Vale – Page 74 – Republic of Mining

NEWS RELEASE: VALE BREAKS GROUND ON HISTORIC $2 BILLION CLEAN AER PROJECT

June 23, 2012June 22, 2012

(L to R) David Pearson, Laurentian University Biology Professor; Kelly Strong, VP of Vale’s Mining and Milling, North Atlantic Operations, and General Manager of Ontario Operations; John Pollesel, Chief Operating Officer of Vale Canada and Director of Vale’s North Atlantic Base Metals; Rick Bartolucci, Sudbury MPP and Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines; Marianne Matichuk, City of Greater Sudbury Mayor; Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario; Jim Bradley, Ontario Minister of the Environment; Dave Stefanuto, Vale Clean AER Project Director

For Immediate Release

SUDBURY, June 22, 2012 – Joined by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, government cabinet ministers, community leaders, local residents and employees, Vale today officially broke ground on its $2-billion “Clean AER Project”, one of the largest single environmental investments in Ontario’s history.

The Clean AER Project, where AER stands for ‘Atmospheric Emissions Reduction’, will see sulphur dioxide emissions at Vale’s smelter in Sudbury reduced by 70% from current levels, as well as dust and metals emissions reduced a further 35 to 40%. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.

“This is an historic day for Vale and demonstrates the importance that Greater Sudbury plays in our global operations,” said John Pollesel, Chief Operating Officer of Vale Canada Limited 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.”

City of Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk “State of the City Address” – June 21, 2012

June 22, 2012June 22, 2012

Caruso Club, Sudbury, Ontario

Check Against Delivery

Good afternoon everyone. Bonjour tout le monde. This certainly has been an amazing few weeks in the mining capital of Canada with great investment news and scientific celebration.

Recently, in the span of about ten days we had the Cliffs decision to locate a $1.8 billion chromite smelter in our city, …the official opening of the internationally renowned SNOLAB research facility,

… and a provincial government announcement that Sudbury has been approved for a casino that may be built downtown, further contributing to the centre’s renewal.But first, I would like to start off with an amazing number: $6.3 Billion!

That is the current value of mining investment, confirmed or planned for Sudbury, over the next five years or so. This only includes capital projects by Vale, Cliffs, KGHM and Xstrata Nickel.

That six billion dollars does not include potential investments by the growing supply and service sector, government and
many other non-mining activities that will tap into these enormous projects.

Sudbury booming, but city’s image needs a makeover, mayor says – by Sudbury Northern Life Staff (Sudbury Northern Life – June 21, 2012)

June 22, 2012June 21, 2012

http://www.northernlife.ca/

State of the City address highlights economy, challenges

Without a doubt, Sudbury is booming. That was the main message Mayor Marianne Matichuk delivered during her State of the City address, June 21.

But even as the city’s economy is flourishing, skilled labour shortages abound as companies compete to attract workers. The problem for Sudbury, the mayor said in her speech at the Caruso Club, is the city’s image, which, according to Matichuk, isn’t good.

The “stereotypical ideas” of the city are apparently impacting companies’ abilities to attract workers here. “People still think of moonscape, pollution and low-tech mining,” she said. “They still think we have no culture except Sudbury Saturday Night drinking and bingo.”

One of council’s top priorities, Matichuk said, was to change that image. This will be achieved through improved communications and marketing, the redesigned tourism website, and soon-to-be-redesigned economic development sites. She also encouraged all Sudburians to be “ambassadors” for the city.

NEWS RELEASE: SUDBURY MINING WEEK PHOTO CONTEST A BIG SUCCESS

April 5, 2015June 15, 2012

(From left to right: Pictured with their winning photos, photo contest winners and Vale employees, Dan MacMillan, Darren Hodder and Sarah Desjardins are awarded underground tours of a Vale mine in Sudbury by Danica Pagnutti, Corporate Affairs Specialist, Vale. The prizes were donated by the winners to Tannys Laughren, Executive Director of the Northern Cancer Foundation and Wayne Tonnelli, President of Miners for Cancer)

Prizes donated to Miners for Cancer

For Immediate Release

Sudbury, June 15, 2012 – The Sudbury Mining Week committee announced the winners of the first annual Sudbury Mining Week Photo Contest today. Sarah Desjardins entered the People and Mining category and won Best Overall Photo. Darren Hodder won the Mining Innovation category and Dan MacMillan won the Mining and the Environment category.

The Sudbury Mining Week Photo Contest was launched in 2012 by the Sudbury Mining Week Committee to encourage amateur photographers to share their mining experiences and showcase all that the industry has to offer.

“We are very pleased with the results of the photo contest,” said Nicole Tardif, Chair of the Sudbury Mining Week Committee. “Each of the winning photos showcases mining in Sudbury in its own unique way. We really appreciate these individuals taking the time to submit their photos and share their experience with us.”

The contestants loaded their photos to www.sudburyminingweek.ca/photocontest and the public was invited to vote on their favourite photo. The photos with the most votes in each category won. The photo with the most votes out of all the submissions won best overall. The contest website was linked to Facebook and Twitter, which helped to boost awareness about the contest and Sudbury Mining Week in social media.

