Performance study

How in-pit crushing and conveying supports greener mining at Vale’s S11D Eliezer Batista complex

Brazilian mining major, Vale, has invested more than USD 6.4 billion in the S11D Eliezer Batista iron ore complex. This 90 million tonne capacity facility extends the company’s huge Carajás complex, raising annual capacity there to 400–450 million tonnes.

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Key benefits

  • 67%

    Increase in energy efficiency

  • 73%

    Reduction in COe

  • 15%

    Reduction in cost of mining

Details of the performance study

CommodityIron ore
TechnologyMobile Crushing Plant
ApplicationIn-Pit Crushing and Conveying (IPCC)
Study typeCustomer story
CountryBrazil

As part of this investment, Vale focused on more sustainable mining solutions. This includes a truckless mining system based on continuous in-pit crushing and conveying (IPCC) technology. Ore is dumped into this system by excavator via mobile crushers. These feed a network of 68 km of mobile and fixed conveyers, which take the ore to the beneficiation plant and stockpiles.

When compared to a truck-and-shovel operation of comparable capacity, the use of this electric-powered and continuously operating system:*

  • Lowers energy consumption by 67%.
  • Cuts CO2e emissions by 73%.
  • Reduces operating costs by at least 15%.

Overall, the use of IPCC at S11D has resulted in a significantly greener mining footprint and supports Vale’s global sustainability goals.

 

*based on FLSmidth in-house calculations.

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