The plant will be fed with domestic, low grade iron ore where the FLS flotation system will upgrade it to a final product that will be amongst the purest and highest-grade iron ore available anywhere in the world.
FLS conducted extensive laboratory and on-site pilot testing to design a beneficiation flowsheet that assures the highest metallurgical performance and availability, while allowing for operational flexibility. Several novel and conventional flotation technologies were evaluated leading to the selection of FLS nextSTEP flotation cells. This circuit will be equipped with mechanical and process condition monitoring with advanced process control and the full system includes KREBS millMAX pumps for froth and slurry transport.
This is the third consecutive order that FLS has received from the customer within the last six months. The iron ore fed to the flotation plant will come from 18 of the world’s largest vertical tower mills, which the customer ordered from FLS earlier this year. These will operate directly downstream from two of the world’s largest high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs), which the customer ordered from FLS in the fourth quarter of 2024 alongside 30 KREBS UMD pumps and 18 KREBS gMAX hydrocyclones to complete the secondary and tertiary grinding circuits’ process requirements.
All the FLS technologies are expected to be installed and commissioned during 2026/2027.
“We are very proud and excited that the customer has selected our efficient flotation technologies to accompany our HPGRs and tower mills to form the core of what will be one of the largest, most efficient and highest-grade iron ore beneficiation plants globally,” said Mikko Keto, CEO of FLS. “This order is clear testament to the importance of strong customer relations and a strong vote of confidence in our market leading technologies, as the combination of these FLS technologies will provide the customer with significant reductions in energy, water and grinding media consumption, whilst supporting optimal profitability.”
