Glencore plc (an acronym for Global Energy Commodity Resources) is a multinational commodity trading and mining company headquartered in Europe. It is the world's third largest family business and as of 2014, it ranked tenth in the Fortune Global 500 list of the world's largest companies. Glencore is in effect the world's leading producer and marketer of commodities.
Mining related fire protection requirements are extensive and dissimilar since the industry is defined by large operations with high capital investment and complex production processes. Fires and explosions pose a constant threat to miners and to the productive capacity of mines. Incidents involving electricity present a wide variety of hazards and risk to both personnel and key assets.
Design, supply, install, commission and maintain a fire detection and rapid reaction fixed active fire suppression system for the substation controlling the copper section of the Mount Isa mines located in Queensland, Australia. The system must be designed to provide a fast, reliable and efficient response to tackle a fire scenario that can prove highly dangerous to field operations. The extinguishing system should be designed according to Australian rules and standards.
In Australia, HFC gases have had a 50% import carbon tax applied, while the mining industry has seen budget cut-backs which enforced a cost effective and efficient system. FirePro was selected as the best solution to protect the installation for its proven reliability and low maintenance requirements when compared to other systems. Moreover, the modular, pre-engineered FirePro Units could protect the specially-designed substation in compliance with international standards and regulations such as the ISO 15779, NFPA 2010, UL 2775 and CEN/TR 15276.
Glecore’s Mount Isa mine went ahead with the solution since it combined all the operational and technical parameters required in this challenging project. FirePro Australia personnel designed and completed the installation of the units and system in the underground control room within the required time frame.