in numerous industries: mining, metals, food and beverage, manufacturing, facilities, water, gas pipelines, power distribution and pharmaceuticals. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Citect has 19 offices and representation in Oceania, Southeast Asia, China and Japan, North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Its products are distributed in more than 80 countries worldwide.

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SCADA/HMI

Namdeb deploys scada at diamond mine

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