Brazil-based Vale, the world's largest iron ore mining company, announced that pellet production has commenced at its first pelletizing plant in Sohar, Sultanate of Oman. According to Vale, the US$1.356 billion pelletizing plant and distribution center "will serve as a hub catering to the growing demand of iron ore products in the Middle East, North Africa and India."
Vale's industrial complex in Sohar is comprised of a two-unit pelletizing plant, each with a nominal capacity of 4.5 million metric tons (mt) annually, in addition to a distribution center with an annual capacity of 40 million mt per year.
In a press release, Roger Agnelli, Vale CEO said, "Oman's strategic location outside the Arabian gulf, with the advantage of deep water seas, and its heavy infrastructure investments to provide leading logistics networks, advanced energy and power supply technologies and world class facilities at Sohar Industrial Port, were key to our decision to establish our operations in the Sultanate."