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With 11 km in length, the structure of Alunorte, in Pará, is the largest continuous conveyor belt in Brazil, but an innovative system from Vale at the S11D mine also competes for attention as one of the largest in the world.
In the heart of the Amazon, gigantic “steel serpents” move silently, transporting millions of tons of ore and redefining mining logistics in Brazil. The battle for the title of largest continuous conveyor belt in Brazil reveals monumental-scale engineering projects, led by two of the largest companies in the industry worldwide.
According to specialized publications, such as the magazine Minérios & Minerales, the record for the longest single stretch belongs to the Alunorte alumina refinery. However, the innovative “truckless” system from Vale at the S11D mine represents a technological milestone that has transformed global iron mining, making the competition for the “largest” a matter of criteria.
The Record Holder: The 11 km Conveyor Belt from Alunorte, in Barcarena (PA)
The largest continuous conveyor belt in Brazil, in a single stretch, is located in Barcarena, Pará. The structure, approximately 11 kilometers long, belongs to the alumina refinery Alunorte, controlled by the Norwegian group Norsk Hydro.
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Its function is to transport bauxite, the raw material for aluminum, from the Port of Vila do Conde directly to the patio of the refinery, which is the largest in the world outside China. The belt is fully covered to protect the ore from rain and prevent dust from spreading in the environment.
The Innovative Giant: The “Truckless” System from Vale at the S11D Mine
Although it does not hold the record for a single stretch, the conveyor system at the S11D Eliezer Batista mine, from Vale, in Canaã dos Carajás (PA), is one of the largest and most advanced in the world. Inaugurated in December 2016, it is the heart of the company’s most important mining project in its history.
The system consists of a series of interconnected belts that together form a main line of approximately 9.5 kilometers. Its function is to transport high-quality iron ore from the mine pit to the processing plant in a completely autonomous process.
Why Use Conveyor Belts?
The main advantage of these giant structures is not speed, but sustainability and reduction of operational costs. The “truckless” system at the S11D mine, for example, eliminates the need for enormous mining trucks.
According to Vale, this innovation reduces fuel consumption by over 70% and drastically decreases greenhouse gas emissions, making operations cleaner and safer by removing a large flow of heavy vehicles from the area.
Pará: The Epicenter of Mining Logistics Giants
A notable fact is that both the largest continuous conveyor belt in Brazil and the most innovative system in the sector are located in the state of Pará.
This reflects the strength of the mining and mineral transformation industry in the state, which has established itself as a hub for large-scale projects, attracting billion-dollar investments from global companies such as Norsk Hydro and Vale.
Who Has the Largest Conveyor Belt?
The answer to which is the largest continuous conveyor belt in Brazil depends on the criteria.
- In a single continuous stretch: The title belongs to the 11 km Alunorte belt in Barcarena.
- In integrated system and innovation: The 9.5 km system from Vale’s S11D mine is a global landmark, a reference in sustainable mining.
Both structures, however, are examples of the engineering capacity to create logistics solutions on a monumental scale, essential for the competitiveness of the Brazilian mining industry.
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