Increased production capacity marks a new stage in the gradual resumption of production in an efficient, safe and sustainable manner
Samarco doubled its installed production capacity with the reactivation of Concentrator 2 and the implementation of another tailings filtration plant at the Germano Complex (MG), this Monday (16), when it concluded another stage of the gradual operational resumption plan. With this progress, the company estimates reaching the production of 15 million tons of pellets and ore fines in 2025. This volume represents double the production recorded at the beginning of the resumption in 2020.
For this new stage, Samarco also reactivated another pelletizing plant, at the Ubu Complex (ES), in August of this year. The company made a series of investments in new technologies, following the planning guided by safety and sustainability, with contributions totaling BRL 1.6 billion.
“The year 2024 marks the consolidation of our operational resumption strategy and the sustainability of our business. The expansion of production capacity puts us once again among the main players in the transoceanic iron ore pellet market”, highlighted the CEO of Samarco, Rodrigo Vilela.
The next step will be to reach 100% of the installed production capacity by 2028. The project for this phase includes the resumption of the operation of Concentrator 1, in Germano, and Pelletizing Plants 1 and 2, in Ubu, in addition to the construction of a new filtration plant in Minas Gerais.
Technological update
Pelletizing Plant 3 (P3), which received a technological update, has been operating with excess ore from Pelletizing Plant 4, in operation since December 2020, optimizing processes.
Concentrator 2 has also been through technological improvements, electromechanical activities and structural integrity, in compliance with regulatory standards for safety, health and the environment. The improvement allows for the expansion of ore filtration and increased production.
The Germano Complex now has a new tailings filtration plant for dry stacking, a structure that ensures greater safety and allows a large portion of the extracted water to be reused in the company's operations, reinforcing sustainability practices.
Management and People
The involvement of Samarco's leaders and teams was also a plus in the operational resumption plan. To this end, the company invested in entry-level programs to attract new employees, management processes for engaging teams, training, and offered technical and professional training courses to boost the development of the communities where the company operates in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.
To reach the installed production capacity of 60%, approximately 3,000 people were mobilized, including employees and contractors, prioritizing minority groups and residents of the regions where Samarco operates. Currently, Samarco has over 15,000 professionals.
"We have reached this new stage with safety indicators in line with international standards, reinforcing our commitment to people. We have also made progress with innovation and sustainability, seeking to increase the efficiency of ore processing plants to reduce the generation of tailings," highlighted Technical and Projects Officer Reuber Koury.
Sustainability
The innovation and sustainability initiatives also include projects to expand the use of sandy tailings, which is currently used in the manufacture of concrete, in addition to the use of ultrafine tailings in ecological paving. Moreover, the company used more than 3 million tons of sandy tailings generated during the decommissioning works at the Germano Dam between January and October of this year.
These projects reinforce the company's commitment to ensuring proper disposal and increasing ways of valuing the tailings by investing in innovation and encouraging the circular economy. The use of tailings is also an opportunity to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to industry, innovation and sustainable production.
Another innovation concerns the use of bio-oil in pelletizing plants in Espírito Santo, a pioneering project that is being developed to gradually replace natural gas in the company's energy matrix, contributing to the process of decarbonizing the mining industry.
Credits: Luiz Filipe Do Carmo Nascimento
