What developments has Ausenco Brazil undergone since 2011 and how important is Brazil to Ausenco’s global operations?

Since 2011, Ausenco Brazil has expanded significantly, increasing its headcount from around 150 to 280 and seeing a growth in market share and revenues by around 40%. All of Ausenco’s employees in Brazil now work under one roof in Belo Horizonte, which has boosted productivity and potential for synergies. Brazil is an essential market for Ausenco due to its enormous potential in mining and related infrastructure.

Can you explain Ausenco’s involvement in the Samarco P4P project?

Ausenco has a long-standing relationship with Samarco and is working on the pipeline that will transport ore from the mine site in Mariana, Minas Gerais to the pelletization plant on the coast of Espirito Santo. The pipeline was designed by the American firm Bechtel Engineering in the 1970s and since 2008, Ausenco owns the specialist pipeline company, PSI, whose experts have been collaborating with Samarco on all their pipeline projects.

What is your assessment of Pará’s role in the Brazilian mining sector?

Pará is currently significant to the sector with several important projects being developed there. However, very few companies have their headquarters located in Pará, and the majority of the engineering and design work for mining projects takes place in Belo Horizonte. Therefore, Minas Gerais is likely to remain the country’s knowledge center for the mining sector for many years to come, despite Pará’s potential to eventually overtake it as the main contributor to the mining economy.

Could you discuss the impact of lower iron ore grades on the demand for beneficiation plants?

As the mining industry progresses towards mining lower grades of ore, there is a need for more complex beneficiation processes and technological solutions to recover iron ore particles from tailings. This has resulted in an increased demand for beneficiation plants, which will be crucial in the development of future mines and expansion of existing operations to become more efficient and eliminate waste.

How often does Ausenco collaborate with other engineering firms in its mining projects?

Although there are strong engineering firms both domestically and internationally, few national companies have the expertise to oversee and lead a full mining project. Therefore, Ausenco often works in partnership with other companies, particularly for major projects that require mine planning and geological mapping, which is not Ausenco’s specialty. Collaboration between different companies allows for the utilization of key expertise offered by each player to achieve the best possible results, and Ausenco is open to such collaborations.