Mark Scott, General Manager of Vale presented an update to the Chamber of Commerce this week.

Here Mark Scott talks about how the mine compared in 2012 to 2013.

"Our Safe Production Program got us to where we are with a 40 per cent reduction in our injury frequency from 2012 to 2013.  On the business end, in the production increase, it was the same thing.  People were paying attention to details and making good decisions every day and the increase in the total output of the whole plant and the refinery was the result."

During the meeting,  Scott said the Smelter and Refinery is still scheduled to close in 2015, although the company is working on another extended timeline, and is optimistic that it can be achieved.

He attributes the closure to two big issues. Sulfur dioxide emissions being the first, and volume of feed being processed and delivered being the second.