Samarco builds new pellet plant in Brazil

Pelletizing Plant Brazilian iron ore pellet maker Samarco Minera??o has inaugurated its third pelletizing plant. The plant at Ubu in southeastern Espírito Santo state would expand Samarco's pellet production capacity by 54% to 20.6 million tonnes per year.It is part of a BRL 3.10 billion project that also includes an iron ore processing plant in Minas Gerais state and a 398 kilometer pipeline. In addition, technical feasibility and environmental impact studies are underway for related investments in port infrastructure and are due for completion in 18 months.Mr José Tadeu de Moraes president of Samarco said that the outlook is positive for the pellet market for the coming years, so much so that the company has already begun studies into the construction of a fourth pelletizing plant. He said "We are building the Samarco of the future, a company attentive to market opportunities, more conscious of its social and environmental responsibilities.”