Selecting an electrical system for mining requires evaluating much more than just the available technology. Cybersecurity, geographic conditions, operational continuity, scalability, and asset management are factors that can make the difference between a resilient operation and losses due to unscheduled downtime.

In mining, the availability of electrical power is one of the critical assets of the production process. A power outage not only halts operations but also requires equipment inspections, the restoration of processes, and the gradual recovery of production capacity, resulting in significant costs for the company.

For this reason, the selection of electrical systems is based on a comprehensive analysis of the risks and future needs of each operation. Projects begin with a technical evaluation that goes beyond simply selecting equipment. The analysis considers the availability required by the operation, environmental conditions, resilience to failures, the risk of obsolescence, regulatory compliance, and the facility’s capacity for future growth.

The appropriate equipment for each facility must be carefully evaluated and selected. “For a mining client, for example, we developed a project spanning several months that allowed us to identify the specific requirements of their new SCADA system for monitoring their entire electrical system,” explains Aldo Di Biase, manager of Tunning’s Smart Grids Division.

Designing to Operate Today and Tomorrow

The availability of the power supply is key to performance in mining. Although achieving 100% is technically impossible, at Tunning Ingeniería the standard aims for levels close to 99.95%, which requires the ability to isolate faults and quickly restore operations.

Added to this is the need to anticipate the growth of the facilities. “The key is to account for potential system growth from the outset so that it can later be expanded without issues,” notes Di Biase. In this way, a proper design avoids future technology migrations and new investments in critical infrastructure.

“If a mining company has 40,000 electrical signals connected to its SCADA system but plans a production expansion that will add another 15,000 signals, the design and selection of components should be scaled for the final total of 55,000,” the engineer explains.

Risks That Aren’t Always Visible

The geographical conditions specific to mining also affect the performance of electrical systems. In general, the equipment most affected is power equipment, which experiences derating at altitudes above 1,000 meters above sea level. “This is a phenomenon that has been known and factored into national projects for many years,” notes Di Biase. Furthermore, the dust present at most mining sites can severely affect electronic systems, requiring all electronic equipment to be installed in special, pressurized rooms equipped with filters for the incoming air.

Added to this is an increasingly significant challenge: cybersecurity. “A system is only as secure as its least secure component,” warns Di Biase, explaining that the coexistence of new technologies and legacy equipment, combined with poor practices in user and password management, can significantly increase exposure to cyberattacks.

For the executive, operational continuity does not depend solely on the technology in place. “Every company must identify its critical equipment, define a maintenance strategy, and ensure the availability of the spare parts needed to keep operations running. That is the foundation of proper asset management,” he concludes.