Henry said a BHP team had built an Internet of Things sensor gateway, which collects real time data from sensors on mobile and fixed equipment.

Vale said its annual assets review of its base metals and coal business is still underway and further impairments charges that would also impact fiscal year 2019 cannot be ruled out.

The US regulator decided to proceed with the probe of the company last week after a meeting with Brazilian prosecutors.

Areas where trees have been removed soared 29.5% to 9,762 square km in the year to July 30, 2019 at a pace equivalent to about two soccer fields a minute — the fastest since 2008.

The initiative aims to prevent a repeat of Vale's tailings dam burst in January, which killed 300 people.