Mobile Gas Turbines for Mine Commissioning and Ramp-Up Power

Why a ramp-up power gap appears

Mine schedules are driven by construction, permits and financing, and power projects follow their own path. Grid connections depend on utility programmes and transmission work that the mine does not control. Permanent stations need design, procurement and construction time. Any delay leaves a finished processing plant waiting for power.

Bridging power avoids that idle time. Every month of earlier production can matter to a mine’s finances, which is why owners look at temporary generation even when the permanent solution is already chosen.

Why mobile turbines suit the job

Trailer-mounted aeroderivative turbines pack a large output into a few trailers and can be installed on prepared pads in a short time. They can run on natural gas where it exists and, in many cases, on liquid fuels such as diesel, which matters for remote mines without a gas supply.

Their compact footprint and ability to move again when the job is done make them attractive for a defined bridging period. Our article on TM2500 deployment describes the site requirements for one common unit.

Fuel options at a mine

Natural gas from a pipeline or a nearby field gives the lowest running cost and simplest logistics. Where no gas is available, liquid fuel is trucked to site, stored and treated before use. Turbines burning liquid fuel need clean fuel with low contaminants, so filtration and storage design are important.

Some mines plan to bring gas later, for example as compressed or liquefied gas, or via a future pipeline. Units that can start on liquid fuel and switch to gas when available give flexibility.

Load profile during commissioning

Commissioning is not steady. Individual circuits start, stop and trip as equipment is tested. Large mill and crusher motors are started for the first time. Loads may swing from a small fraction to a large share of the station’s capacity within minutes.

Turbines respond well to steady loads but need careful planning for large motor starts and sudden load rejection. Soft starters, staged commissioning and, in some cases, batteries or a smaller fast-response unit help keep frequency stable.

Motor starts and step loads

Mill motors are often the largest single loads on a mine. Starting them directly from a small islanded system can cause voltage dips that trip other equipment. Agree the starting method with the process team, model the start before commissioning and confirm that the turbine plant can absorb it.

Load rejection, when a large motor trips, is equally important. The turbine governor must recover without overspeed trips, and protection settings must be coordinated across the temporary plant and mine distribution.

Site layout and connection

Mobile turbines need level, compacted pads for the trailers, space for the control and auxiliary trailers, fuel storage and treatment, a step-up transformer and switchgear, and clearances for maintenance and fire safety. Locate the plant away from dust sources and close to the mine’s main substation.

Our page on mobile power distribution units explains how temporary plants connect to site networks, which applies directly to a mine connection.

Operating through ramp-up

As the mine ramps up, demand grows. Plan the number of units for the expected peak during the bridging period, with redundancy for maintenance and trips. Operators need to understand the mine’s process priorities and work closely with the plant control room.

Regular maintenance such as water washes and inspections must be planned around production. Spare parts and an engine change-out plan reduce the risk of long outages.

Transition to permanent supply

When the grid connection or permanent station is ready, load transfers in stages. Plan the synchronisation or switchover sequence carefully, test protection and keep the mobile units available until the permanent supply has proven itself.

Some mines keep one or more mobile units as standby after the transition, or move them to another part of the operation. Our article on outage cover with mobile turbines describes how units are used in backup roles.

Permits and community considerations

Even temporary plants need permits. Air emissions, noise, fuel storage and water use may all require approval, and timelines vary by country. Start the permit process early and design the temporary plant to meet the conditions likely to apply. Nearby communities may be affected by noise and traffic during installation and operation, so plan engagement alongside the mine’s broader community programme.

Contracts and redeployment

Agreements for bridging power should define the bridging period, extension options, responsibilities for fuel, operation and maintenance, availability commitments and the process for demobilisation. Clarity on who supplies fuel and who bears fuel risk is especially important on remote sites.

At the end of the period, units are demobilised, refurbished as needed and redeployed. The mine is left with its permanent supply and a smooth record of early production.