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Mining in Mozambique gained prominence when Kenmare Resources transported an entire wet concentration plant at the Moma mine, an operation linked to titanium that used about 300 axle lines, 50 SPMTs, and a special road to sustain production during the pandemic and expand operational capacity.
Mining in Mozambique underwent a rare operation when Kenmare Resources decided to transport an entire wet concentration plant of approximately 7,000 tons within the Moma titanium mineral mine, on the northeast coast of the country. The relocation took the structure from Namalope to Pilivili, over a distance of about 23 kilometers.
According to information from Hatch, the project took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and was completed with the start of heavy mineral concentrate production on October 25, 2020. The move was part of a strategy to sustainably increase Moma mine’s production from 2021, despite global restrictions affecting people, suppliers, and materials.
7,000-ton plant was transported whole to a new deposit
The relocated structure was WCP B, a wet concentration plant used in processing mineral sands extracted at the Moma mine. Instead of dismantling the equipment and reassembling it at another site, the decision was to move the entire plant to a new ore body in Pilivili.
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What makes the operation unusual is the combination of weight, distance, and load integrity. Transporting a 7,000-ton plant over 23 kilometers requires a different logic from a common industrial move, as the structure needs to remain stable throughout the journey.
Mining in Moma relies on dredges and artificial ponds
The Moma mine operates with a system linked to floating dredges in artificial mining ponds. These dredges pump the mineral sands from the pond walls to wet concentration plants, where the material undergoes an initial processing stage.
Kenmare worked with deposits in Namalope and Pilivili, in addition to three wet concentration plants: WCP A, WCP B, and WCP C. The relocation of WCP B to Pilivili aimed to bring the structure closer to a new ore front and support the operation’s growth plan.
About 300 axle lines and 50 SPMTs were used in the relocation
To move the plant, the operation used five sets of self-propelled modular transporters, known as SPMTs. In total, there were about 300 axle lines, formed by 50 six-axle SPMTs, designed to distribute the weight of the structure along the route.
This type of transport is used when a load is too large for conventional solutions. In the case of the Moma plant, the challenge was not only to move a mass of 7,000 tons but to ensure that the structure advanced along a long route without losing stability.
Special road was built to enable the relocation
The plant traveled the 23 kilometers on a road specially built for the relocation. This detail shows that the transport did not rely solely on the SPMTs but also on soil preparation and infrastructure capable of supporting the load’s weight.
In operations of this magnitude, the path needs to be treated as a central part of the engineering. The route cannot have weak points, inadequate inclines, or sections that compromise the load distribution, because any failure could affect the relocation of the entire plant.
Pandemic increased the project’s risk in a critical phase
The relocation occurred amid an unstable global scenario. The COVID-19 pandemic altered rules in Mozambique, while lockdowns in various countries limited the movement of teams, suppliers, and materials necessary for the project’s progress.
To reduce risks, the integrated team of the owner, Hatch, and the contractors restructured part of the project strategy. The plan called “HMC on time” was created to ensure the delivery of heavy mineral concentrate by the third quarter of 2020, avoiding delays that could compromise the resumption of production.
Pilivili received new infrastructure to support the operation
The relocation of the plant was not the only work required. The new area in Pilivili received additional infrastructure for the movement and storage of heavy mineral concentrate, as well as positive displacement pumps and a return pipeline connected to the existing mineral separation plant.
Electrical infrastructure was also developed to ensure adequate power to the new location. Without this preparation, moving the plant to Pilivili would not suffice, as the structure needed to be connected to a system capable of sustaining production after the relocation.
Production resumed after the relocation of WCP B
The start of heavy mineral concentrate production occurred on October 25, 2020, according to the plan adopted to maintain the schedule. After that, Kenmare resumed production of WCP B at normal levels in the fourth quarter of that year.
The project’s expectation was to help the company achieve a sustainable 20% increase in production starting in 2021. In practice, the relocation of the plant aimed to reposition Moma mining for a phase of greater operational capacity.
Operation shows how mining can depend on extreme engineering
The movement of the 7,000-ton plant in Mozambique shows that large mining projects do not rely solely on mineral extraction. They also require heavy logistics, transport engineering, route planning, risk management, and the ability to adapt in unpredictable scenarios.
Few operations bring together, at the same time, a structure of this magnitude, a distance of 23 kilometers, and an ongoing pandemic. Therefore, the relocation of WCP B in Moma has become an example of how the mining industry can face technical challenges far beyond the deposit itself.
An entire plant crossing 23 kilometers changes the perception of large mines
The case of the Moma mine shows that, in some projects, moving an existing structure can be more strategic than building everything again from scratch. The choice to transport the entire plant to Pilivili reduced the need for complete disassembly and allowed the operation to be directed to a new ore area.
Now the question arises: do operations of this magnitude show the advancement of engineering in mining or reveal how large mines increasingly depend on gigantic structures to continue growing? Do you think transporting an entire plant over 23 kilometers was an efficient decision or too risky? Share your opinion.
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