Vale – Page 73 – Republic of Mining

Vale announces ‘unfortunate, but not surprising’ delay in [Saskatchewan potash] $3-billion mine – by Richard Blackwell (Globe and Mail – August 17, 2012)

August 17, 2012

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

Brazilian mining giant Vale SA is postponing a $3-billion potash project in Saskatchewan, but the province says this is just a minor setback in the huge runup in potash investment that will continue to flow in the coming years.

The huge mine was to be developed near Kronau, a town of about 200 people, 30 kilometres southeast of Regina. It would have employed more than 1,000 workers during construction, and hundreds would have been needed to operate it once it was opened. The mine was expected to produce 2.9 million metric tonnes of potash a year.

But the mine, set to be built over the next three years, will not go ahead as planned because of global economic uncertainly, Vale chief executive officer Murilo Ferreira told reporters in Rio de Janeiro Thursday. Vale is committed to austerity, and may delay other investments as well, he said.

The mine was expected to be a boon to the region, not just in terms of employment, but in sectors that traditionally spring up around big projects, including housing and retail.

Vale gets new blood [in Sudbury] – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – August 17, 2012)

August 17, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

The shortage of skilled tradespeople is paying off for two-dozen apprentices at Cambrian College. The apprentice millwrights and heavy-duty equipment technicians are starting work this month at Vale Ltd.’s Sudbury operations.

It is not unusual for Vale to hire 20-40 apprentices in a year, said Garwin Pitman, superintendent of learning and development maintenance at Vale.

But it is out of the ordinary to hire that many at one time, he said. Pitman was inter viewing potential apprentices Thursday just after the announcement was made in the morning at Cambrian College.

Mining and other industries are experiencing a shortage of skilled tradespeople, partly because there are so many new projects in development. Vale is looking to hire another three dozen tradespeople, some of them apprentices, this fall, said Pitman.

Trial gets started over [Vale Sudbury] miner deaths – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – August 15, 2012)

August 15, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

The first court appearance Tuesday of Crown counsel for the Ministry of Labour and an agent for lawyers representing Vale Ltd. and one of its supervisors officially launched what is expected to be a protracted, complicated trial on charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Vale is facing nine charges under the act and supervisor Keith Birnie is facing six charges after an almost yearlong investigation by the Labour ministry into the June 8, 2011, deaths of two men at Stobie Mine.

It only took minutes for a justice of the peace in the Ontario Court of Justice to adjourn the matter until Sept. 12, when a judge will begin hearing the case in the criminal division of provincial court. Vale and the supervisor are charged with failing to take reasonable precautions to prevent the movement of material through an ore pass at Stobie Mine where Jason Chenier, 35, and Jordan Fram, 26, were killed.

The men died after being overcome by a run of 350 tons of muck from the No. 7 ore pass of the century-old mine while they were working at the 3,000-foot level. Birnie is facing charges similar to the ones laid against his employer.

Miners take a loss – by Star Staff (Sudbury Star – August 7, 2012)

August 7, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Global mining companies’ multi-billion dollar spending plans will be under scrutiny in the coming weeks when Xstrata and others look set to post their first decline in profits since 2009, hit by falling prices and high costs.

Stubbornly high costs and the impact of softer demand on the price of key commodities like iron ore have squeezed margins. Brazil’s Vale posted its worst second-quarter result in two years, while Anglo American saw interim profits drop by more than a third.

With the impact of weaker prices largely factored in, analysts say they and investors will be focused instead on companies’ cost-cutting plans. In particular, they will be looking at the impact of a deteriorating environment on the timing of major projects like BHP’s $20 billion expansion plan for Port Hedland in Australia or Olympic Dam in South Australia, one of the world’s largest mines.

BHP has already backed away from an $80 billion five-year spending plan announced in 2011, and has since signalled it would review its project pipeline and focus on cutting costs.

Vale accepts [Ontario labour board] decision – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – July 26, 2012)

July 26, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Vale Ltd. officials still believe they had reason to discipline Creighton miner Mike Courchesne for his behaviour on a United Steelworkers picket line in August 2009. But the mining company says it will accept the decision of an arbitrator and give Courchesne his job back.

The company issued a statement Wednesday after arbitrator Wes Rayner ruled Tuesday that while Courchesne exhibited some bad behaviour, it didn’t warrant his dismissal.

“Although we stand by our view that Mr. Courchesne’s conduct warranted discipline — something the arbitrator concluded as well — we will follow through on the decision as directed,” Vale said Wednesday.

United Steelworkers Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand would like Vale to reinstate five more members fired during the year-long strike whose cases are also in arbitration.

Arbitrator restores fire worker’s job – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – July 25, 2012)

July 25, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

An arbitrator has given a fired Steelworker his job back. Wes Rayner has ruled that Vale Inco must reinstate Mike Courchesne, one of nine Steelworkers fired during the union’s year-long strike against the miner, provided he passes a standard medical test.

