20 years of partnership at Olympic Dam
Sudel Industries: Electrical and Instrumentation
Established in 1991, Sudel Industries is a leading specialist in electrical, instrumentation, communication and project solutions for heavy industries. Over the past three decades, the company has built a reputation as an industry leader in delivering high quality services.
Its team has successfully executed projects across South Australia, servicing major sectors including mining, oil and gas, energy and water with expertise spanning the entire project lifecycle, covering EIC construction, pre-commissioning and commissioning stages.
Sudel combines its strong technical background with a commitment to safety and quality, ensuring every project meets the highest standards for clients.
Sudel is a trusted partner at BHP’s Olympic Dam, delivering critical electrical, instrumentation and communication project and maintenance services across every department of the operation. Its work has included major projects such as facility and infrastructure upgrades, cooling tower upgrades, oxygen plant installations, fire system upgrades, hazardous areas compliance work and numerous critical infrastructure repairs that keep this world-class facility running.
Sudel has consistently provided skilled labour for shutdowns, ensuring safe and efficient execution of time-sensitive periods. Its team has extensive experience working in challenging environments, managing technically advanced E&I installations and maintenance in its process plant and deep below the surface.
This long-standing relationship reflects more than service it’s a partnership built on trust, performance and shared commitment.
Beyond Olympic Dam
Sudel has begun operating across other BHP Copper SA Division sites, reinforcing its role as a strategic partner in maintaining and upgrading essential infrastructure.
Sudel has delivered services for a range of major clients across South Australia’s heavy industry sector. These include Kaefer, MTE, McMahons, Air Liquide, LINDE BOC, Global Furnace Solutions, ATSYS, SANTOS and SIMEC.
Case study: SXFPU solvent extraction plant project
A hazardous area solvent extraction plant owned and operated by BHP experienced two devastating fires within a ten-year period. The detection and protection capabilities of the plant needed to be significantly upgraded.
For Sudel, construction within a hazardous area location presented unique challenges, as no hot work was permissible and specific controls were required to use tooling. Sudel needed to upgrade the fire systems while still maintaining the solvent extractions fire systems.
Sudel was engaged throughout all stages of the project to construct and enhance the fire detection and protection capabilities of the solvent extraction system. Its expertise in hazardous area principles, electrical, instrumentation and process control positioned it as the ideal partner for the project that was valued at about $9.4m.
The company installed advanced fire detection systems, integrated safety focused PLC automation systems and executed precise installation and tie in work. The company’s meticulous approach ensured seamless integration with existing infrastructure while upholding stringent hazardous area safety and operational standards.
Sudel assisted another contractor with the installation of fire water pumps, control panels, instrumentation and extensive earth protection for water pipework for the hazardous areas, improving plant safety.
Sudel bench-tested all instruments to manufacturer specifications before installation, identifying failures early and replacing them under warranty, which significantly reduced commissioning time and costs.
