VALE – Raw Material Project
Vale S.A. is a Brazilian multinational corporation engaged in metals and mining. Vale Canada mining and metals division produces nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, gold, and silver.
Client Needs: Vale Tolls Ore from its facilities to the Strathcona Mill. Ore is processed to produce nickel-copper concentrates that is shipped to nearby smelters.
To reduce cost, Vale Tolls material to the Strathcona Mill to produce Ni-Cu-Co concentrate. The undertaking involves managing the Cu and Ni movements from Sudbury Processing Plants to facilities in Europe and Asia. As well as the Tolled material (Slag Brick) at the Strathcona Mill.
TMG Provided:
Assay Exchange management services, negotiation of agreements with third party inspection agencies, toll material management. Use of sample preparation/chemical analysis results of Ni-Cu-Co and precious grade metals to determine value of Ore as well as determine level of arsenic and lead in material.
Vital Statistics:
Location: Sudbury, Ontario
Commodity: NIckel
Project Phases: Operational Improvement
Results: Improved client relations, cost control management captured discrepancies resulting in cost savings of over USD $ 4 million. Material that was received, inventoried then processed at the Strathcona Mill, decreased the company’s mill usage/ capacity cost, as well as overall refining cost and treatment cost.