OREANDA-NEWS. Assembly work has now been completed on segment 9 of the new long-distance conveyor belt in Vargem Grande, Minas Gerais. The completed stage represents a challenge overcome by the Vargem Grande Itabiritos Project team, due to the complexity of access and movement of equipment over a 30-metre deep depression in the ground. Access was made possible using structured scaffolding.

The new conveyor belt, together with the existing one, will transport iron ore from the Vargem Grande Complex to the Andaime Railway Terminal in Itabirito, Minas Gerais.

The Vargem Grande Itabiritos Project involves building a plant to process itabirite iron ore capable of producing 11.4 million metric tons of pellet feed per year. Construction work is under way and start-up is envisaged for this year. The plant is being built at Vargem Grande Complex, whose current production capacity is around 27 million metric tons per year.

The project also entails expanding the goods yard and installing a second long-distance conveyor belt to connect the yard to the Andaime Railway Terminal. Adjustments are also being made to this terminal. To enable these results, an electrical substation is being built to supply more power to the Vargem Grande and Pico mining complexes in Minas Gerais.