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Project Duration: 12 months | Hiscocks Electrical
The Construction of Non-Process Infrastructure Electrical (NPI electrical facilities), especially in remote locations, are projects that require comprehensive planning and careful execution. The mind-boggling complexity of laying out an electrical framework and power supply takes extensive planning and specialised technical expertise. Hiscocks Electrical successfully installed and commissioned the power for the staff accommodation of the Tjungu village.
OZ Minerals contracted our construction electrical team to install the power for a 550-capacity village in the remote location of Carrapteena, Port Augusta, South Australia. It included power supply commission and electric installation for an airport, a full commercial kitchen and dining area, a gym, a sports court, office complex, first aid and ambulance building, reverse osmosis water treatment plant and sewerage treatment plant. It also included the use of backup diesel generators that would provide temporary power until the main supply lines could be installed.
We initially had to have the backup generators running at full capacity for the workers already living on the mine for their daily use. Once we had the temporary power supply set up and the accommodation and airport up and running, we moved on to the civil infrastructure.
Our main objective was to start by giving the village temporary power so that the workers living on site had working power to fulfil their daily needs. With the village up and running, we could focus on our main task which was to start laying down the infrastructure for the permanent power supply.
We dug up the pits and put in the conduits that would commission the power supply for the village. After that, our construction electrician and workers moved to the accommodation area where we fitted and installed the lighting and cables. They served as the living and eating quarters till the main kitchen could be started on.
By completing the infrastructure to get the living area supplied with running power and the lighting and building completed, we had a functional area to focus on completing the infrastructure and other areas like the kitchen.
With the accommodation installations complete and power on, we moved to the kitchen and dining area. Once that was done, we accelerated our speed to finish the rest of the project by completing the airport, sports complex, and the remaining sections. At the end of the project, we had a solid civil infrastructure laid down for the village, equipping the workers with the facilities needed to live and work comfortably.
Our biggest challenge was finishing the living quarters as new workers were coming in. We were already working on a tight deadline and getting the supplies and staff to our remote location was not easy. Because of such obstacles, we had to figure out how to expand our project in stages and still finish within the deadline.
We had to work together to coordinate deadlines and adjust our plans so that there were no delays with the work. If we were missing supplies for one area, we would start working on another to avoid deadlocks and backlogs.
It took us 12 months to finish the project.
We would have gotten the communication satellites working first and then completed the civil infrastructure before doing anything else. This approach would have taken less time, and we would also not have avoided continuous pressure from the builders on site.
As you can see from the aerial view in the picture, the power supply in the accommodation area, kitchen, the airport terminal and the surrounding locations is working as expected.
We take pride in completing the wet mess area from the light installation to the placements of the lighting with the layout and design plan.
The Tjungu Village project has been our biggest project to date. The construction of NPI facilities in such a remote location with minimum hold-ups and completion within the deadline is an extraordinary accomplishment by Hiscocks Electrical construction electrical team.
With more than 20 years experience in residential and commercial electrical, our qualified electricians are here for you.
