The project represents a strategic pivot for the company, utilizing existing infrastructure to increase ore processing capacity by 6 million tonnes annually, bringing the site’s total to 42 million tonnes. By integrating a new flotation circuit that removes waste rock earlier in the processing stream, the company expects to alleviate long-standing grinding bottlenecks and improve metallurgical recoveries. Beyond production gains, the expansion is projected to yield 15,000 ounces of gold as a byproduct, further bolstering the economic profile of Brazil’s largest copper operation.
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Vale Base Metals Accelerates Salobo Copper Expansion to 2028
Vale Base Metals is fast-tracking its Coarse Particle Flotation project at the Salobo Copper Complex in Brazil, aiming to launch operations by the first half of 2028. The initiative, which recently secured its construction license, promises to boost annual copper production by 30,000 tonnes while lowering capital costs.
Financial backing for the project includes a $40 million contribution from Wheaton Precious Metals, which simplifies the capital expenditure requirement for Vale to approximately $175 million. This partnership effectively replaces future streaming milestone payments, allowing the project to proceed with a low capital intensity of $5,000 to $6,000 per copper equivalent tonne. CEO Shaun Usmar noted that this development, alongside the early delivery of the Bacaba project, underscores the firm's ability to optimize its asset portfolio during a period of global supply shortages. The company is now evaluating the application of this flotation technology across its other polymetallic sites in the Carajás region.
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