Latest news with #Carajas
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Brazil's Vale defines part of Carajas investment plan execution
SAO PAULO, June 27 (Reuters) - Brazil's Vale ( opens new tab, one of the world's largest iron ore producers, has decided how to spend half of the planned 70 billion reais ($12.78 billion) in investments under its "New Carajas Program," according to a company director, who discussed details of the five-year plan with journalists this week. Gildiney Sales, director of the mining company's North corridor, said some of the projects are in the execution phase. He added that Vale is now seeking new "targets" under the program to expand mines and increase its iron ore output to 200 million tons annually at the Carajas mining site, in addition to increasing local copper extraction by 32%. "We are looking for new ore bodies; there are projects underway, the main one being the +20 million tons project in Serra Sul, which amounts to nearly US$3 billion," he said. The Serra Sul project, which is 73% physically complete, involves opening new mining areas, doubling the long-distance conveyor belt (TCLD), and implementing new beneficiation lines. There are also plans to expand storage areas and mining equipment. Last year, Vale produced 177.5 million tons of iron ore in the Northern System (comprising Serra Sul, Norte, and Leste), as well as 265,200 tons of copper. "We are researching new targets so that we can return to producing at the level of 200 million tons in the Northern System and reach that figure of 350,000 tons of copper," he added. ($1 = 5.4784 reais)
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Vale to eliminate water use in Carajas iron ore processing by 2027
PARAUAPEBAS, Brazil, June 25 (Reuters) - Mining giant Vale ( opens new tab aims to stop using water to process iron ore at its Carajas mines by 2027, executives said on Tuesday, while expanding pellet feed production through the reuse of mine waste at the complex in northern Brazil. Ending the use of water in iron ore beneficiation would eliminate generation of waste known as tailings in the production process, therefore removing the need for new dams to be built to store them and reducing costs, Vale said. Carajas, in Brazil's Para state, is the world's largest iron ore open-pit mining complex and part of its operations have already adopted dry processing, with 90% of Vale's so-called Northern System no longer using water in beneficiation. "By end-2027 they will be 100% dry. The Northern System will be 100% on natural moisture," Vale director Gildiney Sales said, referring to an area that produced 177.5 million metric tons of iron ore in 2024, or more than half of Vale's total output. The company also said that it expects its Gelado Project, which makes high-quality pellet feed by reusing tailings stored since 1985 at the Gelado dam, to double production in 2026 when compared to this year. Gelado's output is set to reach around 5 million tons next year and 6 million tons in 2027, according to the firm, which plans to have 10% of its total annual production coming from "circular mining" by 2030.
