Delivering a sophisticated mine-spec dewatering solution for a remote PNG gold mining operation.
ENGINEERING BEYOND OUR SHORES: THINKWATER CAIRNS AND MATelec AUSTRALIA PARTNER IN THE SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF A SOPHISTICATED MINING DEWATERING SOLUTION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA.
MATelec Australia, renowned for its excellence in engineering control solutions, and also a strategic channel partner to the ThinkWater Group, was honoured to be engaged by ThinkWater Cairns, to support the design and development of a complex dewatering system for a significant gold mining site in Papua New Guinea.
Some of the site-specific challenges that needed to be engineered into the design of the system included - extreme ambient heat, highly corrosive earth & below sea level humidity, not to mention the logistical challenges. The strong resource-rich partnership between both companies resulted in a turnkey solution being delivered to site that exceeded all expectations.
The sophisticated Electrical Control Solution, designed by MATelec Australia to integrate with the Hydraulic Pumping System designed by ThinkWater Cairns, comprised six Advanced Pump Control panels which included Variable Speed Drives (VSDs), Custom-programmed PLCs, individual Touchscreen HMI displays, all housed in Mine-Spec enclosures that could be relocated, as dewatering moved location.
In addition to the Pump Control System, the design included a proprietary 4G Cellular Network Remote Monitoring and Control system, to enable the Australian based mine operators – located ±2500km from site, to have access 24/7, to real-time water and temperature levels at the bores on site.
Successful execution of this project underscores MATelec Australia’s commitment to delivering tailored, reliable solutions backed by exceptional support. From project concept to supporting on-site commissioning, we work with our partners, every step of the way to ensure an exceptional customer experience.
The project demanded a control solution capable of operating reliably in an extremely harsh mining environment. High ambient temperatures, corrosive ground conditions, below-sea-level humidity and the logistical complexities of the remote offshore location all presented significant engineering challenges.
The system also needed to provide reliable remote visibility for mine operators located approximately 2,500 kilometres away, ensuring critical infrastructure could be monitored around the clock.
Working alongside ThinkWater Cairns, MATelec Australia designed and manufactured six custom mine-spec pump control panels tailored specifically to the application's requirements. Each panel incorporated Variable Speed Drives, proprietary PLC controllers and dedicated touchscreen HMIs, providing intelligent, reliable control of the dewatering system.
A proprietary 4G remote monitoring solution was integrated to deliver real-time monitoring of water levels, temperatures and system performance, enabling operators in Australia to oversee the installation 24/7. The result was a robust, turnkey solution that exceeded performance expectations while demonstrating the strength of collaboration between two Australian engineering businesses.
Our Engineered Solutions service transforms complex requirements into custom-built control and automation systems. From initial consultation and design through engineering, manufacturing, testing, and commissioning, we follow a proven end-to-end process to deliver solutions tailored to your exact needs.
