Vale battling to restart halted operations at copper and nickel mines in Pará state

Brazilian mining giant Vale is facing difficulties to resume the operations of two key mining units in Pará state.

In April, a local court again suspended the operating permit of Vale's Sossego copper mine in the northern state, following a request by state environmental secretariat Semas, which alleges there has been "failure to comply with environmental requirements."

The Sossego mine accounts for around 15% of Vale's total copper production, according to the firm's most recent figures. In the first quarter, Vale's copper output was 81,900t, with Sossego contributing 12,300t.

Given Vale's difficulty in overturning the court order, Vale, via its subsidiary Salobo Metais, which owns the mine, will implement mandatory vacations for workers at the unit.

“Salobo Metais informs that due to the suspension of mining activities at the Sossego mine by ... Semas, it has granted 30 days of collective leave to 149 employees. The leave period will start on June 13. The company emphasizes its compliance with the conditions and socio-environmental controls of its activities as required by law and in respect for the neighboring communities. Salobo Metais continues to take appropriate measures to seek to reverse the decision and to continue contributing socioeconomically to the municipality of Canaã dos Carajás," Vale said in a statement sent to BNamericas.

Vale has also been forced to halt operations at its Onça Puma nickel mine in Pará state. 

In February, Semas suspended the mining permit, alleging failure to comply with regulations, and although the company was able to overturn the decision, the state authorities suspended the permit again in April.

This week, Brazil's supreme court will mediate in talks between Vale subsidiary Mineração Onça Puma, officials in Ourilândia do Norte municipality and Pará state representatives, including the public prosecutor, to help pave the way to resuming operations at Onça Puma.

Due to the stoppage, Vale has given vacations to 108 employees at Onça Puma and is working to restart operations as soon as possible.

The mine workers fear being laid off due to the halt in activities. According to a spokesperson for a mining labor union in the state, consulted by BNamericas, Vale canceled the selection process to hire 130 workers at Onça Puma and 115 at Sossego due to suspensions of activities.