Aquila Coal Mine: Power Supply Upgrade

The Challenge

Anglo American’s Aquila Coal Mine required skilled electrical labour to deliver a critical power supply upgrade across their Middlemount operation. The project demanded sustained, coordinated effort from January through March 2026, with the need for experienced supervision, qualified electricians, and apprentice support to maintain both safety standards and project momentum on a 24/7 rotating roster.

Our Approach

Deftec deployed a structured team combining experienced electrical supervisors, qualified surface electricians, and apprentices under a coordinated labour model. We fielded two electrical supervisors (Francois Brink and Dylan Cowan) to oversee daily operations, supported by four experienced electricians working rotating shifts—some FIFO, others DIDO—alongside apprentices to provide continuity across the three-month engagement. The roster was designed to maintain consistent coverage while meeting Aquila’s site induction and competency requirements, with vehicle and equipment support included to ensure teams had the logistics needed for effective field delivery.

The Outcome

The structured deployment ensured reliable labour supply across the extended engagement period, with clear supervision and skill distribution to support both immediate upgrade objectives and on-the-job apprentice development. By aligning team composition to site demands and pre-arranging inductions and compliance certifications, Deftec minimised mobilisation delays and kept the project moving through each phase.

Technologies & Capabilities

• Electrical supervision and coordination (surface works)
• Experienced surface electrician deployment
• Apprentice training and development in industrial settings
• FIFO and DIDO workforce logistics
• Site compliance management (S11, EEHA, medical clearances)
• Multi-crew coordination and rotating roster management
• Field support logistics (vehicles, equipment hire)