The recently completed $8.8bn Minas-Rio iron ore project in Brazil is expected to produce 26.5 metric tonnes per annum of high quality, low contaminant iron ore pellet feed over a current mine life of 28 years. Construction is now complete, with significant progress made towards delivering first ore, on a ship, by the end of 2014.
The iron feed slurry is delivered from the mine to port via a 529 km pipeline and this is one of the largest and longest slurry pipelines ever constructed, with multiple pump stations and valve stations en-route. Originally known as the MMX Project the design work was carried out by Ausenco (formerly PSI) at their Belo Horizonte office in Brazil.
In 2007 ValvTechnologies was awarded a contract to supply more than 350 AbrasoTech® and ABRASOCHECK® severe service valves complete with hydraulic actuators, controls and HPU’s. The valves included sizes from 1 ½” – 24” and in ASME classes 150, 300, 600, 900 and 1500. The project was delivered on schedule but land rights problems within Brazil caused significant delays in construction.
Currently ValvTechnologies is providing Anglo start-up and commissioning assistance with support from Fluxo, our representative in Brazil. At the time of the original PO this was the largest single order ever received by ValvTechnologies and was recognized as the largest order ever received by a severe service ball valve manufacturer.
For more information please contact Malcolm Harrison – Mining Industry Director at ValvTechnologies at mharrison@valv.com.
