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Against stiff competition Weir Minerals Netherlands bv has secured the order to supply 18 pump units Geho TZPM 2000, the largest piston diaphragm pumps, for the iron ore pipeline project of the Brazilian MPC (Mineracao, Pesquisa e Comercio Ltda.).

MPC is part of MMX, Mineracao e Metalicos S.A., and Sumitomo Metals. It recently successfully issued shares on the Sao Paulo stock exchange to fund its ambitious plans to establish as a player in the mining industry in Brazil. The company owns and currently develops vast iron ore reserves in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. They require a 550 kms long pipeline to transport 26.6 million metric tons of iron ore in a slurry form to the Port of Acu where a pelletisation plant will be built before the product can be shipped to steel plants around the world. The pipeline will be the longest slurry pipeline in the world and, with a diameter of 24 inch, one with the highest capacity. The savings for transporting 1 metric ton of dry material through this pipeline compared to conventional railway systems will be approx. USD 6.

The 18 Geho positive displacement pumps will be installed in two pump stations, one at the mine with 8 pumps and one pump station about half way, where 10 pumps will be installed. The Geho PD pumps will develop pressures up to 206 bar to transport the heavy iron ore slurry through the 550 kms pipeline. Geho PD pumps were selected due to the high pump availability since the supply is mostly proven in operation under similar conditions and for its various features which secure the end user lowest cost of operation and highest possible reliability.

The ex works deliveries will take place over a six month period up to July 15th, 2008. The pipeline will start commercial operations in July 2009.

As part of the growing opportunities, additional service packages will be needed to reach the expected operational excellence. Weir Minerals Brazil, together with the Dutch experts of Geho PD products, will play an important role in this fast growing aftermarket.