News

| Tagged: BHP, Olympic Dam

Energisation of BHP's LOPR Project and Newly Awarded Sustaining Surface Power Project

Located 560 kilometres north of Adelaide, South Australia, Olympic Dam is a part BHP’s Minerals Australia operation. It's made up of underground and surface operations and operates a fully integrated processing facility from ore to metal. It is located on the traditional lands of the Kokatha, Dieri, and Arabana people.

In 2022 Enerven were awarded the contract for the design, construction and commissioning of two new 132/11kV transformers at Olympic Dam North and a 132kV Switchyard to replace two end of life transformers. A spare 132/11kV transformer was also installed on a dedicated bund in the ‘spool yard’ in the West switchyard which can be used for any of the eight existing 132/11kV transformers onsite. The project included the associated works in the control room and switchyard to facilitate the installation and commissioning of the two new transformers.  

In mid-September, the new transformers have been officially energised by BHP, marking the successful completion of works by Enerven for this exciting project. Off the back of this project, Enerven have now also been awarded the contract for BHP Sustaining Surface Power (SSP).

The SSP Project is required to install one new 132/11kV Power Transformer at the BHP Olympic Dam West 275/132kV Switchyard via an extension to the existing dual 132kV busbar. This Power Transformer will then be connected to a new 11kV substation. The new 11kV substation will feed two new dual-circuit overhead powerlines, providing an additional 48MVA to the Southern Mine Area (SMA) via a new dual-circuit (1.8km) powerline.

The Enerven team will be mobilising to site in October 2023, with the project set to run until early 2025.

Congratulations to all of the team involved in both the LOPRR project and the new SSP contract.