Aggreko powers construction of copper mine in Chile
· 17-month contract signed with Corporación Chilena del Cobre
(CODELCO)
· 5 MW power package to be provided during construction of Gaby
mine
· Power delivery begins a week after the finalisation of the
contract
February 18th 2007 – Aggreko, world
leader in the provision of temporary power and temperature control
services, and Corporación Chilena del Cobre (CODELCO), the world’s
biggest copper producer, have signed a 17-month contract for the
supply of a 5 MW power package for the construction of Gaby mine in
northern Chile.
State-owned CODELCO, which produced
11 per cent of the world's copper in 2005, selected Aggreko after
an intense bidding process, primarily due to the company’s ability
to commit to plant installation within two months
The location of Gaby mine makes
power security an important concern; the mine is very isolated and
reliable power supply is central to the success of the project.
After an evaluation of the various contenders, CODELCO awarded the
contract to Aggreko because the company clearly understood the
specific requirements of the project. Crucially Aggreko were able
to agree to a two-month plant installation deadline.
Pablo Varela, Aggreko’s country
Manager for Chile, confirmed “Timing was crucial and we managed to
start providing energy within 10 days of receiving the letter of
intent, enabling CODELCO to maintain operations and camp
construction. Aggreko were also preferred as we were able to
develop a solution specific to the project’s requirements; this
included the design of a small trailer with a 1,000lts fuel tank,
approved by the local environmental authorities, to manage the
supply of fuel to the small generators distributed along the camp.
Health, safety and environment issues are among the top concerns of
a mining operation and we ensured our compliance with mining
regulations”. The Aggreko temporary power plant, located 2,700mts
above sea level, runs around-the-clock to sustain continuous
construction. The site is managed throughout by a dedicated team of
service engineers.
A worldwide operation, Aggreko,
over the years, has served the needs of diverse industries,
occasionally supplying vital power to projects in some of the most
inhospitable regions on the planet. “Our extensive experience and
proven record of reliable service, combined with our ability to
provide rapid turnkey solutions, is what motivates companies and
governments to work with us. We are very pleased to be able to work
with CODELCO on a project of this magnitude, that will undoubtedly
have a future impact on the Chilean economy,” Pablo Varela