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KSB’s success in solving mine dewatering

Mining operations require dewatering and the safe disposal of potentially contaminated water. KSB’s systems offer the efficient lowering of groundwater in open pit dewatering, underground drainage and borehole drainage applications regardless of a mine’s location.

Water is present everywhere in mining and its control varies according to its role in the mining processes. This in turn influences the selection of technologies used in pumping water. Alongside the safe supply and recovery of process water is the challenge of removing ground water. Process water and groundwater contain abrasive and corrosive elements in varying quantities which have an adverse effect on pump performance and life.

Working conditions, remote locations, varying temperature ranges and the lack of electric power are also highly influential factors. The copper mines in Chile and the iron ore mines in Western Australia may be many thousands of miles apart, but these mining operations still require dewatering and the safe disposal of potentially contaminated water. The same can be said of the coal mines of Mozambique and the silver mines of Mexico.

Longevity and efficiency

What they all have in common is a requirement for efficient and effective water and slurry pumps. Well-matched solutions help to maximise the longevity and efficiency of the system and also optimise cost-performance ratios, all attributes fulfilled by KSB’s Hard Rock Mining Division.

The search for more rare and precious minerals and metals has opened up mining in countries and locations where previously the industry was small scale or non-existent. Consequently, mining companies and equipment manufacturers have had to develop new techniques and products. And with the major mining companies having operations in many global locations, becoming a preferred equipment supplier is essential.

“The dewatering market is slowly shifting from a pure CAPEX point of view to an increasingly OPEX perspective,” reports Brett Lewis, Mining Manager at KSB Australia. “This is especially true for the large mines that realise that poorly designed equipment that regularly fails, causes a significant increase in replacement and servicing cost. Some mining companies are now committing to a carbon neutral target in the next 20 to 30 years, so are focussing on high efficiency equipment. They want to phase out diesel reliance by connecting most bores to their local electrical grid.”

KSB is aware that mining companies are recording pump performance and are accumulating data to compare brands and better rank their qualities or deficiencies. This is good news for KSB as the company is committed to delivering high reliability and efficiency pumps, so helping to reduce the carbon footprint of mining dewatering operations.

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