Environmental Assessment
Volume C-2
Slurry Pipeline
Project Description
Ambatovy Project
17
January 2006
The valve station rupture disc will bypass the station block valves. The terminal
station relief devices direct their flow to the receiving thickener.
2.6
OTHER PIPELINES
The two particular characteristics of the proposed Ambatovy ore pipeline that
differentiate it from most other ore pipelines are the relatively high tonnage and
the fact that reinforcing pump stations in the mainline are not required in spite of
the relatively long pipeline length. The pipeline that offers the most useful
comparison is the Los Bronces copper ore pipeline operated by Anglo American
Chile. The pipeline diameter varies from 600 mm to 500 mm and is similar to
that of the proposed Ambatovy pipeline. A significantly higher tonnage of
58,000 t/d is transported for a distance of 58 km with a static head of about
2,700 m without any mainline pumps. Four choke stations are required to
dissipate the static head.
The system has been operating since 1992 and currently the 500 mm diameter
sections are being upgraded to 600 mm to increase throughput and to replace
worn sections of pipeline.
In terms of diameter and length, the 500 mm diameter, 396 km Samarco iron ore
pipeline in Brazil offers some points of comparison. The throughput of this
pipeline is about 30,000 t/d and it incorporates two high-pressure pump stations,
one combined choke and isolation station and one isolation valve station. This
pipeline system has operated very successfully since 1977 with minimal
production downtime due to unplanned pump or pipeline maintenance.
Table 2-1 summarizes additional pipeline data from other existing projects. For
comparison, the Ambatory pipeline will transport nickel laterite ore slurry, will
be about 195 km in length, will have a diameter of 550 mm and will have a
capacity of 7.2 MTA. It is planned to operate for 27 years.
Table 2-1
Other Similar Pipelines
Pipeline
Mineral
Length
(km)
Pipe Dia.
(mm)
Capacity
(MTA)
Years
Operating
SF Phosphate, Utah
phosphate
92
250
2.9
20
Simplot, Idaho
phosphate
133
200
1.9
22
Kennecott, Utah
copper tailings
20
700/500
(a)
35.2
16
Chino Mines, New Mexico
copper tailings
14.4
400
(a)
14
22
Century Zinc, Australia
lead & zinc
concentrates
300
300
(a)
2.6
5
Antamina, Peru
copper & zinc
concentrates
303
250/225/200
(a)
1.8
3
(a)
Note: Internally lined steel pipeline.
