Vale confirms $1.5bn expansion of iron-ore mine in Brazil
![](https://assets.bizclikmedia.net/138/d52ce10d53f469821b8c6705f2be6a15:80673ac0ac9f63378491bb4a28190403/404no23kkdub376z140820200742-jpeg.webp)
The Serra Sul mine is located in the municipality of Canaã dos Carajás, and forms part of Vale’s Northern System mining complex. Its capacity is currently only 100mn tonnes; Vale’s board has approved the ‘Serra Sul 120’ project, which will require approximately £1.5bn (£1.15bn) of investments over several years. The board aims to commence work on increasing capacity by 2024.
Work to expand the iron-ore mine will include creating new mining areas, duplicating the existing long-distance belt conveyor (TCLD), implementing new process lines at the plant, and increasing the capacity of storage areas. Work to duplicate the TCLD alone will cost $385mn (£293mn).
In a statement on Thursday 13 August, Vale commented: “The Serra Sul 120 project will create an important buffer of productive capacity, ensuring greater operational flexibility to face eventual production or licensing restrictions in the Northern System”.