120kV / 35kV / 10kV Substation Automation System Project for K Mine, Musonoi Mining SARL, the DRC
I. Project Overview
This project covers the power transmission and distribution automation system of K Mine owned by Musonoi Mining SARL, a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group. It is a key overseas mining power infrastructure project under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Musonoi mining site is located in Kolwezi, Lualaba Province, covering two open-pit mining sections: Kolwezi and Noyka, with a mining concession area of 3.359 km². The designed annual production capacity reaches 100,000 tonnes of copper metal and 3,000 tonnes of cobalt metal, making it a benchmark overseas mining investment project of Chinese enterprises.
To guarantee uninterrupted and reliable power supply for open-pit mining and mineral processing operations, multi-voltage-level substations and distribution switchgear stations with automation systems have been constructed within the mining area. All secondary equipment of the complete Substation Automation System (SAS) is exclusively supplied under the GoWatron brand. By adopting standardized, highly reliable power secondary hardware and system solutions, a comprehensive power assurance system for the mining site has been established.
II. Project Implementation Scope
The project includes the 120kV Main Substation, 35kV Regional Substation, and seven 10kV distribution switchgear stations for the Concentrator, Dewatering Workshop, and other facilities. A site-wide SAS is deployed. Based on digital protection, measurement & control IEDs, the system integrates multiple functions: relay protection, measurement & control, telecontrol communication, time synchronization and five-prevention interlocking. All core secondary equipment uniformly adopts GoWatron series products.
1. 120kV Substation Automation System of K Mine
Configured Panels:
- 120kV Line Protection & Control Panel, 120/35/10kV Main Transformer Protection Panel, Main Transformer Control Panel, Metering Panel, Fault Recorder Panel, 120kV Common Auxiliary Control Panel, Automatic Busbar Transfer (ABT) Control Panel, Time Synchronization System Panel, Telecontrol Communication Panel, Station-Level Network Switch Panel, Local SCADA Monitoring Panel, Five-Prevention Interlocking Monitoring Panel.
Auxiliary Equipment:
- 6 sets of GoWatron 35kV Protection, Measurement & Control IEDs;
- 14 sets of GoWatron 10kV Protection, Measurement & Control IEDs.
2. 35kV Substation Automation System of K Mine
Configured Panels:
- 35/10kV Main Transformer Protection Panel, Main Transformer Control Panel, Metering Panel, 35kV Common Auxiliary Control Panel, Automatic Busbar Transfer (ABT) Control Panel, Time Synchronization System Panel, Telecontrol Communication Panel, Station-Level Network Switch Panel, Local SCADA Monitoring Panel, Five-Prevention Interlocking Monitoring Panel.
Auxiliary Equipment:
- 3 sets of GoWatron 35kV Protection, Measurement & Control IEDs;
- 10 sets of GoWatron 10kV Protection, Measurement & Control IEDs.
3. Automation Systems for Seven 10kV Distribution Switchgear Stations (Concentrator, Dewatering Workshop, etc.)
Configured Panels:
- Station-Level Network Switch Panel, Local SCADA Monitoring Panel.
Auxiliary Equipment:
- A total of 126 sets of GoWatron 10kV Protection, Measurement & Control IEDs.
III. Core Project Advantages
1. Integrated IEC-Standard Solution for All Voltage Levels
The solution covers multi-tier voltage levels including 120kV, 35kV and 10kV, fully compliant with international IEC substation standards. It features unified station-level communication architecture, time synchronization scheme, telecontrol protocols, five-prevention interlocking logic and human-machine interface (HMI) platform.
With GoWatron digital protection, measurement & control IEDs as core bay-level equipment, high-voltage substations and medium-voltage distribution switchgear stations achieve standardized and systematic configuration, which greatly reduces the costs of equipment maintenance, spare parts replacement and system upgrades for overseas mining sites.
2. Highly Reliable Redundant Architecture Adapted to Continuous Mining Production
Aiming at the core demand of uninterrupted power supply and high stability for open-pit mine production lines, a complete power protection and control system is built with the full range of GoWatron secondary equipment. It integrates functional modules such as line protection, transformer protection, automatic busbar transfer and fault recording. Power faults can be detected within milliseconds and isolated precisely, avoiding shutdown losses of mining and mineral processing lines caused by power outages, and ensuring 24/7 continuous safe production of the mining site.
3. Benchmark Overseas Mining Implementation with Globally Replicable Solution
Deployed under harsh outdoor, high-temperature, and remote weak-grid conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the complete set of GoWatron secondary equipment and SAS has achieved stable long-term commercial operation. This fully verifies the excellent adaptability of the products and solutions to severe overseas site environments and non-standard grid conditions. The project serves as a mature benchmark case for the export of Chinese power secondary equipment and the construction of power transmission & distribution automation systems for overseas mining projects。
