Aggreko Powers Construction of Copper Mine in Chile
- 17-month contract with Corporación Chilena del
Cobre (CODELCO)
- 5MW power package to be provided during construction of
Gaby mine
- Power delivery begins a week after the finalisation of
the contract
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 5MW 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; working
very closely with CODELCO engineers to guarantee a safe and
efficient operation. 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 added.