SUDBURY, ON, Feb. 21, 2014 /CNW/ - Vale celebrated the official opening of Totten Mine today in a ceremony with the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, the Honourable Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development & Mines, members of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation and many other community leaders.
"Totten Mine is Vale's first new mine in the Sudbury Basin in more than 40 years and represents a significant investment in the future of our operations in Ontario and across Canada," said Peter Poppinga, President & Chief Executive Officer of Vale Canada and Vale's Executive Director of Base Metals and Information Technology. "The opening of Totten Mine reinforces the strong confidence we have in our world-class base metals assets to deliver sizeable value through all commodity cycles. Vale is committed to its future in Canada and across base metals and we are pleased to be able to celebrate this historic milestone for our company and the Greater Sudbury community."
Premier Wynne spoke about the significance of the mine's official opening. She also cut the ceremonial ribbon along with Minister Gravelle, and toured Totten's state-of-the-art control room.
"Totten Mine is so important to the prosperity of Northern Ontario," said Premier Wynne. "It will create good jobs and help foster economic growth in the region and beyond. I want to thank Vale for strengthening Ontario's position as a global mining power, while respecting our environment and local communities."
With a budget of more than US$700 million, the development of Totten Mine took seven years to complete. Approximately 500 people were employed at the site during peak development periods. The safety record of the mine during construction was exemplary, achieving over 1 million person-hours without a lost time injury.
Located in Worthington (approximately 40 km west of Copper Cliff), the mine is now in operation and will employ approximately 200 people. It will produce copper, nickel and precious metals over the next 20 years.
"There is no question that Ontario is a world leader in mining, and with incredible partners like Vale who invest in our province and our people, our reputation can only grow stronger," said Minister Gravelle. "When a new mine opens, it has an immensely positive impact on the regional economy and every community surrounding it shares in the benefits. Congratulations to everyone involved in this historic opening."
Totten Mine features the latest in mine technology and safety automation, including a wireless underground communication system and location tracking on mechanical and personal protective equipment. It has also incorporated industry-leading environmental features in its design to minimize its operating footprint and impacts on the surrounding area.
Another key distinction of Totten Mine is the relationship Vale has with the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation. Vale signed an Impact Benefits Agreement with Sagamok in 2012 and is committed to sharing the mine's economic benefits.
"Sagamok Anishnawbek congratulates Vale on their achievement and our First Nation looks forward to continuing to participate in the Totten Mine Project, including through employment, mine service delivery and environmental stewardship," said Chief Paul Eshkakogan, Chief of Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation.
"Totten Mine represents the future of mining for Vale's Sudbury operations," said Kelly Strong, Vice-President of Ontario & UK Operations, Vale. "It's an extraordinary facility built by a dedicated team of mining professionals and represents an accomplishment our company and community can be very proud of."
B-Roll Footage:
B-roll footage of Totten Mine will be available on Friday, February 21st from 2:30 - 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time via satellite:
| Feb. 21 14:30 to 14:45 Firm Satellite: Galaxy 17 K20 Slot A Uplink Freq: 14386.50 Horizontal Downlink Freq: 12086.50 Vertical Modulation : DVB-S QPSK Symbol Rate: 7.5 Msymb/s FEC: 7/8 Data rate: 12.0955 Mbit/s Video Format: HD1080i/59.94 Codec: MPEG-4 H264 4.2.0. |
About Vale:
Vale is one of the leading mining companies in the world. It is the world's largest producer of iron ore and iron ore pellets and the world's second largest producer of nickel. Vale is one of the world's largest producers of manganese ore and ferroalloys. Vale also produces copper, thermal and coking coal, phosphates, potash, cobalt and platinum group metals. The company is actively engaged in mineral exploration efforts in 24 countries around the globe. Vale's Base Metals operations are headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with Canadian operating sites in Sudbury, Ontario; Thompson, Manitoba; and Voisey's Bay and Long Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador. For more information, please visit: vale.com/canada
This press release may include statements that present Vale's expectations about future events or results. All statements, when based upon expectations about the future and not on historical facts, involve various risks and uncertainties. Vale cannot guarantee that such statements will prove correct. These risks and uncertainties include factors related to the following: (a) the countries where we operate, especially Brazil and Canada; (b) the global economy; (c) the capital markets; (d) the mining and metals prices and their dependence on global industrial production, which is cyclical by nature; and (e) global competition in the markets in which Vale operates. To obtain further information on factors that may lead to results different from those forecast by Vale, please consult the reports Vale files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Brazilian Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM), the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, and in particular the factors discussed under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in Vale's annual report on Form 20-F
Video with caption: "Video: Celebrating Totten Mine, Vale in Canada's Mine of the Future.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20140221_C6400_VIDEO_EN_36983.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20140221_C6400_PHOTO_EN_36983.jpg&clientName=Vale%20Canada%20Limited&caption=Video%3A%20Celebrating%20Totten%20Mine%2C%20Vale%20in%20Canada%27s%20Mine%20of%20the%20Future%2E&title=VALE%20CANADA%20LIMITED%20%2D%20Vale%20opens%20first%20new%20mine%20in%20Sudbury%20in%20over%2040%20years&headline=Vale%20opens%20first%20new%20mine%20in%20Sudbury%20in%20over%2040%20years
Image with caption: "Totten Mine Aerial View (CNW Group/Vale Canada Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140221_C6400_PHOTO_EN_36981.jpg
Image with caption: "Totten Mine Administration Building & Head Frame (CNW Group/Vale Canada Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140221_C6400_PHOTO_EN_36980.jpg
Image with caption: "Totten Mine Control Room (CNW Group/Vale Canada Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140221_C6400_PHOTO_EN_36979.jpg
Image with caption: "From left to right: Cutting the ceremonial ribbon at the official opening ceremony of Totten Mine on February 21st, 2014 are: Conor Spollen, Vice-President, North Atlantic Projects, Vale; Rick Bertrand, President, United Steelworkers, Local 6500; Bob Booth, Totten Mine Manager, Vale; Hon. Marianne Matichuk, Mayor, City of Greater Sudbury; Kelly Strong, Vice-President, Ontario & UK Operations, Vale; Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Premier of the Province of Ontario, Hon. Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines; Province of Ontario; Peter Poppinga, CEO of Vale Canada and Executive Director of Vale's Global Base Metals; Chief Paul Eshkakogan; Rob Assabgui, General Manager, Mines & Mill, Vale. (CNW Group/Vale Canada Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140221_C6400_PHOTO_EN_36987.jpg
Image with caption: "From left to right during the Premier's press conference at Totten Mine: Kelly Strong, Vice-President, Ontario & UK Operations, Vale; Hon. Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Province of Ontario; Kathleen Wynne, Premier of the Province of Ontario; Hon. Marianne Matichuk, Mayor, City of Greater Sudbury. (CNW Group/Vale Canada Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140221_C6400_PHOTO_EN_36986.jpg
SOURCE: Vale Canada Limited
Danica Pagnutti
Corporate Affairs Specialist
Vale, Ontario Operations
(705) 682-7165
[email protected]
Cory McPhee
Vice-President, Corporate Affairs
Vale, Base Metals
(416) 361-7669
[email protected]
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