Oyu Tolgoi Copper Mine, Mongolia
Located in Mongolia’s South Gobi Desert, the Oyu Tolgoi Mine is a world-class copper operation situated 550 km south of Ulaanbaatar and 80 km from the Mongolia–China border. Jointly owned by the Government of Mongolia (34%) and Turquoise Hill Resources (66%), with Rio Tinto holding a 51% interest in Turquoise Hill, the mine produces copper, gold, silver, and other valuable metals.
Originally developed as an open-pit mine, Oyu Tolgoi’s long-term potential lies underground, where 80% of the copper reserves were discovered. To unlock this resource, the mine expanded to include large-scale underground mining operations. Jacobs Engineering was appointed to provide EPCM (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management) services for the material handling systems and associated infrastructure, delivered over a multi-year program.
To support this, ABB was tasked with supplying PLC panels, local control stations, and custom power distribution boards capable of operating across vastly different conditions – outdoors, underground, and within on-site facilities. Based on ABB’s strong relationship with Rio Tinto and previous collaborations, B&R Enclosures was chosen to manufacture and fully wire these specialised solutions.
PLC Panels & Local Control Stations
All PLC panels and local control stations were designed and wired at B&R’s Suzhou, China facility, which combines Australian engineering expertise with local manufacturing efficiency. The project required robust, fit-for-purpose enclosures designed to perform in harsh mining environments.
For the outdoor and underground systems, B&R combined features from the Bowen Series and Monarch IP ranges which offer 316 stainless steel construction, IP66 protection, and a 30° sloping roof to prevent sediment or water build-up.
For indoor use, modified iLINQ bayable cabinets were manufactured with galvanised and zinc-coated steel, IP54 protection, and a custom top-entry gland plate to meet specific site requirements. Additional local control stations were produced using combinations of the Monarch IP and Universal NI ranges, maintaining the same high IP66 standard.
Power Distribution Boards
Working from Jacobs Engineering’s initial drawings, B&R collaborated closely with ABB to refine the design of two custom power distribution board types, each with precise size constraints, IP56 protection, and the ability to withstand extreme mining conditions.
The boards were fully manufactured and wired at B&R’s Brisbane facility, integrating ABB’s electrical components. The outdoor and underground variants were based on a modified Bowen Series design (316 stainless steel, IP66, sloped roof), while the indoor versions utilised the Monarch IP range.
Through detailed engineering and testing, B&R successfully delivered compact power distribution boards that incorporated both internal testing facilities and dedicated field connection terminals—meeting stringent performance and safety standards.
The Oyu Tolgoi project continues to progress, and B&R Enclosures remains proud to support ABB, Jacobs Engineering, and Rio Tinto with custom-engineered, fully integrated enclosure solutions built for the world’s most demanding environments.
