RIO TINTO – Amrun - Levanta - Superior Workshop Solutions

Levanta completes lube fitout for FNQ mining workshop

Rio Tinto is investing $2.6 billion in their Amrun metal-grade bauxite mine in the Weipa region of Far North Queensland.

As part of this massive operation they required a Heavy Vehicle maintenance workshop, complete with the reticulation of major lubricants and coolant. Rio Tinto engaged Levanta to design, fabricate, supply, install and commission the required facility.

Levanta provided the complete set of drawings, manuals and documentation to the specification of the principal builder (Decmil), the EPCM (Bechtel) and the company (Rio Tinto).

Comprehensive, user-friendly workshop lubrication systems

Levanta supplied the complete lubrication package, incorporating two containerised lubrication storage and pumping systems. The lubrication system was reticulated to both the mobile equipment maintenance (MEM) workshop and Haulmax bay.

The project included the fabrication, supply and installation of two bunded lube containers, fitted out with air operated pumps, piping, control, valves and labelling, as well as portable mobile oil stores (tanks).

Levanta also supplied, installed, and commissioned three full featured packaged compressed air systems to the MEM, Haulmax and tyre bay.

Five reel racks were installed complete with large 23m hose reels, including new oil, waste oil, coolant, and air hoses. Most of the hose reels are spring-return, but with the larger, heavier hoses (40mm in diameter and 23 metres long), Levanta added powered pneumatic retraction to ensure a more user-friendly and efficient retraction operation.

Safety and efficiency the primary considerations

The system had extensive protection in terms of thermal relief valves, pneumatic controlled isolation valves, and control points at each reel rack. The oil pumps themselves are protected by Pump Runaway Protection Devices. In the event that the oil runs low in tank, this device will stop the pump and prevent it from damaging itself.

Electric cut-off solenoids (which need to be manually switched on for oil dispensing) provided an additional level of safety.

Tank level monitoring and alarms prevent over-filling and enable management of refilling and ordering in of new supplies in good time.

Levanta also supplied and installed all piping, labelling, tagging, drawing mark-ups, shop drawings, MDR, commissioning documentation and manuals.