Brazil's Vale likely to sell rail, ships before mining assets
(Minews) - Vale's operations in Oman has received its 50th Valemax vessel, the world's largest iron ore carrier, at its deep water jetty in the Port of Sohar, recording a total shipment of 25 million metric tonnes of iron ore since commencing its operations in Oman in 2011.
Created to integrate the global logistics strategy of the company to generate customised solutions for its clients in Asia and raise the competitiveness of its products, the Valemax is a new concept category ore carrier with a capacity to transport 400,000 metric tonnes and has alone been responsible for the delivery of 80 per cent of the iron ore shipments to Oman from Brazil.
"There is a popular belief that a large port can sustain a city. Today we can assume that this is happening here in North Al Batinah. At Vale, we are proud to see how only the operations related to our vessels are economically contributing to the region."
For every Valemax that calls at the Port, approximately $3.3 million is invested in unloading the shipment and preparing the vessel for departure", said Sergio Espeschit, Vale's Chief Executive Officer in Oman.
He explained that most of these services, including port services, shipping agency and handling services, bunker fuel, engine cylinder oil and consumable store supply replenishment, are contracted to local businesses including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in an effort to develop the local supply chain and help support and enable secondary and tertiary industries in Oman to enter international markets.
He said, "The Port of Sohar's strategic location outside of the Strait of Hormuz with the advantage of deep-water seas has put Oman on the world map of the steel industry while solidifying its frontier market status and competitiveness in the global economy. Being one of ten ports around the world equipped to receive Valemax's impressive capacity, the Port has achieved global maritime prominence and allowed us to establish a worldwide production and logistics system that enhances our capability to generate customised solutions for clients."
Over the last 3 years, Vale in Oman has exported 20 million metric tonnes of iron ore pellets to its network of clients in the Middle East, North Africa and India with efficiency and just in time services while contributing to support the Oman's Economic Vision for 2020," he added.
A fully laden Valemax vessel carries as much iron ore as 11,150 trucks, enough to produce steel for three of San Francisco's famed Golden Gate Bridge.
