Zurich: ABB has been awarded a contract to deliver gearless mill drive (GMD) and ring-geared mill drive (RMD) technology for Harmony’s Eva Copper Mine Project, a major new open-pit copper mine in Queensland, Australia. With global copper demand estimated to surge 24 percent by 20351 Eva Copper is set to become a major new copper mine in the region, producing approximately 60,000 tons of copper annually over a minimum 15-year mine life. The order was booked in the fourth quarter of 2025. Financial details were not disclosed.
ABB’s technology will enable grinding with maximum efficiency, reliability and operational flexibility, suitable for a modern concentrator designed around contemporary processing flowsheets and low-risk technology choices.
The contract reflects the accelerating demand for critical metals and minerals, alongside renewed momentum in large-scale mining projects across Australia2, with the energy transition being a key driver. It also adds to ABB’s installed base of GMDs and RMDs deployed globally to support the supply of materials essential to modern industry.
“ABB will bring together local manufacturing capabilities, global expertise and proven technologies to support Queensland’s most significant new mining project,” said Björn Jonsson, Global Business Line Manager, Mining & Materials, at ABB’s Process Industries division. “Our mill drive systems will support reliable, efficient grinding at the heart of the Eva Copper Mine Project, which will play a pivotal role in strengthening the copper supply chain to support the global energy transition.”
Designed and delivered by ABB, the 24MW GMD system will power the project’s 40-foot SAG mill, followed by an 18MW variable-speed dual-pinion RMD system for a 27-foot ball mill. Given the SAG and Ball mills will be the largest power consumers on site, drive system efficiency was a critical factor in Eva Copper’s detailed technology evaluation.
The project also includes an eHouse that will be engineered and manufactured in Australia to meet local standards and operator safety requirements. While local manufacturing will enable streamlined engineering, shorter logistics pathways and easier integration on site, engineering will be delivered through a global ABB team spanning Australia, Finland and Switzerland.
Once installed, the combined GMD and RMD systems will provide high availability and the functionality needed to process copper ore efficiently across the life of the mine.