ABB to deliver GMD, RMD technology for Harmony’s Eva Copper Mine Project
ABB has been awarded a contract to deliver gearless mill drive (GMD) and ring-geared mill drive (RMD) technology for Harmony’s Eva Copper Mine Project, a major new open-pit copper mine, circa-75 km north of Cloncurry in northwest Queensland, Australia.
Eva Copper is set to become a major new metal mine in the region, producing around 60,000 t/y of copper. The order was booked in the December quarter of 2025.
ABB’s technology will enable grinding with maximum efficiency, reliability and operational flexibility, suitable for a modern concentrator designed around contemporary processing flowsheets and low-risk technology choices, it says.
The contract reflects the accelerating demand for critical metals and minerals, alongside renewed momentum in large-scale mining projects across Australia, with the energy transition being a key driver, ABB added. It also adds to ABB’s installed base of GMDs and RMDs deployed globally to support the supply of materials essential to modern industry.
Nik Gresshoff, Cluster Manager for Southeast Asia, Zambia and South Africa at ABB’s Process Industries division, said: “Through our Australian manufacturing and engineering capabilities, combined with extensive regional mining experience, ABB will deliver reliable, proven mill drive solutions tailored to Eva Copper’s operational requirements. This project showcases how local expertise and global technology come together to support Queensland’s flagship mining development and Australia’s critical role in securing future copper supply.”
Designed and delivered by ABB, the 24 MW GMD system will power the project’s 40-ft (12.2 m) SAG mill, followed by an 18 MW variable-speed dual-pinion RMD system for a 27-ft ball mill. Given the SAG and ball mills will be the largest power consumers on site, drive system efficiency was a critical factor in Eva Copper’s detailed technology evaluation.
The project also includes an eHouse that will be engineered and manufactured in Australia to meet local standards and operator safety requirements, ABB says. While local manufacturing will enable streamlined engineering, shorter logistics pathways and easier integration on site, engineering will be delivered through a global ABB team spanning Australia, Finland and Switzerland.
Once installed, the combined GMD and RMD systems will provide high availability and the functionality needed to process copper ore efficiently across the life of the mine, the company claimed.
Eva Copper is a 100%-owned, high-margin, long-life asset, Harmony says. The proposed low strip ratio open-pit development is expected to produce approximately 65,000 t/y of copper in concentrate during the first five years, with an expected life-of-mine average production profile of around 60,000 t of copper and 19,000 oz of gold per year. This will be achieved by processing on average 18 Mt of ore over its currently estimated 15-year mine life.
The post ABB to deliver GMD, RMD technology for Harmony’s Eva Copper Mine Project appeared first on International Mining.