In a notable achievement, TAKRAF Group has announced the signing of a major contract between Rio Tinto and TAKRAF concerning development of the Simandou iron ore complex in Guinea. The Simandou complex is one of the largest unexploited high-grade iron ore deposits in the world.
The contract entails the design, fabrication and delivery of an advanced and integrated IPCC and material handling system. Highlights include two primary IPCC systems incorporating two TAKRAF X-TREME class sizers to crush extracted ore received by truck. It also includes a secondary In Pit Secondary Crushing & Conveying (IPSCC) system incorporating four TAKRAF sizers for further ore processing.
Further downstream it also covers two rail mounted stackers for ore stockpiling and two rail mounted reclaimers for ore reclaiming plus two wagon loading stations with buffer silos. It also covers a complex conveyor system with transfer stations for the above equipment, including a technically sophisticated long downhill conveyor between the secondary IPSCC system and the stockyard; as well as electrical and control equipment and stockyard auxiliaries.
In order to achieve the desired annual production rate of 60 Mt/y, the crushing system has been sized with a design capacity of up to 13,200 t/h. Importantly, all stockyard equipment have also been designed with scalability in mind, laying the foundation for future expansions. A separate contract for technical assistance for installation and commissioning of the system, as well as for assistance in longer-term maintenance and spare parts supply will also be concluded.
Thomas Jabs, TAKRAF Group: CEO, regarding the award of the contract: “First and foremost, this is an important project for the country of Guinea and we are proud to play our part. Secondly, as steel producers adopt various initiatives to reduce their carbon emissions, the demand for lower-impurity and higher-grade iron ore – essential feedstock for steel production – is growing. Simandou’s premium quality ore will thus play an important role in the global energy transition. Lastly, I would like thank Rio Tinto and all stakeholders for their trust in TAKRAF’s solution offering. We boast significant experience in IPCC systems and an esteemed history in delivering solutions that overcome some of the most complex engineering challenges. We are proud to have been selected as important partners to this project and look forward to our engineered solutions delivering upon their promise.”
TAKRAF already has a very successful project history in Guinea, having supplied for example primary and secondary sizing and materials handling solutions for Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG)’s bauxite expansion project in the country. CBG was formed in 1963 by the Government of Guinea and Halco (Mining), Inc to develop bauxite in the Boké region – the Government of Guinea owns 49% and Boké Investment Company owns 51% of CBG. Halco owns 100% of Boké Investment Company. Halco is a consortium comprised of Rio Tinto (45%), Alcoa (45%) and Dadco Investments (10%) – so ultimately as a major player in CBG, Rio Tinto has been happy with its experience of TAKRAF there.
