All four IPCC systems at S11D operating at over 80% capacity

Posted by Paul Moore on 8th December 2017

All of Vale’s S11D truckless iron ore mining systems are operating, with their start-ups ahead of schedule. The four systems are already operating at over 80% capacity. The four systems each utilise the Sandvik PF200 fully mobile crushing station, each loaded by Caterpillar 7495 rope shovels. The IPCC systems are being used in the Serra Sul (S11D) block, a ridge of land 30 km long and around 1.8 km wide.

Sandvik’s Mining Systems business was recently acquired by FLSmidth, and when that deal closed, the Sandvik statement said: “The projects to be finalised during 2017-2019 by Sandvik, through an operational agreement with FLSmidth, will, however, remain reported in discontinued operations.” FLSmidth stated before this: “FLSmidth to provide project management and aftermarket services to Sandvik on the majority of ongoing projects to be delivered during 2017-2019.”

Vale’s overall iron ore production achieved a quarterly record of 95.1 Mt in 3Q17, 3.3 Mt higher than in 2Q17, mainly due to the better operational performance in the Northern System and the S11D ramp-up. The Northern System, which comprises Carajás, Serra Leste and S11D, achieved a quarterly record of 45.0 Mt in 3Q17, 8.5% and 16.4% higher than in 2Q17 and 3Q16, respectively, mainly due to the ramp-up of S11D, which is advancing according to plan, plus better operational performance in the mine and plant at Carajás and the weather-related seasonality.