¡Signing Ceremony for Oman's pellets EP project

Vale signed a US$ 48.7 million contract with NHI Shenyang Mining Machinery Group for the purchase of 20 belt conveyors and a sampling system, including all the accessories and auxiliary equipment, to be used in its pelletizing project in Oman. 

In 2008, Vale already awarded NHI two contracts with total value of US$ 32.5 million for the Serra Sul and Mozambique projects.

The Oman project encompasses the construction of a pelletizing plant with production capacity of 9 Mtpy of direct reduction pellets and a distribution center with capacity to handle 40 Mtpy of iron ore and pellets at the Sohar port in Oman. Start up is planned for the second half of 2010. 

Both contracts are just the latest example of Vale’s long-standing cooperation with China. In addition to selling iron ore to Chinese steelmakers, Vale has invested to set up joint ventures with Chinese companies in coal mining, coking, nickel smelting and processing, and pelletizing. In August last year, Vale ordered the construction of 12 very large ore carriers (VLOCs) with a Chinese ship builder. To date, Vale’s purchases from China have totaled more than US$ 2.8 billion.   

About Vale 

Vale is the world's second largest diversified mining company in market capitalization. Present in more than 30 countries, Vale is the world’s largest producer of iron ore and pellets, key raw materials for the steel industry, and one of the largest  producers of nickel, which is used to produce stainless steel, batteries, special alloys, chemicals and other products.  The company also produces copper, manganese, ferroalloys, bauxite, alumina, aluminum and coal, among other raw materials important to the global industrial sector and present in people's daily lives. For more information, please access www.vale.com/pressoffice

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