Vale inaugurates Capanema mine and invests R$67 billion in a new phase of mining in Minas Gerais

Vale recently inaugurated the Capanema mine in Ouro Preto (MG), during a ceremony attended by Governor Romeu Zema and other authorities. The resumption of operations marks the beginning of a new phase for Vale in the state, with investments totalling R$67 billion through 2030.

The resources will be applied to safer, more innovative, and sustainable production processes, prioritising the reduction in the use of tailings dams, lower carbon emissions, and the expansion of circular mining, supported by new technologies across the company’s five operational complexes in Minas Gerais.

Capanema will operate using natural moisture, without water in mineral processing and without generating tailings, eliminating the need for a dam. The new model also includes five autonomous off-road trucks and circularity solutions, such as the reprocessing of iron ore contained in an old waste pile. The mine will add approximately 15 million tpy to Vale’s iron ore production, contributing to the company’s guidance of 340–360 million tpy in 2026.

Around R$5.2 billion was invested in reactivating the unit, which had been inactive for 22 years, including modernisation of facilities and integration with other mines in the region to optimise processes and reduce environmental impacts. The construction lasted five years, involved around 40 companies and more than 6000 workers at peak activity, with a focus on hiring local labor. The operation employs 800 people.

“Minas Gerais is at the centre of Vale’s transformation. We have a long history of learning, deep cultural evolution, and above all, partnership with the people of Minas. We continue together on this journey, confident in our legacy for the sustainable development of the state. Capanema exemplifies the new phase of mining in Minas Gerais and reinforces our commitment to a more responsible production process, minimally invasive and with technology and innovation applied to better utilise mineral resources and support decarbonisation initiatives,” says Gustavo Pimenta, Vale’s CEO.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/environment-sustainability/09092025/vale-inaugurates-capanema-mine-and-invests-r67-billion-in-a-new-phase-of-mining-in-minas-gerais/