The owners, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, recognized the existing high capacity (9,000 tons per hour) overburden conveying and disposal system was not performing to specification. A detailed system analysis showed that availability was the main contributor to the lack of performance. BMA also desired additional functionality and operability from the system.
After conducting a number of investigations and considering a range of capacities, conveyor configurations, drive, and control system upgrades, WorleyParsons secured the role of EPCM contractor for the upgrade of drives, the stacking control system, and the drive control system.