Vale Inco's Goro nickel plant automation contract won by ABB

Global automation technology group - ABB - has won a three year contract worth US$ 19 million for the onsite process control systems service an maintenance for the big new Goro nickel project in New Caledonia.

LONDON - 

ABB, the global automation technology group announced it was recently awarded a three-year service contract worth approximately $19 million, by Vale Inco Nouvelle Caledonie. Under this contract, awarded during the second quarter of 2009, ABB will provide onsite process control systems service and maintenance at Vale Inco's Goro nickel process plant located on the South Pacific island of New Caledonia, 1200 kilometers east of Australia.

Vale Inco Nouvelle Caledonie extracts and processes the nickel and cobalt deposit in the Goro plateau, in one of the world's largest nickel mining and processing operations. The plant is expected to produce 60,000 million tons of nickel oxide and 4,300 - 5,000 million tons of cobalt carbonate annually.

The service contract forms part of an overall solution package offered to Vale Inco, and will include the ongoing optimization and maintenance of the plant's installed System 800xA process automation system. ABB's System 800xA extends the scope of traditional control systems to include all automation functions in a single operation and engineering environment, which enables plants to perform smarter and better at substantial cost savings.

 "ABB has the global resources, technology and mining industry knowledge to help Vale Inco achieve their growth objectives, with comprehensive support services and forward evolution strategies that protect their existing automation system investments," said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB's Process Automation division. "This important contract underscores how our control systems lifecycle support commitment and dedicated resources will help one of largest mineral operations in the South Pacific region meet the challenges of today's economic environment, and succeed well into the future."

The service contract demonstrates ABB's lifecycle support capabilities and continued commitment to Vale, and the Vale Inco Goro Nickel project.  ABB has secured a number of significant equipment orders for the project since 2005, including the supply and engineering of the process control system.  ABB also completed the design, engineering and supply of low voltage switchgear, low voltage variable speed drives, turbine protection and control panels, portable switch-rooms and the remote fit-out and cabling of the switch-rooms, including transformers and medium voltage drives.

To date, the combined value of orders awarded to ABB from Vale Inco Nouvelle Caledonie is just under $90 million.

ABB's Process Automation division delivers integrated solutions for control, plant optimization, and industry-specific application knowledge and services to help process industry customers worldwide meet their critical business needs in the areas of operational profitability, capital productivity, risk management and global responsibility. These industries include oil and gas, power, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, metals, minerals, marine and turbocharging.

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Order of Magnitude Check the values you have stated for production figures. The figures should be 60,000 tons nickel and 4300 - 5000 tons annually not 60,000 million & 4300 - 5000 million tons. That would be one gigantic process plant. by Colin Green on July 21 2009, 16:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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