ArcelorMittal has selected B&W Mechanical Handling as its supplier of equipment for its new iron ore mining and shipping facility currently under construction at the port of Buchanan in Liberia.

ArcelorMittal Liberia has reopened a number of mines in Liberia that were closed due to the 14 years of civil conflict.

Since the start of construction in 2006, ArcelorMittal Liberia has created employment in the region. It is expected that the total investment in rebuilding the country’s mining industry is to exceed $1bn.

The current plan envisages shipment of 4Mt/y of Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) that has been sourced from deposits of Tokadeh, Gangra and Yuelliton.

DSO will be exported from Buchanan Port 250km from the mine site. A stockyard and train load-out facility is being planned at Tokadeh and a stockyard and ship loading facility is being planned at Buchanan Port for exporting the DSO.

The 45m boom Mobile B&W Shiploader will be fed by wheel loaders, tipping material into a chassis mounted Kleenline belt feeder, enabling peak loading rates of 2000t/hr and average rates of 1700t/hr into Panamax size vessels.

Maximum mobility is available through the provision of B&Ws Inline and Parallel wheel travel system and an on-board diesel generator set.

Environmental considerations are paramount with full length boom covers and water spray dust suppression fitted to both the feeder and at transfer points.

A cross belt sampler is integrated into the shiploader and designed to collect a representative sample of the product at various stages during loading, for material analysis.

A single belt weigh scale is also provided and enables the operator to determine the handling rates that the equipment is achieving, all from the comfort of the control cabin.

The equipment is due for delivery in March 2011 and manufacturing is currently underway. The system will be commissioned in early June, with the first ship to be loaded that same month.

B&W is a port mobile plant specialist based in the UK and is part of the Aumund Group, which has offices in more than 10 countries and representatives in over 40.