Jacobs Supports BHP with a Portfolio of Projects for Site Engineering Services in Western Australia

Jacobs secured a contract with BHP to support site engineering projects in Western Australia. 

The scope includes the facilities and structures required to support sustainable mining operations. At BHP’s request, our team could be involved in up to 50 projects, providing electrical, mechanical, civil, environmental, and water-related work across BHP's Western Australian Iron Ore (WAIO) – an integrated system of four processing hubs and five mining hubs, connected by more than 1,000 kilometers (~621 miles) of rail infrastructure and port facilities in the Pilbara region of northern Western Australia.

Our globally connected, multidisciplinary teams will adopt an integrated program delivery approach to support BHP to ensure consistent delivery to the projects across WAIO sites.

One project will improve the reliability and availability of electrical infrastructure and involves identifying Variable Voltage Variable Frequency (VVVF) drives, critical to the operation of the Ore Handling Plant at the Newman Operation.

Our team is providing an "Approved for Construction" design package consisting of an electrical and control system design for the like-for-like replacement of 21 operational VVVFs and 13 not-in-service critical spares. As the manufacturer no longer supports the current VVVF drives, our team has found a suitable replacement that can be quickly procured and installed with minimal downtime to prevent unplanned production loss.

Another project includes upgrades to the Nelson Point Ore Car Repair Shop (NPOCRS). The workshop is used for heavy structural repairs, wheelset remanufacturing and maintenance of the ore car fleet. As part of the refurbishment project, our team will undertake site inspections and surveys, review workshop structural integrity and compliance to Australian Standard, design remediation of all Priority 2 structural defects, upgrade amenities, refurbish offices and meeting rooms, replace existing wall and roof cladding and workshop roller doors, redesign access/egress to roof-mounted air-conditioning units, replace workshop ventilation fans, upgrade workshop lighting, and design integration of existing derailers with workshop shunting warning lights and sirens.

Our team is also supporting the NPOCRS portal lathe replacement project. We will support the Original Equipment Manufacturer design, design interfaces, manufacture and installation of the new equipment and associated equipment and structural components, including swarf conveyor, turntable and footings. Replacement of the existing lathe, which is used to reprofile wheelsets, is critical to the continued operation and maintenance of the rolling stock to ensure ore car availability. 

Ranked as № 1 on Engineering News Record's (ENR's) Top 50 Program Management Firms for the fourth consecutive year and No.1 in Wastewater Treatment, Jacobs provides solutions that help conserve water, optimize clients’ operations and reduce their energy and carbon footprint. We look forward to supporting BHP in the sustainable operation of its non-process infrastructure.