If all goes well, Courchesne should be back on the job within a month, said his lawyer, Brian Shell. Both Courchesne and his union were “ecstatic” about the decision, Shell said Tuesday afternoon.

“Right from the beginning, it was the union’s view the people fired during the strike should not have been fired, and that the company overreacted to the allegations the company believed they had,” Shell said after the decision was rendered. Nine strikers were fired for alleged misconduct on picket lines in the community during the nasty labour dispute.

One, John Landry, retired after the strike ended in July 2010. Steelworkers Adam Cowie and Dan Labelle have found employment elsewhere and do not want to return to Vale, said Shell.

Contractor pinned between scoop tram, forklift – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – July 21, 2012)

July 21, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Production was halted at Vale’s Stobie Mine on Friday after a contract worker was injured in an accident about 9 a.m. A Ministry of Labour investigator happened to be at the mine when the accident occurred and is now looking into it, ministry spokesman Matt Blajer said Friday afternoon.

The ministry hasn’t determined what happened, but Blajer said it was told the employee was standing between a forklift and a scoop tram when another scoop collided with the forklift, pinning the worker. The oncoming scoop operator “did not see the fork sticking out, and the worker was standing between the scoop and the forklift,” said Blajer.

The worker suffered a broken right leg and was transferred to Health Sciences North’s Ramsey Lake Health Centre, he said. The ministry inspector wasn’t expected to file anything official until Monday.

Vale spokeswoman Amanda Eady confirmed the accident and said the labour ministry has frozen the scene. The labour ministry was on site Friday afternoon, as were representatives from the contracting company.

The case for opening up Canadian businesses to foreign ownership – by Madhavi Acharya-Tom Yew (Toronto Star – July 4, 2012)

July 4, 2012

The Toronto Star, has the largest circulation in Canada. The paper has an enormous impact on federal and Ontario politics as well as shaping public opinion.

Foreign ownership can help Canadian businesses get an injection of new capital and gain access to international supply chains or new technology, says Laura Dawson, a researcher, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, and a consultant on cross-border trade, market access, and regulatory issues.

“Foreign investors can help Canadian businesses do things they couldn’t do on their own,” she said. “You can develop an industry domestically but in order to take it to the next step, you often have to have an infusion of foreign capital or know-how.”

Canadian high-tech firm Newbridge Networks, for instance, was acquired by telecommunications giant Alcatel for more than $7 billion in 2000. At the time, Newbridge was floundering with poor earnings and a sinking stock price.

Today, Alcatel-Lucent is headquartered in France and ranks among the world’s telecom powerhouses. It is also considered one of the most innovative companies in the world.

The case against opening up Canadian businesses to foreign ownership – by Madhavi Acharya-Tom Yew (Toronto Star – July 4, 2012)

July 4, 2012

The Toronto Star, has the largest circulation in Canada. The paper has an enormous impact on federal and Ontario politics as well as shaping public opinion.

Erin Weir, economist for the United Steelworkers, doesn’t dispute the potential upside of new investment, but he says it’s important to consider the potential pitfalls of foreign takeovers – particularly the loss of Canadian head offices and the jobs that go with them.

For unions, a foreign owner can lead to a loss of bargaining power. The United Steel Workers had substantial bargaining power with Inco but that changed when Vale bought the company in 2007.

“Then the unions representing Canadian miners had a lot less negotiating power because Vale operates mines producing the same commodities around the world,” Weir said. Not only are they more difficult to bargain with, but foreign managers are less tolerant of Canadian norms, Weir said.

“We have found that foreign employers have been especially aggressive in trying to take away defined benefit pensions. That probably reflects the fact that in many countries, an employer would not be expected to provide a pension,” he said. “Managers of multi-national corporations are often not very accepting of the need to provide defined benefit pensions in Canada.”

Vale delivers a breath of fresh air on the environmental front

June 27, 2012

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Ontario Mining Association member Vale has officially launched its new $2 billion emissions control project in Sudbury. The nickel producer had company officials, employees, civic leaders, local residents, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci, Environment Minister Jim Bradley and Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk on hand amongst others for the sod turning ceremony held last week.

The Clean AER (Atmospheric Emissions Reduction) Project promises to cut sulphur dioxide emissions from Vale’s smelter by 70% and trim dust and metals emissions by 35% to 40%. This is one of the largest environmental projects ever undertaken in this province. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2015 and will cut Vale’s emissions well below government regulated levels.

“This is a historic day for Vale and demonstrates the importance that Greater Sudbury plays in our global operations,” said John Pollesel, Chief Operating Officer for Vale Canada and Director of Vale’s North Atlantic Base Metals Operations. “Starting today, we are building a lasting legacy for our employees, the community and future generations who will live and work in Greater Sudbury and that is truly a reason to celebrate.”

