Vale confirmed last week the construction of the world’s largest activated clay factory, to use mining waste to produce cement, in the state of Pará, Brazil.
The largest sustainable cement plant will be managed by Circlua, a company created by Vale to implement green cement solutions, and will produce 3000 tons per day of activated clay from clay from the Carajás iron ore complex.
The clay contains up to 80% kaolinite and will be recycled as a supplementary cementitious material.
In Global Cement, it was detailed that thyssenkrupp Polysius obtained the contract for the engineering design of the plant, which will run largely on renewable electricity.
Christian Myland, CEO of thyssenkrupp Polysius, said: “We are honoured to collaborate on this landmark project. Leveraging high-quality local clay and our advanced activated clay technology, this plant will set a new milestone in the production of carbon-friendly cement.”
In addition to reducing the volume of accumulated mining waste, the new Vale mining factory will also generate jobs and income for the inhabitants of the region, contributing to the socio-economic advancement of the state of Pará.
This is not the company’s only cement factory. In 2023, the mining company Vale inaugurated its first pilot plant for civil construction products, whose main raw material is waste from mining activities.
Installed in Pico Mina, in the municipality of Itabirito (MG), the factory promotes the circular economy in the iron ore processing operation.
After the trial period, the expectation is that, each year, around 30,000 tons of waste will no longer be disposed of in dams or piles to be transformed into 3.8 million prefabricated products of wide application in the civil construction industry, such as interlocking floors, sealing and structural concrete blocks, concrete slabs, etc. shackles, among others.
It is worth mentioning that the mining company Vale has been carrying out studies on the application of waste since 2014. Its use in civil construction, replacing natural sand, is also an environmental solution.
Sources: es.clickpetroleoegas.com.br and globalcement.com
Author: Mayra Flores Ccopa – España | Pan-American Mining