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Vale’s role in the global energy transition

In the year it celebrates 40 years of operations in the Amazon, Vale announced the New Carajás Program on Friday, February 14. This program will focus on maintaining iron ore production volumes and expanding copper output. The launch took place at a ceremony with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during his visit to Vale’s operations in Parauapebas, Pará. The program envisions investments of R$70 billion between 2025 and 2030, aligned with the company’s strategic planning, in the Carajás region – a mineral-rich province essential for decarbonization and the global energy transition. Through this initiative, Vale reinforces its commitment to sustainable mining and aims to contribute to Brazil’s leadership in the global energy transition. 

Leveraging the mining expansion potential of Carajás, including operational mines, expansions and new targets, the program will boost the processing of high-quality iron ore, crucial for green steel production, and copper, which plays a central role in the energy transition. 

Iron ore production in Carajás is expected to reach 200 million tons per year by 2030, based on an additional 20 million tons from the expansion of Serra Sul Mine (S11D) and the depletion of current mines. Copper production is projected to grow by 32%, reaching approximately 350,000 tons annually. As a result, the program will make a significant contribution to Pará’s economy, generating around R$80-100 billion a year. Based on current projections, future production could increase the state’s exports by R$15 billion. 

Fotógrafo: Jeferson Salazar

Sustainable mining 

In recent years, Vale has intensified its focus on energy transition and decarbonization initiatives. These include producing high-quality iron ore, which improves blast furnace efficiency and reduces steel mill emissions; supplying nickel and copper, essential for electric vehicle production; and developing innovative products like briquettes, which can reduce steel industry emissions by up to 10%. 

The company has also invested in circular solutions, such as the Gelado Project in Carajás. By 2030, Vale aims for 10% of its total iron ore production to come from circularity-based products. The Gelado Project, with an annual production of 6 million tons from tailings reuse, will play a key role in achieving this goal, moving toward tailings-free mining and low-carbon products. 

Fotógrafo: Jeferson Salazar

“Carajás is a successful example of a public-private partnership focused on protecting the forest where we operate. Using dry mining processes and innovative technologies, we produce around 60% of the ore Brazil exports. This brings benefits to our country, positioning us as a global leader in supplying critical minerals and strengthening our role in combating climate change. For Vale, it expands a business front that generates value and leverages strategic market opportunities in a low-carbon economy.” 
Gustavo Pimenta, ceo at Vale

Vale’s 40 years in Pará

For the past four decades, Vale’s operations have been a cornerstone of Pará’s mining economy. Over these 40 years, the sector has established the region as a national benchmark for development, boosting revenue, generating jobs and driving the entire production chain for goods, inputs, equipment and services. 

60K+ employees

18K of which are own employees and 48K are third-party employees

R$43 billion

was the volume of local purchases involving companies with head offices and subsidiaries in Pará

R$25.9 billion

collected in taxes such as ICMS, ISS, CFEM and TRFM

R$3.7 billion

allocated to social and environmental expenditures

R$126.5 billion

disbursed by the company between funding and investments in the business
In partnership with the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), Vale helps protect approximately 800,000 hectares of forest in the Carajás Mosaic, an area five times the size of São Paulo. Additionally, through voluntary investments exceeding R$200 million, the company is developing initiatives such as the Genomics of Brazilian Biodiversity Program, a partnership between the Vale Institute of Technology (ITV) and ICMBio focused on genomic sequencing of Amazonian fauna and flora. Vale also promotes the Amazon’s bioeconomy by supporting extractive production chains, generating income for local families, and sponsoring initiatives to strengthen and structure environmental agencies. 
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