Vale’s tailings filtration plant is commissioned at the Vargem Grande iron ore complex. Credit Bishnu Sarangi from Pixabay.

Brazilian mining firm Vale has commenced operating a tailings filtration plant at its Vargem Grande iron ore complex in the state of Minas Gerais.

The new facility, which represents the first of four filtration plants to be operated at the company’s sites in the state, is expected to reduce dependence on dams.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Additionally, the tailings filtration plant is expected to improve the average quality of the company’s product portfolio by using wet processing on the site.

Vale said that the new plant reduces the existing water in the iron ore tailings during the filtration process. As a result, most of the material are stacked in a solid form, thereby reducing the use of dams.

The four tailings filtration plants in Minas Gerais are anticipated to cater to beneficiation plants that have a total processing capacity of 64 metric tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of iron ore.

In a press statement, the company said: “The start-up of tailings’ filtration operations in Vargem Grande is another step in stabilising iron ore production and on the way to resume the 400Mtpa production capacity by the end of 2022.”

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The Brazilian miner plans to commission the first filtration plant in the Itabira Complex this year followed by the launch of operations of the second filtration plant at the Itabira Complex and of the first filtration plant at the Brucutu site in 2022.

Vale is also planning to commission the Maravilhas III dam, which is currently under final construction stage.

Between 2020 and 2024, the company intends to invest a total of $2.3bn in the plants.

Earlier this month, Vale started the commissioning process at the Timbopeba site in the Mariana Complex in Minas Gerais. The move is intended to ramp up wet processing production at the complex.