Vale recognized for safety, community engagement and environmental excellence

TORONTO, May 12, 2015 /CNW/ - On Monday, May 11, 2015 at the Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM) Awards Gala, Vale was honoured to be recognized by the industry for its efforts in mine safety, community engagement and environmental excellence.  These achievements of excellence are a reflection of the Company's steadfast commitment to the health and safety of its employees and the communities in which it operates.

"These awards recognize that we are what we do and we live by our values when it comes to our people, our communities and our business," said Conor Spollen, Chief Operating Officer, Canada & UK, Vale Canada Limited. "I am very proud of the work of our employees have done, together with our communities, to ensure everyone gets home safe and Vale remains a welcome and sustainable neighbour.  Without their efforts, none of this is possible."

CIM John T. Ryan Trophy

Two of Canada's safest mines hail from Vale.  The Voisey's Bay Mine in Newfoundland and Labrador was recognized as the safest metal mine in Canada with the John T. Ryan National Select Mine Trophy, honouring the mine with the lowest reportable injury frequency rate during the previous year. In 2014, the Voisey's Bay Mine recorded an injury frequency rate of 0.0.

The John T. Ryan Regional Safety Award for Western Canada and the Northwest Territories was awarded to Vale's Birchtree Mine in Thompson, Manitoba with an injury frequency rate of 1.79.  Since the launch of SafeProduction in 2003, Vale's Manitoba Operations have earned a John T. Ryan Award nine times in the last 12 years.

TSM Excellence Awards

The Mining Association of Canada's Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Awards for Community Engagement and Environmental Excellence acknowledge innovative projects and initiatives that expand and promote sustainable development within the mining sector. 

Vale is the 2015 winner of the TSM Community Engagement Award in recognition of its Thompson Economic Diversification Working Group (TEDWG) project.  The TEDWG project, aimed at diversifying and strengthening the economy in the region, was an innovative, collaborative, and inclusive socioeconomic process that included all levels of government, economic organizations and Aboriginal leaders. Over two and a half years and 20,000 hours of community engagement, participants in the process delivered ready-to-implement economic action plans for the City of Thompson and the Northern Manitoba region.

Vale is also a 2015 finalist for the TSM Environmental Excellence Award for its innovative Black Bear Management Strategy at the Voisey's Bay Mine in Newfoundland & Labrador.  The strategy recognizes and addresses the mine's need to co-exist in the remote area without negatively impacting the species.

About Vale

With a mission to transform natural resources into prosperity and sustainable development, Vale is a global mining company with headquarters in Brazil. Vale is the world leader in the production of iron ore and the production of nickel. Our global Base Metals operations are headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Vale is proud of its accomplishments in Canada and is excited about what the future holds. For more information, visit www.vale.com.

SOURCE Vale Limited

Cory McPhee, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Vale, Base Metals, [phone] (office) [phone] (mobile), [email protected]

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