The mining sector holds a prominent position among the most important for the national economy, representing about 4% of Brazil’s GDP and 25% of the country’s trade balance. This shows how profitable the business is for Brazil, as the country not only sells domestically but also exports a large portion of its minerals, especially iron ore.
According to data released by the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex), Brazilian iron ore exports grew 25.4% in 2018, representing 394.24 million tons sold. China, the Netherlands, and Japan are the countries that import the most from Brazil.
The Importance of Temporary Power in Mining
But there is a specific segment that is extremely important for mining to continue bringing its significant numbers to the Brazilian economy: temporary power. Since mineral extraction generally occurs in locations far from major centers, electricity supplied by utilities often does not fully meet the demand. To address this need, temporary power generators are typically used, capable of providing all the necessary power for the proper functioning of the mines.
With that in mind, we have gathered some situations where temporary power is more than essential for mining. Check it out:
1. Climate Control at Depths
The extraction of some minerals is carried out in deep areas that are dark and hot. It is the power from generators that allows employees to work safely, with adequate lighting and in a climate-controlled environment. With the use of generators, it is possible to offer thermal comfort to professionals and greater safety for the operation of equipment, whether for extraction or protection.
2. Operation of Large Machinery
Mines require a continuous and stable power supply for machines to operate at full capacity. This begins at the start of the process, during the soil exploration phase, when equipment is analyzing the terrain, removing trees and rocks to transform the site into the “city” that will house the workers.
3. Transport
All material extracted by miners needs to be transported from the depths of the mines to the surface. However, as they are heavy loads, they require specific equipment that can support the entire weight of the load and operate continuously throughout the journey. This is where generators come in, responsible for powering the machinery with a constant flow of energy until all newly extracted material is brought out of the mines.
4. Security
In addition to ensuring the operation of the ventilation system, generators ensure that in emergency situations, alarms, lights, and any other safety warnings operate correctly and fulfill their role of alerting workers to potential dangers.
5. Lifespan of the Mine
Since they are usually installed in remote and hard-to-reach locations where the National Interconnected System (SIN) does not reach, mines often require temporary power to be, in fact, permanent. It ends up being used throughout the mine’s lifespan, both in creating the infrastructure that will accommodate employees in their day-to-day activities inside and outside working hours, and to assist in lighting and climate control.
Customized Solutions from Tecnogera
Tecnogera, a company with over 12 years of experience in the temporary power sector, is an expert in providing customized solutions for each type of situation. To supply power to a mine, the company considers climate and terrain characteristics, as well as the number of employees, machinery, and how long the extraction should take. The company’s generators are high power density and can be used in the movement of large equipment.
