Anglo American and Porto do Açu are working together on a new project that aims to reuse the effluent water from the largest pipeline in the world.
In celebration of the week of World environment day, on Thursday (9) Anglo American and Porto do Açu announced, at Casa Firjan, a partnership to analyze, in industrial units, the reuse of water that is used in the activities of the largest pipeline in the world, which has 529 km long and transports iron ore from Conceição do Mato Dentro (MG) to the port in São João da Barra. The expectation is that this will be one of the largest water reuse projects in the country, reaching a volume of 0,3 m³/s of reused water.
Partnership between Anglo American and Porto do Açu aims to study the treatment of effluents from the pipeline
According to the acting president of Firjan, Luiz Césio Caetano, during the signing ceremony of the document between the companies, the project between Anglo American and Porto do Açu represents the capacity of the industry in the state to be innovative in its solutions and also unite issues that are strategic for sustainable development, presenting an initiative that represents a true milestone in circular economy efforts as a planning element for alternative sources of supply.
The product leaves the pipeline of Anglo American and crosses 29 cities until reaching the Port of Açu, where it undergoes a filtering process, with the separation of water and ore. Soon after, it is stored to be exported. Currently, the effluent generated by the water filtration system is treated and mostly discarded at sea, following the legal standards of the operation.
Therefore, the partnership between Porto do Açu and Anglo American for reuse aims to study the treatment and use of this part of the effluent in the complex's industrial plants, so that the effluent is no longer gradually discarded into the sea.
Initiative encourages circular economy practices for water
According to Anglo American's environmental manager, this is yet another initiative that is in line with the company's purpose of innovating in the pipeline and improve people's lives, in addition to being aligned with the goals and objectives of the company's Sustainable Mining Plan. The objective is to expand the reuse of water as much as possible in the company's operations.
According to the CEO of Anglo American, Wilfred Buijn, the company continues to work to foster and build an increasingly sustainable environment, which brings ideas to the benefit of society in general. There are consistent goals in the Sustainable Mining plan and the company works solidly to achieve them.
Porto do Açu exemplifies uses of effluent from the pipeline
The CEO of Porto do Açu, José Firmo, states that the companies installed in Porto do Açu need water for their various activities and represent a relevant demand for its reuse. The initiative promotes circular economy practices for water, in line with Grupo Prumo's sustainability strategies.
The effluent from the pipeline can also be used by companies that will install new industrial and sustainable projects in the port, such as fertilizer plants, thermoelectric plants, pellet production, green hydrogen, petrochemicals and green steel.
It is important to emphasize that Anglo American seeks innovative energy management in the country and, in this sense, has become a self-producer of sustainable energy in partnership with House of the Winds.
