2020 CANADIAN CONSULTING ENGINEERING AWARDS
NATURAL RESOURCES, MINING, INDUSTRY AND ENERGY
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Meliadine Mine Cogeneration Plant al cogeneration plants.
BBA
“This project is an excellent example of value engineering that goes beyond simply meeting the client’s immediate needs.” –Jury 52
www.canadianconsultingengineer.com
CCE_OctNov2020_AMS.indd 52
Agnico Eagle wanted an efficient, eco-friendly and cost-effective way to power its Meliadine gold mine in Nunavut's Rankin Inlet. To address this need, BBA designed a 28-MW cogeneration plant, along with thermal and electrical systems. The high-performance generators and heat recovery system led to a total estimated energy efficiency of more than 80% and reduced diesel consumption by 4.5 million L per year in comparison to other, convention-
Making the right investment The mine is about 25 km north of Rankin Inlet and can only be accessed by sea and air. Supplying power to remote facilities can be challenging and Agnico Eagle was looking for an economically viable and socially acceptable solution. BBA proposed to optimize the heat recovery process, given the highly variable electrical and thermal loads. In the end, the project was completed on time and on budget. In the past, mining companies have tended to minimize their capital investment. In this case, however, BBA recommended a 720-rpm diesel generator, which entailed a higher initial cost than other options, but would offer better performance. Up to 24 MW of thermal energy could be recovered to heat all buildings on the main site and still meet much of the underground mine’s demand. Mining operations in the north are typically powered by Arctic diesel. Natural gas, a lower-carbon alternative with 25% fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is generally not feasible because (a) demand is insufficient in remote areas and (b) it would be enormously expensive to store. Nevertheless, BBA made it possible to easily convert the plant to natural gas in the future, if feasible, and integrate wind power to help further reduce GHG emissions. The generator BBA recommended and integrated into the design was 5% more efficient than those used in conventional power plants, reducing annual diesel costs by $2.5 million. And the ‘free’ and clean heat recovery in the winter achieved up to 80% efficiency, saving an additional $2 million on diesel costs against the industry standard.
October/November 2020
2020-10-05 9:16 AM
