Rockwell Automation has been selected as the supplier and integrator of the automation control system for Swakop Uranium’s Husab mine in Namibia. The system will enable control of the complete array of automated leaching plant processes through a 5500 I/O architecture. The planned 18 month integration phase began in July 2014.
The Rockwell Automation portion of the contract includes the supply and integration of the control and visualisation hardware and software. Further to this, as part of a five-year frame agreement, Rockwell Automation will supply products for all low voltage variable speed drive, soft starter and intelligent motor protection requirements, and any additional control and visualisation hardware or software requirements.
Guaranteed execution milestones
Rockwell Automation was able to guarantee specific timeframes that were in line with strict project delivery requirements. Its solution follows a standardised approach, which enables a high degree of implementation certainty and reliability through strong domain expertise and one of the largest teams of control system engineers in the region.
Rockwell Automation control and visualisation software development will be based on the ISA S88 standard, which allows for enhanced process batching management within the leaching plant.
Complete process solution
The Husab Project’s plant areas will be controlled by ControlLogix controllers via a complete Ethernet/IP network layer. Through the Rockwell Automation fully-integrated PlantPAx process automation system, which encompasses the entire control topology from the visualisation layer down to the device layer, the complete set of processes constituting the leaching plant will be controlled. This includes everything from the conveyor feed into the leaching plant, the crushing of pulverised rock, and the calcining through agitated acid leach.
Having been responsible for other similar control projects, including the automation system controlling the Areva Trekkopje uranium plant, Rockwell Automation has the in-house domain expertise to complete a project of such a nature and magnitude.
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