Electrical manufacturer Power Electric Switchboards, part of the DPSA Group, has been awarded a contract to supply a motor control centre, switchroom and associated control panels for the expansion of Carborough Downs Coal Mine.

Power Electric Switchboards General Manager Paul Johnstone said his company had a solid working relationship with engineering, procurement and construction manager, Ausenco, who are managing the new Coal Handling Preparation Plant (CHPP) portion of the expansion work.

Carborough Downs Coal Mine is predominantly owned by Brazilian resources company Vale and its joint venture partners, including Tata Steel, Nippon Steel and Posco.

Located near Moranbah in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, it will become on of Australia’s largest coal mines when the upgrade is completed in November 2009.

The expansion includes the introduction of a longwall mining system and expansion of the coal handling and preparation plant, and will increase the mine’s production of coking coal and PCI by up to four million tones a year.