4 de outubro de 2023

Our Expertise Will Be Applied to the Araguaia Nickel Project, Horizonte Minerals’ Largest Greenfield Investment in Brazil The excellence of Solution 4.0 has been established through our partner Pöyry, part of the AFRY Group, which has signed a contract with HMSWeb Tecnologia da Informação to work on a landmark venture in the mining industry: the Araguaia Nickel project. This project, located in Conceição do Araguaia (PA), is the largest greenfield nickel investment in Brazil by the British company Horizonte Minerals (HZM). “The Araguaia Nickel project from Horizonte Minerals represents a new chapter in the partnership between HMSWeb and Pöyry. Previously, our corporate contract with Pöyry covered projects in the pulp and paper sector in Brazil. Due to the success of our past collaborations, which expanded into the AFRY Group (Sweden), Pöyry has now adopted HMSWeb© (Handover Management System) for the Araguaia Project,” says Luciano Gaete, CEO of HMSWeb and IT Director at Forship Group. Differential that creates opportunities “The HMSWeb© represented a differential for Pöyry together with the final customer, the Horizonte Minerals, once we have a robust portfolio of mining projects and know-how on this industry, already incorporated to our solution”, adds Gaete. In the executive perspective, in addition to further consolidate this partnership, it represents an opportunity to show the HMSWeb© potential to Horizonte Minerals, which has ventures in several countries. “Possibly, throughout this project, we may join other HZM international assets”, Gaete mentions, who also expects the adoption of HMSWeb© by Pöyry, in a corporate manner, in international projects. Pöyry/AFRY already uses the HMSWeb and is happy with our actuation in Smelter Complex, under its responsibility in Sweden”, he says. Customized solution “HMSWeb© has been a key differentiator for Pöyry with our client, Horizonte Minerals. Our robust portfolio of mining projects and industry expertise, already integrated into our solution, has been pivotal,” adds Gaete. From the executive’s perspective, this opportunity not only solidifies the partnership but also showcases HMSWeb©’s potential to Horizonte Minerals, which has projects across various countries. “Through this project, we may potentially engage with other HZM international assets,” Gaete notes. He also anticipates that Pöyry will adopt HMSWeb© corporately for international projects. “Pöyry/AFRY already uses HMSWeb and is satisfied with our involvement in the Smelter Complex under its management in Sweden,” he concludes. Project Araguaia Níquel Horizonte Minerals, which is developing the Araguaia Project in southeastern Pará, is also active in Brazil with the Vermelho Project, focused on nickel and cobalt, located in Canaã dos Carajás and currently in the feasibility study phase. The Araguaia mine, with a projected service life of 28 years, aims to produce 14,500 tons of ferronickel annually to supply the stainless steel market. Additionally, a Feasibility Study for Line 2 could potentially double production to 29,000 tons per year and extend the mine’s operational life by another 25 years. As of July, more than 65% of the construction work has been completed, and the first metal is expected in the first quarter of 2024. This expansion will enhance the production of a metal crucial for the clean energy transition, which is experiencing increased demand due to the established stainless steel market and the burgeoning battery market for electric vehicles. Nickel is a key metal in the transition to clean energy and has shown rising demand, driven by both the stainless steel industry and the growing electric vehicle battery market. Through these projects in Brazil, Horizonte Minerals aims to position itself as a major nickel producer, with a combined annual production target exceeding 60,000 tons of nickel.