Brazilian mining giant Vale S.A. plans to produce 10% of its iron ore from mine waste, or tailings, by 2030, marking a push towards sustainability. The company aims to recover 7 million metric tons of iron ore through its “circular mining” program in 2024, according to Rafael Bittar, Vale’s executive vice president of technical affairs.
While specific figures for 2030 were not provided, Vale’s overall production is expected to grow. The company has revised its 2024 output estimate to 330 million tons, and expects to exceed 360 million tons annually by 2030. This increase suggests a significant boost in iron ore production from tailings.
Vale’s focus on reducing tailings comes in response to past dam disasters, including the fatal collapses in Mariana (2015) and Brumadinho (2019), which caused hundreds of deaths and severe environmental damage. Since then, the company has worked to phase out upstream dams, which pose greater risks.
In 2023, Vale produced 48.5 million tons of tailings, some of which were stored in dams. Through its “circular mining” initiative, Vale aims to turn this waste into a valuable resource, enhancing both environmental sustainability and operational safety.
“This is a reality, and it will come very strongly for the industry,” Bittar said, highlighting the growing importance of waste reuse in mining.
