MANAGEMENT

Vale port activities suspended at Mangaratiba

Vale has had its port activities suspended for the second time this year by the city of Mangaratiba

Staff reporter
Vale’s Ilha Guaíba Terminal, pictured in 2012. Photo: Márcio Dantas Valença/Vale

Vale’s Ilha Guaíba Terminal, pictured in 2012. Photo: Márcio Dantas Valença/Vale

In a translated statement, the environmental secretary Antônio Marcos said Vale was fined and prohibited from using the port on Monday "due to a series of irregularities found [as] a result of the survey that was made at the end of January this year".

Mangaratiba had briefly suspended Vale's activities at the Ilha Guaíba, or Guaíba Island Terminal (TIG) on January 31, alleging non-submission of the terminal's environmental licences.

At the time, Vale said TIG presented all the licences required and the city decided to cancel the interdiction order made earlier that day.

On March 11, Vale confirmed it had received a notice from the Mangaratiba city government in Rio de Janeiro state ordering the temporary suspension of port activities at TIG. Vale did not refer to the fine.

"Vale confirms that it has all the required licenses for the regular operation of the terminal, issued by the competent authorities and, accordingly, it will take all appropriate measures to ensure the reestablishment of its activities at TIG," it said.

About 40 million tonnes of iron ore go through TIG annually according to Brazil's port regulator, Reuters reported.

The port suspension is the latest blow for Vale's iron ore business, which has been curtailed since the fatal tailings dam failure at its Córrego de Feijão mine at Brumadinho on January 26.

According to the Minas Gerais fire brigade's latest update on March 8, 193 bodies have been identified from the Brumadinho disaster, 115 people were still missing and 162 bodies were pending identification.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production