CONVEYING
Bedeschi ’ s feeder and conveyor systems were chosen for the new Terminal Graneles del Norte ( TGN ) in Chile
loaded onto a Handymax vessel , showcasing the terminal ’ s ability to handle the increasing demand for copper concentrate .
TGN Port is located in Mejillones Bay at the heart of Chile ’ s mining region some 60 km north of Antofagasta . It has a strategic location , close to the most important copper district in the world , which contains world famous mineral deposits .
The project includes the construction of a new berthing site with full automated handling equipment for receiving , storage container staking , transport and ship loading of copper concentrate .
Empresa Constuctora Belfi SA , is the construction company that chose Italy ’ s Bedeschi as one of the suppliers for the new project . The company designed and supplied three belt feeders designed to receive copper concentrate from rotating containers , an underground conveyor of approximately 400 m length in the storage yard and a pipe conveyor of approximately 950 m to connect the storage yard overland conveyor to the dock facility .
The most innovative aspect of this expansion Bedeschi states is the integration of automation technology , enabling minimal human-machine interaction . The entire process runs on renewable electric power , reinforcing the company ’ s dedication to sustainability and its efforts to lower its carbon footprint .
Bedeschi says it has a green product portfolio
of modern and eco-friendly solutions designed to minimise impacts in terms of noise , dust emissions , material dispersion etc which meet the strictest environmental standards . In fact , the pipe conveyor was chosen to guarantee the handling of copper concentrate from the storage to the ship without any dispersion of material in the surrounding area to avoid environmental pollution .
It adds : “ The first shipment test not only validated the system ’ s operability , but also affirmed the project ’ s high standards of safety , efficiency , and sustainability .” The TGN Port expansion was set to begin operations in January 2025 , with an annual capacity of 4 Mt .
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BEUMER Group was selected last year by Warrior Met Coal to support the expansion of Blue Creek mine , a new state-of-the-art underground longwall mine producing steelmaking coal .
The extracted coal is to be processed on surface in a coal preparation plant before being moved over 14 km to a train loadout station . The BEUMER Group secured the order from Warrior to design and supply a single-flight curved overland conveyor for this 1,500 short ton per hour transport system .
Daniel Schmillenkamp , CEO of BEUMER Group Canada , said : “ In cooperation with Warrior , we addressed the project-specific challenges . The design and implementation are a testament to our commitment to innovation and customercentric solutions .”
The project presented some challenges due to the difficult and hilly terrain of the proposed transport corridor , BEUMER says . To find the most efficient solution , Warrior explored various transportation methods , including rail , troughed and pipe conveyor systems . BEUMER Group worked closely with Warrior to identify the most economical and technically feasible transport method and optimal route , resulting in a single conventionally troughed conveyor with 18 horizontal curves .
Philip Saunders , Senior VP Engineering at Warrior , said : “ BEUMER ’ s holistic approach and our very close working relationship allowed us to expedite the design and procurement phase to move toward the completion of this timesensitive project at a pace rarely seen in the coal or mining industries .”
BEUMER is responsible for engineering and procurement of all structural and mechanical components and multiple E-Houses with VFDs , MCCs and PLC control systems . The conveyor system will use nine load-sharing drives to limit the overall belt tension .
BEUMER ’ s Director of Sales , Peter Sehl , said this project uses innovative and proprietary conveyor engineering and design tools to support the fast construction schedule . “ With over 5,000 tons of steel for ground modules and elevated sections , 47 % of the conveyor flight will be elevated to avoid natural features and minimise earthworks ,” he said . The overland conveyor is expected to be operational by the end of 2025 .
With the addition of Blue Creek , Warrior expects to increase its annual High Vol A production by 4.8 million short tons ; enhance its already advantageous position on the global cost curve ; drive its cash costs further into the first
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FEBRUARY 2025 | International Mining 51