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, in Queensland, Australia. With global copper demand estimated to surge 24% by 2035, according to a Wood Mackenzie report, Eva Copper is set to become a major new open-pit copper mine in the region. The plant is to produce approximately 60,000 tons (54,400 tonnes) 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. 

The contract reflects the accelerating demand for critical metals and minerals, alongside renewed momentum in large-scale mining projects across Australia, according to PWC, 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. 

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, driving system efficiency was a critical factor in Eva Copper’s detailed technology evaluation. 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. 

The project also includes an eHouse, to protect the electrical equipment, 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. 

“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.”