Rio de Janeiro, October 11, 2012 - Vale S.A. (Vale) informs that it has started production at the Lubambe copper mine, the Konkola North project, an underground mine, plant and related infrastructure, located in the Zambian Copperbelt, with a nominal production capacity of 45,000 metric tons per year of copper in concentrates.
On October 4, 2012, the first copper concentrate was produced, after completing the commissioning of the processing plant. This operation is part of our 50/50 joint venture with African Rainbow Minerals Limited, which has an 80% stake in the operation, with the remaining 20% stake held by Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Ltd.
We expect the operation in the African Copperbelt to add value to our shareholders over the long term, since it enhances our global copper growth platform.
For further information, please contact:
+55-21-3814-4540
Roberto Castello Branco: roberto.castello.branco@vale.com
Viktor Moszkowicz: viktor.moszkowicz@vale.com
Carla Albano Miller: carla.albano@vale.com
Andrea Gutman: andrea.gutman@vale.com:
mailto:andrea.gutman@vale.com
Christian Perlingiere: christian.perlingiere@vale.com
Marcio Loures Penna: marcio.penna@vale.com
Rafael Rondinelli: rafael.rondinelli@vale.com
Samantha Pons: samantha.pons@vale.com
This press release may include statements that present Vale's expectations about future events or results. All statements, when based upon expectations about the future and not on historical facts, involve various risks and uncertainties. Vale cannot guarantee that such statements will prove correct. These risks and uncertainties include factors related to the following: (a) the countries where we operate, especially Brazil and Canada; (b) the global economy; (c) the capital markets; (d) the mining and metals prices and their dependence on global industrial production, which is cyclical by nature; and (e) global competition in the markets in which Vale operates. To obtain further information on factors that may lead to results different from those forecast by Vale, please consult the reports Vale files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Brazilian Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM), the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, and in particular the factors discussed under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in Vale's annual report on Form 20-F.
http://hugin.info/144918/R/1648533/531472.pdf
The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Vale S.A. via Thomson Reuters ONE