Global energy management specialist Schneider Electric South Africa aims to deliver product orders of R101-million to First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi smelter project and the greenfield Sentinel project, both in Zambia, by June 2013.

These orders were secured in early 2013 and comprise 1 633 kV F400 panels, 2 633 kV DFN7 panels, 169 kV MCSet panels, 27 motorpact panels and 35 Altivar 1200 medium-voltage variable speed drives.

Schneider Electric South Africa, in collaboration with Schneider Electric Australia, states that it secured the orders owing to its provision of detailed and comprehensive medium-voltage electrical solutions, competitive pricing and the assurance of meeting the project delivery-time expectations.

“In addition, the company’s focus on safety and reliability are key to the sustainable mining operations required by First Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi and Sentinel projects,” Schneider Electric mining, minerals and metals key account manager Magendhren Reddy tells Mining Weekly.

Further, Reddy notes that the project order offers an excellent reference site for Schneider Electric to showcase an installed base of its medium-voltage Altivar 1200 variable speed drives.

“The contract proves that Schneider Electric has the capacity to undertake large- scale projects with adequate resources. It also strengthens confidence in our medium-voltage range of switchgear,” he states.

“This is important to Schneider Electric, as customer needs are important to the organisation. Therefore, we always endea- vour to accommodate customers’ requirements, enabling them to derive increased benefits from any project that they undertake with us.

“Schneider Electric is also currently tendering on other packages for the Sentinel and Kansanshi projects, involving a number of our divisions, demonstrating our ability to provide complete end-to-end solutions,” Reddy concludes.