Vale fined $150,000 for 2010 acid spill – by Heidi Ulrichsen (Sudbury Northern Life – June 26, 2012)

June 27, 2012

This article came from Northern Life, Sudbury’s biweekly newspaper.

Vale has been slapped with a $150,000 fine after an incident where oleum, or fuming sulphuric acid, was spilled at the Copper Cliff Smelter nearly two years ago. The spill occurred when employees were pumping oleum into rail cars on July 1, 2010 — towards the end of the nearly year-long labour dispute between Vale and Steelworkers Local 6500 members.

A press release issued by the company at the time stated that a “noticable plume of oleum was released into the environment and escaped off property before dissipating over the Kelly Lake area.”

Kate Jordan, a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment, said Vale was fined by the ministry March 13 because it didn’t report the spill in a timely manner.

“Under the environmental protection act we had a requirement that any company or individual who has a spill that has the potential to cause an adverse effect has to report that forthwith,” she said.

NEWS RELEASE: Vale Canada Limited and Sagamok Anishnawbek celebrate a solidified partnership for Totten Mine

June 25, 2012

(L to R) Kelly Strong, Vale’s Vice President of Mining & Milling (North Atlantic) and General Manager Ontario Operations, and Chief Paul Eshkakogan, Chief of Sagamok Anishnawbek, formally sign an Impacts and Benefits Agreement during Treaty Day celebrations at Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation on June 22, 2012.

For immediate release

June 25, 2012

Massey, Ontario – On Friday June 22, 2012 Paul Eshkakogan, Chief of Sagamok Anishnawbek and Kelly Strong, Vale’s Vice President of Mining and Milling for the North Atlantic Region, solidified their working relationship regarding Vale’s Totten Mine with the signing of an Impacts and Benefits Agreement during Treaty Day celebrations at Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation.

““The signing of this agreement represents the culmination of many years of fruitful discussion with Vale as well as commitment by our community to a prosperous future” said Chief Eshkakogan. “It provides a basis for Sagamok Anishnawbek to effectively participate in the Totten Mine Project, to share directly in the economic and other benefits associated with it, and to continue to fulfill environmental stewardship responsibilities within our traditional and treaty territory.”

The Impacts and Benefits Agreement formalizes the ways in which Vale and Sagamok will work together to advance their shared interest in building and sustaining a mutually beneficial working relationship throughout the life of the mine.

[Sudbury] 6500 prez vows to continue mining inquiry fight – by Heidi Ulrichsen (Sudbury Northern Life – June 24, 2012)

June 25, 2012

This article came from Northern Life, Sudbury’s biweekly newspaper.

No mining inquiry for now, premier says

Steelworkers Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand vows to continue to push for an inquiry into mining practices in Ontario in the wake of the premier’s assertion that the province is not currently contemplating such an inquiry. Thousands of postcards have been sent to Minister of Labour Linda Jeffrey, urging her to launch the inquiry.

Bertrand said he plans to continue with the postcard campaign, which was launched in April by the Steelworkers and Lougheed Funeral Homes managing director Gerry Lougheed Jr. “I’m going to continue to focus on getting the cards signed and sending them out, and pushing for this mining inquiry,” he said, speaking to Northern Life June 23. “We’re not going to stop here.”

Premier Dalton McGuinty made his statements on the subject in response to a reporter’s question after the June 22 groundbreaking ceremony for Vale’s Clean AER project. “We’re not contemplating at this time, any specific inquiry into one incident, or mining generally,” the premier said.

He did say that a coroner’s inquest will examine the miners’ deaths, and also pointed out that Ministry of Labour recently laid charges against Vale and one of its supervisors under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

McGuinty to defend his budget in the north – by Maria Babbage (National Post – June 23, 2012)

June 25, 2012June 25, 2012

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

“I wish we had a few more Sudburys around the province,” Mr. McGuinty said.
“Frankly, you’re doing so well and experiencing so much growth. So we’ll ask
ourselves what can we learn from the examples that are right in front of our
eyes here in Sudbury.”

SUDBURY – Premier Dalton McGuinty is in for a bumpy ride in northern Ontario this weekend in spite of his attempts to smooth over the budget crisis that pushed the province to the brink of an election, critics say.

Now that the budget has passed and an election is averted, Mr. McGuinty will have to appease northerners who are angry that he’s privatizing Ontario Northland rail service after promising not to do so, the New Democrats say.

He’ll also have to explain why his budget doesn’t do much to create jobs in the north, which has lost 9,000 jobs since the Oct. 6 election and where the unemployment rate is the highest in the province at 10.4%, said the Progressive Conservatives.

“The premier is here in northern Ontario where this budget did absolutely nothing for the 60 mills that are closed, the 10,000 resource-sector jobs that we lost, the skyrocketing hydro rates that caused Xstrata Copper to move from Timmins to Quebec and shed 670 jobs in a community of 45,000,” said Vic Fedeli, the party’s energy critic.