Vale temporarily halts operations at Itabirucu dam
2019-10-23 11:18:31 [Print]
Brazilian iron ore miner Vale has temporarily suspended the disposal of tailings at the Itabirucu dam, located at the Itabira Complex, while analyzing the geotechnical characteristics of the dam.
According to the National Mining Agency (ANM), the dam will adopt the Level 1 emergency protocol, which does not require the evacuation of downstream population during shutdown.
The company said that the Itabirucu dam had its Statement of Condition of Stability (DCE) issued last month, which remains valid.
Vale said that the move to halt the dam's activities is the company's voluntary decision, in agreement with external inspection and regulatory bodies, to conduct complementary studies on the Itabira dam's geotechnical characteristics.
The Itabirucu dam receives tailings from the Conceicao mine. The impact of the closure will be limited to 1.2 million tonnes this year. As a result, the company also lowered its full-year iron ore and pellet sales guidance.
Vale said a wider plan to eventually restart production of its 50Mt production capacity would still go ahead as planned, as presented in the company's third-quarter Production and Sales report.
The company reaffirmed its revised iron ore and pellet sales guidance of 307-332Mt for this year, but due to the Itabirucu temporary halt and revision of its sales plan, it expects sales to be at the midpoint of the range.
According to the National Mining Agency (ANM), the dam will adopt the Level 1 emergency protocol, which does not require the evacuation of downstream population during shutdown.
The company said that the Itabirucu dam had its Statement of Condition of Stability (DCE) issued last month, which remains valid.
Vale said that the move to halt the dam's activities is the company's voluntary decision, in agreement with external inspection and regulatory bodies, to conduct complementary studies on the Itabira dam's geotechnical characteristics.
The Itabirucu dam receives tailings from the Conceicao mine. The impact of the closure will be limited to 1.2 million tonnes this year. As a result, the company also lowered its full-year iron ore and pellet sales guidance.
Vale said a wider plan to eventually restart production of its 50Mt production capacity would still go ahead as planned, as presented in the company's third-quarter Production and Sales report.
The company reaffirmed its revised iron ore and pellet sales guidance of 307-332Mt for this year, but due to the Itabirucu temporary halt and revision of its sales plan, it expects sales to be at the midpoint of the range.
