Oaky North Coal: Ventilation Fan 07 Overhaul and Installation

The Challenge

Oaky North Coal’s aging ventilation infrastructure required a complete overhaul and relocation of Fan 07 to support the mine’s transition to new mining sections. The project demanded comprehensive electrical disconnection, assessment of obsolete components, lightning and earthing protection design to Level I standards, and full system recommissioning---all executed on a complex underground mining site with strict safety and operational requirements.

Our Approach

Deftec delivered end-to-end electrical engineering and commissioning services across three major phases. First, we performed detailed disconnection and testing of all cabling from the main switchboard, generator, and power station, documenting obsolete components and recording red-line changes for future installation. Second, we engineered and installed upgraded systems including lightning protection and earthing grids based on a site-specific design study, new instrumentation cables with UV protection, HV and fibre cabling terminations, and a refreshed control and SCADA system with PLC code review. Finally, we developed a comprehensive C0—C6 commissioning pack to STD1422, overseeing pre-power checks, cable insulation testing, transformer soak testing, direction testing, and system operational validation. Our team coordinated with multiple stakeholders---including Central Highlands Fabrications---and managed a skilled crew of electrical supervisors, technicians, and apprentices through a December commissioning window.

The Outcome

The Fan 07 system was successfully relocated and brought to operational readiness, with all electrical components upgraded to modern safety and performance standards. The project delivered updated AutoCAD drawings for the switchroom, fan, and generator installations, a refreshed maintenance strategy aligned to the new equipment, and a fully tested and documented control system ready for handover. By December 2025, the facility had achieved critical commissioning milestones including energisation approval, transformer soak testing, and isolation integrity verification---positioning Oaky North to support uninterrupted ventilation for its new mining development.

Technologies and Capabilities

• SCADA and Control Systems — PLC code review and rectification, network and I/O commissioning, operational testing and settings validation
• High-Voltage Installation — 11kV/415V power cabling (650 kW load), cable sizing analysis (AS/NZS 3008.1), HV cable termination and fibre optic integration
• Lightning and Earthing Protection — Lightning Protection Level I design (AS 1768:2021 / IEC 62305), earth grid installation, lightning conductor bonding, rolling sphere analysis
• Field Instrumentation — Instrumentation cable supply and installation, UV damage remediation, terminal and bootlace retermination, Danfoss VSD servicing
• Commissioning and Testing — C0—C6 commissioning packs, cable insulation resistance testing, direction testing, protection settings validation, transformer soak testing, isolation integrity testing
• Systems Engineering — Switchroom and generator integration, UPS system upgrades, AC split-system capacity upgrades, gas monitoring system installation (Sentrum CH4 sensor), as-built drawing updates
• Underground Mining Standards — Hazardous-area electrical design, isolation and energy-dissipation protocols, mine electrical and mechanical management plan compliance