2044 3.1.1 Electrical Infrastructure Review The electrical infrastructure review included an assessment of the primary power distribution components operating within the mine. The operation utilized ten electric shovels supplied through a medium‑voltage distribution system derived from a 34.5 kV primary network, stepped down to 13.8 kV at the main substations. The 13.8 kV level represented the backbone of the in‑pit electrical reticulation, feeding switch houses and mobile substations strategically positioned according to active mining phases. Figure 1 shows the baseline distribution of shovels, substations, and 13.8 kV overhead line (OHL) routes. Figure 1 – Baseline in‑pit electrical infrastructure. The in‑pit reticulation system was supported by eight mobile substations and eight switch houses distributed across active mining phases. Figure 2 shows a typical configuration for powering shovels or drills in the mine. Of the ten electric shovels in operation, nine were supplied directly at 13.8 kV through trailing cables, while one shovel operated at 7.2 kV through a dedicated feeder originating from the substation. The drilling fleet consisted of twelve production drills, including ten diesel‑powered units and two electrically powered rotary blasthole drills. The electric drills were supplied at 7.2 kV through localized distribution circuits, whereas the diesel drills operated independently from the electrical reticulation network. This dual‑voltage configuration introduced differentiated infrastructure requirements across the mobile equipment fleet and influenced the planning criteria for electrical reticulation within the pit.
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