Royal IHC: Spotlight on sustainable character of Vale’s Gelado Project

Last week, Royal IHC team in Brazil successfully concluded the final commissioning test and begun operations of the dredging pump for the last of four electrical mining dredgers designed and supplied to serve Vale’s Gelado Project.

“With our dedicated team focused on achieving project success, they tackled many challenges and some obstacles,” said Royal IHC.

The four dredgers connect seamlessly to Vale’s electrical system, streamlining their operations for maximum efficiency, and recovering tailings in a more sustainable way.

Over the last 37 years Vale has been producing iron ore at Carajás and depositing the tailings in the Gelado dam.

This material is basically composed of iron ore particles that could not be used in the original beneficiation process and impurities such as silica and alumina.

Using dredges, the tailings will be removed from the dam and sent back for processing at the plant. 

The sustainable character of the project is reinforced by the use of 100% electric dredges, as well as electric pumps, which use electricity from renewable sources rather than fossil fuels such as diesel.