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Released September 08, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by Amir Richani for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Vale S.A. (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) recently reopened its Capanema mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil, after 22 years of inactivity. The asset's modernization spanned for five years and involved roughly US$962 million of investment, including integration with other mines to enhance efficiency.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Plant Database can learn more from a detailed plant profile.
A notable innovation at the mine is the use of natural moisture, which eliminates the need for water in mineral processing and tailings generation, removing the need for a dam.
The mine reprocesses iron ore from an old waste pile and employs a long-distance conveyor to link the asset to Vale's Timbopeba plant. Since no water is added, these operations are entirely circular. Subscribers can learn more about the Timbopeba plant from a detailed plant profile.
Capanema is projected to produce 15 million tons of iron ore per year, helping the company achieve its production guidance of 340 million to 360 million tons for 2026.
As part of the inauguration, Vale pledged to invest about US$1.4 billion in Minas Gerais through 2030, with a focus on expanding tailing filtering and dry stacking, supporting its goal to reduce dam usage from 30% to 20% in Minas Gerais.
As part of its plan, the company seeks to continue the elimination of dams and dikes. The program has advanced by 60%, and work on eight of the remaining 13 structures are underway, according to the company.
The 2030 strategic vision also includes investments in the modernization of five operational complexes, focusing on geotechnical structures, connectivity, fleet, renewable energy and other areas.
"These projects will offer greater safety in the production of the high-quality portfolio, which requires ore concentration stages, especially high-grade pellet feed, essential for direct reduction steelmaking routes with lower greenhouse gas emissions," said Rogério Nogueira, Vale's Executive Vice President of Commercial and Development. "Minas Gerais is strategic in supplying this product, directly contributing to the decarbonization of the steel industry."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Metals & Minerals Plant Database can learn more from a detailed plant profile.
A notable innovation at the mine is the use of natural moisture, which eliminates the need for water in mineral processing and tailings generation, removing the need for a dam.
The mine reprocesses iron ore from an old waste pile and employs a long-distance conveyor to link the asset to Vale's Timbopeba plant. Since no water is added, these operations are entirely circular. Subscribers can learn more about the Timbopeba plant from a detailed plant profile.
Capanema is projected to produce 15 million tons of iron ore per year, helping the company achieve its production guidance of 340 million to 360 million tons for 2026.
As part of the inauguration, Vale pledged to invest about US$1.4 billion in Minas Gerais through 2030, with a focus on expanding tailing filtering and dry stacking, supporting its goal to reduce dam usage from 30% to 20% in Minas Gerais.
As part of its plan, the company seeks to continue the elimination of dams and dikes. The program has advanced by 60%, and work on eight of the remaining 13 structures are underway, according to the company.
The 2030 strategic vision also includes investments in the modernization of five operational complexes, focusing on geotechnical structures, connectivity, fleet, renewable energy and other areas.
"These projects will offer greater safety in the production of the high-quality portfolio, which requires ore concentration stages, especially high-grade pellet feed, essential for direct reduction steelmaking routes with lower greenhouse gas emissions," said Rogério Nogueira, Vale's Executive Vice President of Commercial and Development. "Minas Gerais is strategic in supplying this product, directly contributing to the decarbonization of the steel industry."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