Vale moves forward on Victor-Capre project in Sudbury – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – June 2012)

June 15, 2012

Established in 1980, Northern Ontario Business provides Canadians and international investors with relevant, current and insightful editorial content and business news information about Ontario’s vibrant and resource-rich North.

Two-for-one mining

Vale is proposing a new nickel-copper-PGM mine in Sudbury that has the potential for a 10-year life with an estimated production of 5,000 tonnes per day, and a projected workforce of 500.

The Victor-Capre project, located 25 km northeast of Sudbury near the community of Skead, is comprised of two properties, Victor and Capre, which the company is looking to combine into one operation. The project, which is situated 2.5 km from Xstrata’s Nickel Rim South Mine, is currently in the pre-feasibility stage to determine the viability of an advanced exploration program. If the study results are favourable, advanced exploration development could begin as early as mid-2013.

“We have been doing exploration out here for quite a while, but now with copper prices the way they are and the outlook for copper quite positive, it makes the project more attractive,” said Angie Robson, manager of corporate affairs for Vale’s Ontario operations. “Vale as a whole wants to increase its copper output and so this is an important project for that.”

Sombre day for Local 6500: memorial to mark miners’ deaths – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – June 9, 2012)

June 9, 2012

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

The mood was sombre Friday at sunrise as dozens of Steelworkers walked from the parking lot at Vale’s Stobie Mine to the tunnel connecting them to work.

If the deaths of colleagues Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram weren’t already on their minds, a collage of photographs of the two men at the entrance to the tunnel reminded them this was a painful anniversary.

Chenier, 35, and Fram, 26, entered that same tunnel the afternoon of June 8, 2011. A few hours into their shift, the men were killed when they were overcome by a run of 350 tons of muck at the mine’s 3,000-foot level. Members of United Steelworkers Local 6500, the union to which the men belonged, were there Friday to mark the one-year anniversary of their deaths.

Union executives and activists attended all of Vale’s mines and surface plants early Friday morning, asking members to sign postcards urging the Ontario Ministry of Labour to commission an inquiry into mine safety.

Sudbury Council backs call for [mining] inquiry – by Carol Mulligan (June 8, 2012)

June 8, 2012

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

Greater Sudbury Council has unanimously endorsed a motion calling on Labour Minister Linda Jeffrey to commission an inquiry into the state of mining in Ontario and the ministry’s enforcement of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The May 29 motion has been forwarded to Jeffrey, two local MPPs and the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, which will be asked to support it. The motion was presented by Ward 3 Coun. Claude Berthiaume at the request of United Steelworkers Local 6500. It has been calling for the inquiry since it concluded its investigation into the deaths of two men June 8, 2011, at Vale Ltd.’s Stobie Mine.

One year ago today, Jason Chenier, 35, and Jordan Fram, 26, were killed by a run of muck while working on the 3,000-foot level near the No. 7 ore pass at Stobie. The call for an inquiry was part of a 200-plus-page report the union made public in late February, which contained 162 recommendations.

On the Day of Mourning, commemorated by Local 6500 on April 28, Gerry Lougheed Jr. launched a postcard campaign calling on Jeffrey to launch the mining probe.

[Sudbury union] Campaign calls for inquiry – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – June 7, 2012)

June 7, 2012

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

Nothing will ease the suffering of two families who will mark the painful first anniversary of the deaths of loved ones in a mining accident on Friday. But an inquiry into mining practices in Ontario might provide comfort to those left to mourn for Jason Chenier, 35, and Jordan Fram, 26.

Chenier and Fram were killed when 350 tons of muck overcame them on the 3,000- foot level of Vale Ltd.’s Stobie Mine on June 8, 2011. After a nearly year-long investigation, the Ministry of Labour laid nine charges last week against Vale and six against one of its supervisors under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Results of a Greater Sudbury Police Service investigation are in the hands of officials in the Crown attorney office in Sudbury and there is a possibility criminal charges could be laid.

But thousands of citizens in Sudbury and beyond are pressing for an inquiry that would prevent mining deaths from occurring in the first place.

Slow pace frustrates [Sudbury] union – by Star staff (Sudbury Star – June 6, 2012)

June 6, 2012

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

First they were the Fired Nine, then one of them retired at the end of a year-long strike by United Steelworkers Local 6500 against Vale Ltd. Then they were the Fired Eight, and arbitration dates were set for eight Steelworkers fired by Vale during the July 2009-July 2010 labour dispute.

Now, arbitrations are only being held for seven Steelworkers after one of them took a job in Red Lake and decided not to proceed with arbitration. Individual arbitrators, agreed upon by USW Local 6500 and Vale, are hearing the cases of the seven fired workers. But the matters are proceeding slowly through the process, said local president Rick Bertrand.

The arbitrations are being heard in the order in which the men were fired for what Vale says was improper behaviour on picket lines or in the community during the acrimonious labour dispute.

