Samarco Project, Brazil

Samarco project in South East Brazil is an integrated open pit mine, pipeline and port operation producing iron ore pellets, jointly owned by BHP Billiton and Vale.
In 2005, the boards of the two companies approved construction of a third pellet plant at Ponta Ubu, together with a mine expansion, a new concentrator at Germano, port enhancements and a second slurry pipeline. The project was completed in 2008 at a cost of around US$1.5bn.


During FY2008 the mine produced around 17mt ore, an increase of 8.5% on the previous year.
Record sales volumes reflect shipping efficiency, the RGP3 ramp-up and improvement initiatives.
At 396km long, Samarco’s pair of slurry pipelines are the world’s longest. The pelletising facility on the coast enables Samarco to operate its own port facility at Ponta Ubu, which can accommodate two vessels of up to 170,000 tons. The 313m-long by 22m-wide ship loading pier also receives carriers and tankers bringing coal and fuel oil for the pelletising plant.
Samarco is operated as an independent business with its own management team and has been granted mining concessions by the Brazilian government provided that it mines the Alegria complex according to an agreed plan.