Longest and largest (tonnage) iron concentrate pipeline in the world

The Minas-Rio project consists of a 522 km, 24 and 26 inch diametre iron ore pipeline, which when complete will be the longest and largest (tonnage) iron concentrate pipeline in the world. The pipeline system was designed to transport 24.5 Mtpy of iron ore from the São Sebastião do Bonsucesso mine site in Minas Gerais (elevation of 770 meters) to terminal facilities at Barra do Açu-RJ RJ, on the coast of Brazil.

Two pump stations have been provided for the pipeline with the provision to add additional pumps later
should iron ore transport capacity increase as the mine develops.

Ausenco PSI’s scope includes conceptual design, feasibility study, basic advanced and detailed engineering, supervision for earthmoving detailed design, procurement support and construction supervision.

Ausenco PSI Control Systems will provide a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system and telecommunications system. The system also includes PSI’s Pipeline Simulator for simulating steady-state operation, batch operation, pipeline start-up and shutdown; operator training and operations planning; and PSI’s Pipeline Advisor for process optimization and leak detection.

The project is planned for completion in 2011.