Marathon Gold has agreed to a contract with ABB to design and commission the process and power control system for its Valentine Gold Project in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, moving the project another significant step closer to a timely startup. The order was booked in the third quarter of 2023.
Currently under construction, the open-pit mining and conventional milling operation will become a flagship project for Marathon Gold, as its Valentine Gold Project represents the largest undeveloped gold resource in the Atlantic Canada region. The company projects an average production of 195 000 ounces of gold per year for the first 12 years of the expected 14-year mine life. The project remains on schedule to achieve mill commissioning in Q4 2024 and first gold production in Q1 2025.
“We’re very happy that ABB was selected for this project, and we’re looking forward to working with the Marathon Gold team to keep it on track,” said Sachin Jari, head of Mining, North America for ABB Process Industries. “It is set to become a very important gold mining operation in Canada, and one on which our experienced project team will make a positive impact. They have decades of experience working with mining projects of similar stature in Canada and globally.”
ABB’s scope of delivery includes the design, supply and commissioning of the mine’s process and power control systems, both integrated under the company’s flagship ABB Ability System 800xA distributed control system (DCS).
Additionally, by unifying these historically disparate systems under one common framework, mine operators can gain greater visibility across the operation, helping them find more ways to enhance safety, plant efficiency, staff responsiveness and profitability across the mining value chain. This integrated automation system will also be based on ABB’s Select I/O and Industrial Ethernet networks, which will help the project team mitigate any late changes, or schedule delays to this project, and simplify evolution of the mine’s automation systems through its various planned production phases.
Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.
Read more...Fuel your competitive edge with tech that transforms
News
The KwaZulu-Natal Industrial Technology Exhibition 2025, taking place from 22 to 24 July at the Durban Exhibition Centre, offers a vibrant, solution-focused platform tailored to the unique needs of KwaZulu-Natal’s industrial, manufacturing, engineering, maritime, agricultural and mining sectors.
Read more...Schneider Electric launches first registered Innovation Hub in Africa Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric has officially launched its first registered Innovation Hub in Africa. This provides an interactive environment where visitors can explore the company’s integrated solutions across key segments and businesses such as energy, buildings, data centres, industrial, and power and grid.
Read more...Transforming pulp and paper with automation and digitalisation ABB South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The pulp and paper industry in South Africa is undergoing a significant transformation from traditional manual processes to embracing automation technologies. Automation in pulp and paper mills aims to improve various production stages, from raw material preparation to final product creation.
Read more...A strategic milestone for Conical Technologies Conical Technologies
News
Conical Technologies has been appointed as the sole distributor in southern Africa for Mibbo, manufacturers of a vast array of products for the automation industry.
Read more...Robotics TechTalk at UKZN
News
The Scientific Multidisciplinary Advanced Research Technology Lab at the University of KwaZulu-Natal recently held an exciting TechTalk. It was an opportunity to introduce students to the IEEE Robotics and Automation chapter, SAIMC, and the Robotics Association of South Africa.
Read more...Schneider Electric honoured with Gender Leader Award Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric has been awarded the Gender Leader Award at this year’s Africa CEO Forum. This award acknowledges those organisations operating in Africa that have shown a significant and continuous commitment to gender diversity and inclusion.