Brian Davis, USP&E Director of Technology and Web Developer, has just returned from Sierra Leone to the company’s Dallas headquarters, after spending two weeks in April, working 12-16 hour days, meticulously installing USP&E’s state-of-the-art Smart Power technology application to the current full-service power plant which supplies all energy needs to London Mining, a company focused on developing and operating scaleable mines, and a mid-tier supplier to the global steel industry.
Located in a region of significant geological potential, 125 km north-east of Freetown, the Marampa mine had originally been operated by Delco in the 30s, until low iron ore prices forced the mine’s closure, and that of many others in Sierra Leone, in the 70s.
Weak market economies and civil war deterred any plans for redevelopment until London Mining procured the leasing rights to the Marampa mine in 2006. Production recommenced in December of 2011, using the energy produced by USP&E’s custom-designed 13mW power plant. “In mid-2010 we were looking for an equipment package that would be guaranteed to meet the urgent energy requirements of our iron ore mining client in Sierra Leone, and there was really only one option for us at the end of the day, said COO Jason Biermeier, referring to USP&E’s multi-million dollar power station engineering, procurement and construction project with London Mining, using state-of-the-art Hyundai generators. “Our power station solution involved utilizing Portable HFO Generators that we built in under 4 months and were able to install in less than 8 weeks.”
Since 2011, London Mining has reprocessed much of what was originally extracted, as well as mined and processed new hematite iron ore using conventional extraction techniques, including truck and shovel method and hydraulic mining. Then a two-phase, high-intensity, magnetic separation process is employed. The resulting concentrate is transported by truck for 40km to barge-loading facilities on the Loko Creek, then onto ships at the Freetown port.
“The mine in Sierra Leone is just barely getting started. They’re processing a lot onsite to lower the amount that they actually need to ship,” commented Davis. USP&E’s power plant is presently running the mining and processing, but with London Mining’s plans to quickly expand the facility to add 40 additional mega watts of power, it stands ready to power the living quarters and kitchen and other peripheral construction going on related to the mine and refinery. As soon as there are enough transformers and transmission lines, everything will be ready to power the entire site.
Most important to USP&E is building a rock-solid reputation for trustworthiness with our client, London Mining, and the people of Sierra Leone. “It’s all about establishing relationships,” emphasizes Aaron Seymour, Estimating and Client Services. “We went in there with the mindset of we are guests here in Sierra Leone. We are here to serve the people here of Sierra Leone.”
USP&E’s Smart Power solution provides their power plant managers and customers, alike, a close-to-real-time view (updated hourly) of exactly what’s happening with the plant so that the power is run in the most efficient and effective way possible.
While USP&E sells renewable and natural gas solutions, their offering of portable HFO Generators is the primary and most feasible solution for most of their emerging market clients at present. “The technology we employ allows operations world-wide in Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe to benefit from turnkey Generators in record time,” says Will Gruver, USP&E’s CEO.
For more information, please refer to:
http://www.uspowerco.com