Ron Breault’s case was heard April 25 and 26, but couldn’t be concluded, so another day has been set aside for Sept. 6. Mike Courchesne’s dismissal was the subject of two days of arbitration, May 1 and 2, but the case couldn’t be concluded so a third day is scheduled for June 25.

Criminal charges possible [Vale mining deaths] – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – June 2, 2012)

June 2, 2012

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

Greater Sudbury Police Service has completed its investigation into the June 8, 2011, deaths of two men at Vale’s Stobie Mine, and the results are in the hands of officials with the Crown attorney’s office in Sudbury.

At this point, no determination has been made on whether criminal charges will be laid in the deaths of Jason Chenier, 35, and Jordan Fram, 26, said Greater Sudbury deputy police chief Al Lekun.

Police conducted a joint investigation with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, which this week announced nine charges against Vale and six against one of its supervisors under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. First appearances on those provincial charges are set for Aug. 14.

Lekun said police conducted a coroner’s investigation, which is mandatory in workplace deaths such as these. Chenier and Fram were overcome by a run or 350 tons of muck while working at the 3,000- foot level of Stobie Mine.

Steelworkers renew call for safety inquiry- Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – June 1, 2012)

June 1, 2012

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

United Steelworkers Local 6500 won’t wait years to improve mine safety while charges laid under the Occupational Health and Safety Act against Vale and one of its employees are heard in court and a mandatory inquest is held into the deaths of two members.

The union is continuing its campaign to convince the Ontario Ministry of Labour to call a public inquiry into the June 8, 2011, deaths of Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram — and into mine safety, generally, in Ontario.

Nine charges laid Thursday against Vale and six against a supervisor fall short of the “urgent, comprehensive action” needed to prevent more mine deaths in Ontario, says USW Local 6500 President Rick Bertrand.

“We can’t stop here,” Bertrand said. “We have to continue to push to get this public inquiry … let’s get some answers about why people are getting killed underground.”

Bertrand and his union have been in contact with the Fram and Chenier families and they support the call for an inquiry, said Bertrand.

Vale charged [mining deaths] – Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – June 1, 2012)

June 1, 2012

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

Company, employee allegedly failed to take precautions in deaths of two workers

The Ontario Ministry of Labour laid nine charges against Vale Ltd. and six against one of its employees Thursday in the June 8, 2011, deaths of two miners.

Jason Chenier, 35, and Jordan Fram, 26, died when they were overcome by a run of muck from the No. 7 ore pass of Stobie Mine, while working at the 3,000-foot level of the 112- year-old mine.

The ministry had one year to complete its investigation and lay charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. It did so eight days before the deadline — and the first-year anniversary of the fatal accident.

Among the charges, the ministry alleges Vale failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent the movement of material through an ore pass while haza rd o u s conditions existed, failed to ensure a transfer gate to an ore pass could be operated and monitored from a safe distance, failed to maintain drain holes at the 2,400 level of the mine, and failed to ensure water, slime and other wet material wasn’t dumped in the No. 7 ore pass at the 3,000-foot level where the men were working.

Nickel Slump Seen Ending as China Faces Ore Import Curbs – by Jae Hur, Agnieszka Troszkiewicz and Ichiro Suzuki (Bloomberg.com – May 31, 2012)

May 31, 2012

http://www.bloomberg.com/

After slumping more than any other industrial metal, analysts and traders say the worst may be over for nickel as restrictions on shipments from Indonesia, the biggest producer, diminish a worldwide glut.

Indonesia banned some ore exports from May 6 and imposed a 20 percent tax on the remainder to spur the development of its refining industry. The nation’s output will drop for the first time in four years in 2013, slashing global supply growth to 0.2 percent, from 4.9 percent in 2012, Morgan Stanley estimates. Prices will average $20,000 a metric ton in the fourth quarter, an increase of 23 percent, the median of 16 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg shows.

The metal fell 13 percent this year on prospects for the biggest surplus since 2009. Morgan Stanley now predicts the glut will peak in 2012 and Barclays Plc says prices should rally toward the end of the year on strengthening demand from stainless-steel makers, the biggest consumers. The rebound may not happen until then as China runs down record ore stockpiles accumulated in anticipation of the Indonesian ban.

NEWS RELEASE: VALE STATEMENT REGARDING CHARGES UNDER THE ONTARIO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT STEMMING FROM THE FATALITIES AT STOBIE MINE IN JUNE 2011

May 31, 2012

For Immediate Release

SUDBURY, May 31, 2012 – Vale today released the following statement regarding charges issued by the Ontario Ministry of Labour this afternoon under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. The charges stem from the Ministry’s investigation into the deaths of Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram at Stobie Mine in June 2011.

“We have received and are in the process of reviewing the charges served by the Ministry of Labour stemming from the tragic deaths of Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram in June 2011. Vale has been charged with nine counts and a staff employee has been charged with six counts under the Act.

As this is a very serious matter, we need to consider the charges very carefully before we determine how we will proceed. Until that time, and as this is now before the court system, we will not be commenting further on this matter.

Our own investigation concluded that there were a number of factors contributing to the tragic deaths of Jason and Jordan.