About Vale
Vale is a pioneering mining company that works diligently to transform mineral resources into the essential ingredients of people’s everyday lives.
We have vision, opportunity and growth. All that's missing is you.
Vale strives to be the best mining company in the world. We are in the top 30 publicly traded companies globally and the largest private sector company in Latin America. We are active in 38 countries on five continents with over 115,000 employees. We work diligently to transform minerals into the ingredients that are essential for everyday life, looking after the needs of today and considering our impact on the future. In 2009, Vale invested USD$201 million in social projects and USD$580 million in environmental initiatives.Vale in Australia
Vale’s global coal division is headquartered in Brisbane with additional assets in Mozambique, Colombia and China. Vale is fully committed to its coal operations around the world and understands that its success and achievements will not be possible without a strong presence in the coal market.Australian Coal Operations
Vale operates an integrated open cut and underground mine in NSW, an underground mine in Queensland, and is also a partner in a Queensland open cut mine. Vale also controls exciting tenements in Australia with significant potential for future growth.
Operating Coal Mines
Carborough Downs Coal
The Carborough Downs underground mine, located near Moranbah in Queensland, produces predominantly hard and semi-hard coking coal product for the export market. When the mine commenced operation in August 2004, it was a bord and pillar operation with two continuous miners. In 2009, a $400 million expansion converted Carborough Downs to a modern longwall operation with an average mining rate of 3.5Mtpa ROM to yield approximately 2.8Mtpa of product coal. The Leichhardt Seam that is miined by the longwall is relatively uniform and ranges from 4.5 to 5.7 metres thick, with total resources estimated at between 280 and 300 million tonnes.
Integra Coal
Integra Coal (open cut and underground mines), located near Singletoin in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, produces semi-hard and semi-soft coking coals, and thermal coals for the export market. The open cut operation commenced in 1991, while the underground mining started in 1999. Total mining capacity is 8.6Mtpa ROM, from which 5.4Mtpa of product coal is produced.
Open Cut - Integra's open cut is a multi-seam operation using the truck/shovel method of mining. It produces 1.2Mtpa semi-soft coking coal and 1Mtpa thermal coal.
Underground - Integra's underground mine is a modern longwall operation producing 2.2Mtpa semi-hard coking coal for the export market. The seam ranges in height from 1.9 to 2.5 metres, with total underground resources exceeding 200 million tonnes.
Coal from both open cut and underground mines is processed at an on-site Coal Handling and Preparation Plant. The product coal is loaded at a purpose-built rail loadout facility for transport to the Prt of Newcastle.
Isaac Plains Coal
Vale is a 50% partner in the Isaac Plains open cut mine near Moranbah. Isaac Plains is contract mined using truck and shovel methods and has an annual production capacity of 2.8Mtpa of coking, PCI and thermal coals. The acquisition of a dragline is expected to increase productivity to 4.5Mtpa.
Australian Coal Projects
Ellensfield Coal Project
The Ellensfield Project, north-west of the Carborough Downs Mineand north-east of Moranbah, aims to prove up a measured resource and, subject to price and demand outlook, develop an underground longwall mine. Development is expected to commence 2011/2012, with first longwall coal soon after.
Eagle Downs Coal Project
Vale is a 50% partner in the development of the Eagle Downs Coal Project south-east of Moranbah in Queensland's northern Bowen Basin. Eagle Downs is currently undergoing feasibilit
Exploration
Vale has an extensive mineral exploration program on five continents, covering 20 countries. We are actively exploring across Australia for various commodities including coal, nickel sulphide, phosphate, copper and iron ore. The exploration programs in Australia are managed from offices in Brisbane, Perth and Kalgoorlie. The main resources and projects in which Vale is involved in Australia include:
Nickel Sulphide
Koonenberry - NSW - 100% Vale
Queen Victoria Rocks - Farm In with Hannans Reward - WA
Copper
Warburton Project - Farm In with Rubicon Resources - WA
Uranium
Kunderong Project - Farm In with Dioro Exploration - WA
Headwaters Project - Farm In and JV with Uranium Equities
Phosphate
30 tenement holdings in Georgina Basin - NT - 100% Vale
Coal
The Belvedere Joint Venture is an advanced coal exploration project in Central Queensland currently entering the final stage of an exploration program leading to a pre-feasibility study. Also in Queensland, early stage exploration is currently underway on large tenement holdings in the Bowen and Galilee Basins.
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