Vale receives authorization for Salobo copper project

Vale announced that it had received an operating license from IBAMA, the Brazilian environmental and renewable resources council, for its Salobo copper mine in Pará.

The mine, which has been operating since June, has a production capacity of 100,000 tons of copper concentrates per year.

Vale invested USD 2.507 billion in the Salobo mine.

An expansion, Salobo II, is expected to enter operation in 1H 2014. The expansion has an estimated cost of USD 1.707 billion and would increase capacity to 200,000 tons of copper concentrate per year.

Source (Portuguese): Exame via BrightWire News.