Page 8 - Canadian Industry Online

CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - DECEMBER 2015ValeIN THE PAST couple of years, natural resources sectors have come under the spotlight in media—asCanada’s energy industry is in distress and global mining jurisdictions face hard times. However, one company is progressing in leaps and bounds: Bra- zilian mining giant Vale has reason to celebrate this year, as 2016 marks 100 years of operations in Canada for the mineral producer.Vale has operations in Canada that go back to 1901, with the rst ore is shipped from Creighton Mine that year. In 1916, a milestone year for min- ing, the International Nickel Company of Canada Limited was incorporated as a subsidiary of the U.S.-based Interna- tional Nickel Company. After 90 years operating as INCO, Vale took the reins of the company and INCO became part of the powerhouse that is Vale.The company has made many big moves since the takeover was complete, with an intention to grow local opera- tions in Canadian communities that will bene t local economies for years to come. In 2011 Vale evaluated the con- struction of a new potash mine in Can- ada, and in 2014, Totten Mine opened: Vale’s rst new mine in the Sudbury Basin in over 40 years. The mine now employs some of the best technology, automation and environmental man- agement in the mining industry.SUDBURYVale runs one of the oldest min- ing facilities in Canada in Sudbury, Ontario, and this operation has been a pillar of the community for more than 100 years. Vale operations include six mines, a mill, a smelter, a re nery and nearly 4,000 employees. The Sudbury mining operation is “one of the larg- est integrated mining complexes in the world,” according to Vale representa- tives. Products exported from Sudbury include nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum group metals, gold and silver.Sustainability is at the core of Vale’s global operations, and the same is true for Canada. Vale has set the bar when it comes to environmental initia- tives and CSR commitments. The com- pany has instituted a project called the Clean AER Project which the company notes is “the largest single environmen- tal investment in the history of Sud- bury.” With a $1 billion investment, the project will reduce sulphur dioxide by 85% from current levels and metals and particulate emissions by 35 to 40%. The acronym AER stands for “Atmospheric Emissions Reduction”, and once com- plete, emissions will be reduced from 150 kilotonnes currently to approxi- mately 20 kilotonnes per year.The goal in Sudbury: to keep people employed for decades to come.8 | Canadian Industry Online | April, 2016