Altius Bolivia was tagged in to complete the transport of a 176-ton reactor for the Mutun Steel Plant. Contracted by Sinosteel MECC the low-carbon steel complex consists of a beneficiation plant, pellet plant, direct reduction plant, EAF steel making, steel rolling, power plant and auxiliary facilities.

Tenova HYL was contracted back in 2019 by Sinosteel as the Technology provider for a Direct Reduction (DR) Micro-Module for the facility. Following delays, the project’s construction was back on track in May this year, which meant that Altius had the green light for the transport.

The 26-metre-long and seven-metre-wide reactor started its journey at the port of Zárate, Argentina, where a direct ship-to-barge transhipment took place, a first for the port of Zárate. The reactor was then transported 2,750 km down the Paraná-Paraguay waterway to Puerto Jennefer in Bolivia.

Two cranes, Liebherr LG 1750 and Demag CC 2500, were positioned by Altius at the port to unload the reactor, which was then transported on a 14-row hydraulic modular trailer to its final destination at the customer’s facility.

15-month delay

According to Sinosteel, the project endured a 15-month delay. In February of this year, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Sinosteel and Mutun for the resumption of the project.

In February of this year, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Sinosteel and Mutun for the resumption of the project.

The completion of construction is expected in mid-2023 and the start of operation at the end of 2023.