Mining operations depend on reliable power at every level of the production chain. Automated mining vehicles, SCADA control systems, switchroom infrastructure, mine communications networks, processing plant equipment, and the IT systems managing safety and logistics all require continuous, clean power to function. In remote Pilbara iron ore operations or underground coal mines in Queensland, a power failure does not just halt production: it creates safety risks across the site and can cause costly equipment damage and restart delays that compound the original loss.
Natural Power Solutions (NPS) has over 30 years of experience delivering power protection solutions to the mining and resources sector across Australia. Our team supplies and services UPS systems, surge protection, power management and monitoring, and power distribution solutions designed for the demands of mining environments, including heavy industrial switchrooms, remote site infrastructure, and processing plant control systems. NPS is the 2020 winner of the Eaton Project of the Year award for our work supplying UPS systems to Rio Tinto’s Koodaideri iron ore mine in WA’s Pilbara region.
Power Protection Requirements in Mining
Mining environments present power protection challenges that differ significantly from commercial and industrial installations:
- Switchroom and control system protection: Heavy industry switchrooms at mine sites house the electrical infrastructure controlling production equipment, ventilation, and safety systems. Power interruptions or voltage events in switchrooms can trigger shutdowns across entire production circuits. Industrial-grade UPS systems protect switchroom infrastructure and maintain control system availability through power events.
- Remote and off-grid site infrastructure: Many Australian mine sites operate in remote locations with limited or unreliable grid access. Power protection solutions require robust equipment rated for harsh conditions, extended battery runtime, and generator integration. NPS has direct experience delivering and servicing solutions at remote mine sites across WA, Queensland, and the Northern Territory.
- SCADA and automation systems: Modern mining operations are managed through SCADA platforms, PLCs, and automation systems that control vehicle fleets, processing equipment, and safety monitoring infrastructure. These systems require the same level of power protection as the physical equipment they manage. UPS systems and power monitoring solutions protect the control infrastructure underpinning automated mining operations.
- Mine communications networks: Underground and surface communications infrastructure at mine sites, including radio systems, network equipment, and safety communications, requires battery-backed power protection to maintain connectivity during outages. Loss of communications at a mine site is a safety event, not just an operational inconvenience.
- Processing plant power quality: Mining and mineral processing plants operate large motors, variable frequency drives, and high-load electrical equipment that introduce harmonics and voltage disturbances into site power infrastructure. Power quality audits and targeted surge protection identify and address these site-generated power quality issues before they cause instrumentation errors or equipment damage.
- Harsh environmental conditions: Mine site equipment operates in environments with extreme temperatures, dust, humidity, and vibration. NPS specifies UPS systems and enclosures rated for these conditions, ensuring equipment remains operational in environments where standard commercial products would fail.
Why Mining Companies Choose NPS
- Proven mining sector credentials including the 2020 Eaton Project of the Year award for supplying UPS systems to POWINS for Rio Tinto’s Koodaideri iron ore mine in WA’s Pilbara region
- Over 30 years delivering power protection solutions for mining, resources, and heavy industrial environments across Australia
- Demonstrated capability accessing and servicing remote mine sites across Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory
- Vendor-agnostic approach: we specify Eaton, APC by Schneider Electric, Socomec, or Vertiv based on your site’s specific requirements and operating environment
- Experience specifying equipment rated for harsh mine site conditions, including temperature extremes, dust ingress, and high-vibration environments
- Turnkey power solutions from site assessment and system design through to installation, commissioning, and long-term maintenance
- Preventative maintenance programs and battery replacement services structured around mine site access schedules and production requirements
- 24/7 emergency support for critical mine site infrastructure
Power Protection Products for Mining
NPS supplies and services a full range of power protection and infrastructure products relevant to mining environments. Key solutions include:
- UPS Systems: Industrial-grade and online double-conversion UPS for mine site switchrooms, control rooms, SCADA infrastructure, and processing plant IT systems
- Batteries: Extended runtime battery systems for remote mine sites and underground infrastructure requiring prolonged backup duration
- Generators: Generator integration for long-duration backup at remote mine sites and processing facilities
- Lightning and Surge Protection: Protection for mine site electrical infrastructure, processing plant equipment, and exposed surface installations
- Power Management and Monitoring: Remote monitoring of UPS status and power quality across distributed mine site infrastructure and multi-site operations
- Power Distribution: Structured power distribution for mine site control rooms, switchrooms, and processing plant environments
- Racks and Enclosures: Industrial-grade enclosure solutions rated for harsh mine site environments including dust, temperature extremes, and vibration
- Edge IT Solutions: Compact, self-contained power and IT infrastructure for remote mine site communications nodes and automation equipment
Mining Project Experience
NPS has delivered power protection solutions for mining and resources clients across Australia, including in some of the country’s most remote and demanding operating environments. Our most significant mining project is the supply of Eaton UPS systems to POWINS for Rio Tinto’s Koodaideri iron ore mine in WA’s Pilbara region, a landmark project recognised with the 2020 Eaton Project of the Year award. The Koodaideri project involved supplying UPS systems for use in heavy industry switchrooms at one of Australia’s newest and most advanced iron ore mines.
