OREANDA-NEWS. The Additional 40 Project, which will expand Carajas Mining Complex's (in the state of Para, Brazil) annual iron ore production by 40 million metric tons, is taking innovative technologies to the location. These new technologies will be present in various production stages at the mine, which will start operating in July of this year.

One example is a coordination yard where the ore is stocked before embarkation. Also, a bridge reclaimer – a machine which transports the ore to the silos (cylindrical reservoirs) – will operate there. This yard has been built to regulate the production rhythm. It is home to two piles of iron ore: while one is being formed, the other is available for the plant so that it can operate for up to four days without receiving any ore directly from the mine. The bridge reclaimer is the first of its kind ever used in Carajas. It is faster at reclaiming the ore stored in the coordination yard since it can move in all directions without restrictions.

The new plant will also feature new technology in the embarkation silo. This silo, to be used to load train cars, will have a clamshell loading gate capable of regulating the quantity of ore transferred. This will ensure that train cars are loaded uniformly, making the operation more accurate and railway transportation safer.