On the 23rd local time, Vale announced that (Samarco Minera mining company Samako mining company SAMACO ã o S.A.) would gradually resume operations from today, as well as the Germano (Germano) complex mine in Mariana, Minas Gerais state, and Ubu (Ubu) complex mine in Ansheta city, Esp í rito Santo state.
After resuming operations, Samako will use one of the three iron ore concentrators in the Germano comprehensive mining area for mineral processing and one of the four pelletizing plants in the Wubu comprehensive mining area for pelletizing, with an annual production capacity of 7 million to 8 million tons, or 26% of its total Samako production capacity.
Samako, Germano and Ubu conducted a large number of commissioning tests before cooperating to resume operations to ensure a safe return to production after a lapse of five years. Samako will adopt a new tailings treatment process, reflecting its commitment to continuous recovery and safe operation.
After obtaining a corrective operating license (LOC) in October 2019, Samako is expected to restart its second concentrator in about five years, with an annual capacity of about 14 million to 16 million tonnes, and a third concentrator in about nine years, with an annual capacity of about 22 million to 24 million tonnes.
