Australian iron ore giant
BHP Billiton and its Brazilian peer
Vale have approved the US$3.5 billion fourth pellet plant project at their equally owned iron ore pellet producer company Samarco in
Brazil. The expansion will increase Samarco's iron ore pellet production capacity by 8.3 million mt to 30.5 million mt per annum. First pellet production is expected in the first half of calendar year 2014.