The order is part of Vale's plan to increase the mine's capacity to 11 million tonnes. The value of the order is €3.3 million.
The pumps are specially designed for the demanding conditions associated with mining and for easy maintenance. The order also covers initial start-up and commissioning, together with service training and assistance for the first six months of operation. Metso's delivery will be completed by Q4 2013.
"This pump contract with Vale is another good example of Metso's global project handling capabilities, utilising our experts based in South Africa, Portugal and Brazil. As the biggest single pump order ever received in South Africa, this represents a real breakthrough for Metso in Mozambique," says Graham Van Bosch, regional salesmanager, Slurry Handling Solutions, Metso South Africa.
The Moatize coal mine is situated in the central part of the Tete province, where Vale started coal production at the mine in August 2011. Vale is planning on increasing the production in three phases: first to five million tonnes in 2013 and further to 11 million tonnes. The final target is 22 million tonnes per year. The timing depends on the upgrading the Sena railway, used to transport the coal from the mine to the harbour of Nacala.
The Moatize delivery consists of heavy and extra heavy duty horizontal and vertical spindle spillage pumps specifically designed and sized for the given applications, most of which are considered as arduous.
High chrome iron alloy is the material best suited for coal applications providing excellent abrasion resistance with good corrosion resistance. Time and time again, this material has proven itself with enormous success at a variety of coal mines throughout the world.
At Moatize, the most aggressive duty pumps are the cyclone feed pumps where the Metso XM400 pump was selected. This extra heavy duty design was specifically chosen because of its large diameter impeller, which enables the pump to operate at minimum rpm, reducing impeller tip speed and hence rate of wear. The inlet diameter allows minimum inlet velocity reducing both abrasion and impact wear. Wet end life is therefore considerably extended.
All pumps chosen for this project are designed for ease of maintenance, during normal and routine inspection or repair. Bearing frames and rotating elements can be removed as a unit enabling efficient Impeller and gland seal component renewal.
