Those setting up a mine expansion site in Canaã dos Carajás start far from the grid and with a tight schedule. The construction site generator needs to be operational the day the containers arrive, well before the permanent connection.
The energy demand of the site changes as the construction progresses, and changes again when the Equatorial Pará network arrives. Until the end, you follow this sequence phase by phase, from setting up the site to the day the generator becomes backup power.
Temporary connection or generator: what decides for your site
To have a network at the site, you request a temporary construction connection from the distributor, which in Pará is Equatorial Pará. The general rules are in ANEEL Normative Resolution 1,000/2021. The time frame and cost vary with the distance to the grid and the work the distributor needs to do.
Talk to Equatorial before setting the start date of the construction. If the grid is far, the generator covers the gap until the connection or serves the entire site, and this choice is included in the budget from the planning stage.
How energy changes in each phase of construction
Each phase connects different equipment, and the power and number of generators follow this change. See what usually connects in each one:
- During site setup, office containers, air conditioning, computers, and portable tools.
- In the accommodation and cafeteria, showers, food chambers, industrial kitchen, and block lighting.
- In the workshop and maintenance base, welding, compressor, overhead crane, and benches with power tools.
- At the work front, pumps, support equipment, and work lighting.
- At night, lighting towers at the fronts, accesses, and machine yard.
In the accommodation and cafeteria, the load is usually continuous and stays on day and night. The workshop has a different rhythm, with consumption peaking briefly when equipment starts, and the generator needs a margin for these.
How to assess loads before ordering the generator
The order moves faster when you arrive with the site inventory ready. A simple spreadsheet, separated by area, already answers most of our engineering questions. Note:
- The equipment in each area, with the nameplate power.
- Which ones operate simultaneously and at what time.
- How many hours per day each area operates.
- The distance between the site points and the planned location for the generator.
- How much the load is expected to grow as the project progresses.
Distance is the data you cannot omit, as it defines the cable size and may indicate that installing more than one generator is worthwhile.
A central generator or several smaller ones
If your site areas are spread out, the question arises early: a single group with an internal network or a generator in each area? The single group centralizes supply and maintenance in one spot, but requires long cables and makes the entire site dependent on one piece of equipment.
With distributed generators, the cables shorten and each front operates independently. In return, there are more points to supply and monitor. In remote areas, like the sites in Canaã dos Carajás, diesel weighs heavily in this choice.
A project may also require lighting, compressed air, and height access, as we explain in the article on integrated temporary power solution. The lighting tower, compressor, and lift platform are included in the same generator contract.
Service front lighting at night
If your expansion project has a night shift, front lighting is included in the energy plan from the start. In the Carajás region, our unit already provides towers for the mining fronts and expansion sites in Canaã dos Carajás.
Each tower has its own generator and is included in the plan as a separate load. With it, you can light the fronts, access points, and machine yard without drawing cables from the site’s internal network.
When the grid arrives, the generator remains as backup
With the Equatorial connection made, the generator can cease to be the main source and start protecting the workshop and accommodation. If the grid fails, maintenance continues and the accommodation remains powered. How much is this worth on your site? The calculation of downtime cost helps quantify this decision.
Our unit is located at km 4 of PA-160, in Parauapebas, 48 km from Canaã dos Carajás, and delivers the generator to the mine expansion works in Canaã and Eldorado do Carajás and the rest of Southeast Pará. Further away, in Imperatriz, Araguaína, and in the South of Pará, we serve infrastructure works with the same phased planning.
Within 24 hours the equipment is operational at your site. For works in Tucuruí, Redenção, or further away, the delivery date is already agreed upon in the proposal.
Check out our generator for works in Parauapebas and send the load survey to our engineering team to calculate the power at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Equatorial take to make a temporary construction connection?
The timeframe varies with the distance between the site and the grid and with the works the distributor needs to carry out. The general rules are in ANEEL’s REN 1,000/2021. Equatorial Pará will inform you of the timeframe for your case.
Which generator should be used for the site accommodation and cafeteria?
The accommodation and cafeteria are connected day and night, with showers, kitchen, and lighting. The generator’s power is determined by the load survey and the time they are used together.
Is it better to use one generator for the entire site or several smaller ones?
It depends on the distance between areas and the diesel logistics on site. A central generator simplifies maintenance, while distributed generators shorten cables and make each front independent.
Can the site generator continue as a backup after the grid arrives?
Yes, and this is usually the choice for areas that cannot stop, such as the workshop and accommodation. When the distributor’s grid fails, the generator takes over the load for these areas.
How to supply the generator at a site far from the city?
Plan the supply along with the generator arrangement. The fewer supply points, the simpler the diesel logistics in a remote area.
