Vale Outlines Key Investments for Carajás Expansion

Railroad transporting iron ore from Vale’s Carajás complex in Brazil. Source: Vale

Brazilian mining giant Vale has outlined how it plans to allocate half of its 70 billion reais ($12.78 billion) investment budget under the “New Carajás Program” over the next five years. According to Gildiney Sales, director of the company’s North corridor, some of the projects are already in motion.

Vale aims to boost iron ore production at its Carajás site to 200 million tons annually and increase copper output by 32%. The centerpiece of this expansion is the Serra Sul project—nearing 73% completion—which includes developing new mining zones, doubling the length of its long-distance conveyor belt, and adding new processing facilities, storage, and equipment. The project’s estimated value is close to $3 billion.

In 2024, Vale’s Northern System (including Serra Sul, Norte, and Leste) yielded 177.5 million tons of iron ore and 265,200 tons of copper. The company is now intensifying exploration to identify new mineral deposits and meet its production targets: 200 million tons of iron ore and 350,000 tons of copper annually.