Brazilian flats producer Usiminas announced this week it will resume iron ore output at two iron ore treatment units at its Itatiaiucu plant, located in the city of same name in the state of Minas Gerais.
According to the local steelmaker, the two units owned by Usiminas’ mining subsidiary, MUSA, will help MUSA increase iron ore concentrate output by 800,000 in 2017.
Usiminas said all the projected production volume will be destined to the export market. It expects to export about 3.5 million mt of iron ore in 2018.
As a result of the mine’s restart, Usiminas expects to hire 350 new workers, including former workers who were laid off in 2015 and 2016 due to a sluggish economic scenario for the mining sector.