Winner

As part of its strategy for energy transition and steel sector decarbonization, Vale has been developing its iron ore briquette program for the past 20 years. This innovative product can reduce carbon emissions in steelmaking by up to 10%. Usina 1, the first large-scale briquette plant, is now operational in Vitória, Brazil. The project involved converting an outdated pellet plant into a modern, sustainable facility and coordinating over 1,500 construction work packages across three schedules.

In partnership with Deloitte, Vale implemented Advanced Work Packaging (AWP) and BIM workflows, supported by Bentley SYNCHRO. The team created a 4D digital twin linking work packages to the schedule, enabling dynamic and collaborative planning. This digital approach improved traceability and allowed the team to identify and resolve 70% of critical errors in advance. A major cargo movement of over 300 tons was executed safely, involving hundreds of professionals. The successful use of SYNCHRO and integrated planning is now being applied to other major projects in the program and has become a benchmark for Vale’s global briquette plant developments.