Vale mines will be closed starting on Monday for the annual month-long shutdown. Vale Manager of Corporate Relations, Ryan Land, explains here.
“Basically for the whole month of August beginning on the 4th, with some variations of a day or two between plants, the mines will ramp down first, followed by the mill, and the refinery and the smelter will be the last to shutdown.”
The shutdown happens so contractors and employees can do planned maintenance and so safety projects can be carried out. Work being done this year includes compressor upgrades and repairs, work to the refinery ball mill, belt upgrades and crusher repairs.
Land says safety is always number one for Vale. He says working on projects during a shutdown helps reduce risk.
All plants will be back online by September 2nd.”
