ABB Restores Valterra Platinum Mine Post-Flood

ABB provided critical support to Valterra Platinum’s Tumela Mine in Limpopo, South Africa, following severe flooding caused by torrential rains and the collapse of a nearby dam earlier in 2025. The flooding halted production by damaging key underground electrical infrastructure, including primary and secondary switchgears in two substations. Valterra Platinum’s swift emergency protocols ensured personnel safety, but restoring operations quickly was essential to avoid significant output losses.

Within 24 hours of the incident, ABB deployed a specialized response team from its Johannesburg facility to design and deliver a fast-tracked replacement for the damaged switchgear. Accelerated manufacturing and commissioning plans enabled the installation of ABB’s UniGear ZS1 primary air-insulated and SafePlus secondary gas-insulated switchgear within 10 weeks, bringing the mine back online ahead of schedule. This collaborative effort highlighted ABB’s ability to deliver engineered solutions under crisis conditions without compromising safety or operational continuity.

“ABB’s rapid response and technical expertise was instrumental in restoring production without compromising safety.” said Isak Rudolph, Principal Engineer – Electrical and Automation at Valterra Platinum.

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