Vale and ABB partner to expand mining automation in Brazil

Vale S.A. and ABB Ltd. have entered a strategic alliance to expand the use of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) across mineral production in Brazil. This partnership aims to enhance safety, productivity, and sustainability by replicating technological solutions successfully implemented at the Conceição II Model Plant in Itabira, Minas Gerais.

The Conceição II plant serves as a technological benchmark, utilizing over 100 monitoring cameras and the automation of more than 7,000 instruments to optimize ore processing. The initiative is a core component of Vale’s ‘Mining of the Future’ strategy, which focuses on digitalization and data intelligence to improve operational performance and reduce human exposure to high-risk activities.

The rollout of these technologies will expand to other operations, including the Brucutu processing plant in São Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo, which is expected to implement these systems by early 2027. Future applications are also planned for units in Minas Gerais and Pará. In Pará, the mining sector is undergoing a shift toward ‘Mining 4.0,’ utilizing autonomous fleets, satellite-operated machinery, and dry processing technologies to reduce carbon emissions and eliminate the need for tailings dams.