Richalda Dewet

Sasol Mining chose in favour of the highly flexible ABB Relion® protection relays for their new substation at the Syferfontein mine in South Africa. The wide functionality, large event and fault recording capabilities, reduced footprint, as well as cost reductions were the key factors. Sasol Mining is part of South African integrated energy and chemical company Sasol, undertaking the coal mining operations. Sasol Mining operates six coal mines that supply approximately 40 million tons per annum of thermal coal feedstock.(1) At the company’s largest colliery, the Syferfontein mine in the Secunda area, Sasol Mining identified that the ventilation shaft was not sufficient to ensure the required aeration of the mining district. To ensure uninterrupted power supply to a new ventilation shaft, they needed a new substation. In underground mining ventilation systems are of paramount importance to ensure safe working conditions for people. Ventilation systems provide clean air, dilute and remove dust as well as natural and machine exhaust gases, and provide cooling for personnel and machinery. Ventilation systems need to run continuously 24 hours a day, throughout the year, which means uninterrupted power supply is a key requirement. The energy demand is significant and ventilation systems are currently the largest consumers of power in underground mines, accounting for as much as 50 percent of energy use(2). ABB’s protection and control solution offers the needed functionality and flexibility – with cost reduction For the new substation that feeds the new ventilation shaft, Sasol Mining chose a protection and control solution with ABB’s Relion® relays from the product family’s 615 and 620 series, as well as the all-in-one protection relay REX640 to be installed in the medium-volt-age switchgear. This is the first installation with ABB’s Relion® protection and control relays for Sasol Mining. “A key consideration for us when deciding in favour of the Relion® …