Brazil’s Vale slashes 2009 capex by $5,2bn

MAJOR diversified mining group Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Vale), currently the world’s number two miner, has announced that it has cut its 2009 capital expenditure (capex) budget by $5,2-billion. Previously, the company’s capex budget for...

East-Asian giant’s economy, demand for metals rebounding

THE Chinese economy is displaying significant signs of recovery, despite the global recession, and consequently the country’s demand for metals and minerals increased during the first quarter of this year. This is the analysis of Brazilian...

Local company supplies training simulators to Vale’s Moatize operation

Simulator training equipment company Immersive Technologies is supplying Brazilian mining major Vale with three advanced equipment (AE) simulators, expected to be commissioned on site at the end of May 2009.

Arm, Vale mulling Zimbabwe investment

South African diversified miner African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) and Brazilian resources giant Vale are considering significant investments in Zimbabwe.

Mining major cuts costs, reduces production, seeks flexibility

COST minimisation in the face of the global recession is now the priority for world number two diversified mining group Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Vale). This replaces the previous priority which was production maximisation. At the operational...

Slowdowns, shutdowns and continuing development as Vale rides out recession

Story on Companhia Vale do Rio Doce delaying its Onça Puma nickel project in Brazil by at least a year, shutting down its Sudbury, Canada, nickel operations for eight weeks, but continuing construction of its new hydromet technology nickel...

Construction Starts on Major Mozambican Mining Project

BRAZILIAN major diversified miner Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Vale) has started development of its $1,3-billion Moatize coal project in Tete province, Mozambique. Production is scheduled to start in December 2010. The formal inauguration of the...

Ferrochrome price seen to have bottomed, survey forecasts new highs for gold, big Mozambique coal project under way

Merafe Resources CEO Steve Phiri believes that the ferrochrome price has bottomed at the European benchmark price of US69c/lb. Read on page 5 of this edition of Mining Weekly of Phiri’s belief that the price “can only go up from here”. Phiri...

Sandvik shrugs off local, Chinese competition to clinch R450m Moatize conveyor contract

Mining and construction specialist company Sandvik Materials Handling has bucked the trend in the current economic downturn by landing an R450-million contract to design and install 20 conveyors over six kilometres in length for the giant Moatize...

Africa still in Brazilian mining major Vale’s sights

Diversified mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Vale) has reaffirmed its commitment to its investment programme, despite the global recession. “What we seek first is to preserve the scope of our investment programme – this is the basic...

Africa still in Brazilian mining major’s sights

Cover story on Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, its response to the global recession, its good financial situation & record production, & its growing assets in Africa.

Mining major sees signs of Beijing’s stimulus working

MAJOR diversified miner Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Vale) believes that China’s economic stimulus plan is beginning to have beneficial effects. In its report of its operational and financial performance for 2008, released last week, the...