The
Weir Group has been awarded a £36m order to
provide industry-leading energy saving
solutions to Ferrexpo, one of the world’s
largest exporters of iron ore pellets to the
global steel industry.
The
initial order, which includes a range of
Weir comminution products including Enduron®
high pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs) and
screens, will reduce energy consumption by
more than 40% compared with traditional
mining technologies, bringing substantial
reductions in carbon emissions.
Ferrexpo plans to increase output from
its operations in Ukraine from 32m tonnes
per annum to more than 80m. Detailed
test work with Weir’s Enduron® HPGR
technology showed it delivered significant
capacity and environmental benefits.
Jon
Stanton, Weir Group CEO said: “This is a
great endorsement from one of the world’s
leading miners of the key role Weir’s
technology has in making mining operations
more efficient and sustainable. It is also
an excellent example of the benefits of
working in partnership and using innovative
engineering to increase productivity and
reduce emissions.”
Jim
North, Interim CEO of Ferrexpo added: “We
are delighted to be partnering with Weir for
the next phase of our growth programme, with
high pressure grinding rolls being a great
example of utilising modern technology to
help us grow our business.”
Ferrexpo is developing production of direct
reduction (“DR”) pellets, which are higher
grade (67% Fe) and lower impurity than
alternative forms of iron ore pellets. DR
pellets are expected to represent the future
of global steel production, as steelmakers
transition to the production of carbon-free
Green Steel, with DR pellets the primary
source of virgin iron utilised in this
process.
Ricardo Garib, Weir Minerals Divisional
President commented: “As part of their Green
Steel Initiative, Ferrexpo challenged us to
help create the most energy and
cost-efficient flow sheet. Our process
engineers have worked tirelessly to provide
a solution that uses our large-format high
volume equipment to increase capacity while
also delivering significant carbon savings.
This is a real win-win.”
Weir’s Enduron® HPGRs are increasingly
replacing conventional mills in comminution
(crushing, screening and grinding) circuits
because of their substantially lower energy
consumption and potential for significant
total cost of ownership reductions.
Stuart Hayton, Managing Director of Weir
Minerals Netherlands, where the Enduron®
HPGRs are designed and manufactured, added:
“Not only do Enduron® HPGRs require as much
as 40% less energy than traditional
alternatives, their wearable components last
much longer and the maintenance time
required to replace worn out parts is
significantly lower. The estimated carbon
saving of each Enduron® HPGR in operation is
equivalent to taking more than 3,600 petrol
fuelled cars off the roads each year.”
Source: Weir |