Published in March 2010 Australian Longwall Magazine
The modern facility has two 30-tonne overhead cranes and takes up over 6000 square metres with plenty of space for further expansion – a far cry from the old digs in East Maitland which was limited to 1300sq.m.
Part of the privately owned Nepean Group, MI Power specialises in supplying VVVF substations, conveyor starters, fan starters, switchrooms and turnkey electrical packages to longwalls. In addition to this project business, the company has a lucrative trade in overhauls, including flameproof equipment overhauls.
MI Power managing director Geoff Sweeney said the company had tripled its business in the last four years and, given the new facilities, strong growth was sure to continue.
The company has won an order to build three switchrooms for BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s Crinum North project in Queensland. This project would not have been possible to take on in the old premises and is a good example of the benefits gained by moving into the purpose-built location. MI Power is also in the process of building another switchroom for Xstrata in New South Wales.
This switchroom will contain three Powerflex 7000 medium-voltage VVVFs rated at over 1.2MW at 6.6kV, and will be a duplicate of a main vent application MI Power completed last year for Xstrata.
With corporate ties to Inbye Mining Services, MI Power has successfully delivered its first longwall electrical system for Inbye at Vale’s Carborough Downs mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
The company’s turnkey electrical package comprised various items, including two 6.25MVA substations, distribution and control boxes, and control and monitoring enclosures, along with various other peripherals, including cables, lighting, controls and communications.
The supply of this longwall electrical package is a huge milestone for MI Power, demonstrating to the industry the full extent of the company’s capabilities, as well as building a solid foundation for future longwall projects.
