Latest news with #ValeBaseMetals
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Looking back on the legacy of Sudbury's Superstack
More details about plans to dismantle the Superstack in and a look back at the impact the structure had on Greater Sudbury. Sudbury's landscape will be changed forever in the next five years as the Superstack and smaller Copperstack are dismantled by Vale Base Metals. Ahead that, some people are remembering what has been and looking forward to what could be. Superstack coming down The second-tallest freestanding structure of any kind in Canada, the Superstack was decommissioned in 2020 after advances in technology made it no longer necessary. (Photo from video) The second-tallest freestanding structure of any kind in Canada, the Superstack was decommissioned in 2020 after advances in technology made it no longer necessary. Officials detail the dismantling process in a YouTube video. 'Basically, you're going to see a structure going up,' Vale's Gord Gilpin told CTV. 'And slowly but surely the structure will come down. From a schedule point of view … we're scheduled to have the Copperstack -- which is the shorter one -- down by the end of 2025. And we're finalizing plans for the Superstack. It'll be more of a five-year project.' Built by Vale's predecessor Inco to disperse sulphur gas out of the city, Liisa Kovala 's father worked to build the giant structure. 'He worked on stacks across the country and into the United States,' Kovala said. Liisa Kovala Built by Vale's predecessor Inco to disperse sulphur gas out of the city, Liisa Kovala 's father worked to build the giant structure. (Photo from video) 'I want to say upwards of 24 or 25 stacks. He also went across the country pulling them down when they were needed … to be demolished. And this was his very last stack. So, I mean, I thought, that's amazing. But if you're going to go out, go out on the biggest one there is.' As part of the Sudbury Writers Guild, Kovala was part of an anthology titled 'Sudbury Superstack: A Changing Skyline, which was released in May. 'Sudburians have lots of opinions about it,' she said. 'Whether they hate it or love it or have some personal connections to it, people have opinions. And so we decided to bring writers together, but also community members. So others contributed to the book who maybe never wrote anything at all before but wanted to share their memories.' Gilpin said Vale has a plan in place on how it will commemorate the stacks. 'We do have a bit of a plan, a competition, if you will, or vote for the community to help us choose one of three options on how we can commemorate and remember the stack,' he said. 'One being a mural, another being sort of a statue, and the third being, a picture book -- a coffee table type book.' Residents are invited to visit Vale's website to vote for one of the three options. Voting will close at 4 p.m. Sept. 27 and the winning proposal will be shared on Vale's Facebook page in October.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Once the tallest structure in the world, Sudbury landmark to be dismantled piece by piece
The Superstack is 381 metres (or 1,250 feet) high, 35 metres wide at the base and 16 metres wide at the top. It is the second tallest chimney in the world, exceeded only by a power station chimney in Kazakhstan. Dismantling of the famous Superstack in Sudbury will begin in August. While many are sad to see it go, Vale Base Metals said it's an important step forward in its environmental stewardship program. Superstack 1972 When completed in 1972, the Superstack was the tallest structure in the world. It dispersed emissions from mining, a critical step in improving Sudbury's heavily damaged environmental landscape, which used to be dominated by black rock. (Photo from video) The Superstack is 381 metres (or 1,250 feet) high, 35 metres wide at the base and 16 metres wide at the top. It is the second-tallest chimney in the world, exceeded only by a power station chimney in Kazakhstan. When it was completed in 1972, it was the tallest structure in the world. It dispersed emissions from mining, a critical step in improving Sudbury's heavily damaged environmental landscape, which used to be dominated by black rock. More recently, however, Vale's $1 billion Clean AER Project led to the elimination of 100,000 metric tonnes of sulfur dioxide emissions each year (equivalent to 1,000 railway tanker cars of sulphuric acid), bringing emissions down to 30 per cent below the provincial standards. Superstack CleanAER Vale's $1 billion Clean AER Project led to the elimination of 100,000 metric tonnes of sulfur dioxide emissions each year (equivalent to 1,000 railway tanker cars of sulphuric acid), bringing emissions down to 30 per cent below the provincial standards. (Photo from video) That meant the stack was no longer needed. Paul Guenette is the project lead for the Superstack demolition project, a process that began in 2020 when Vale decommissioned the stack and began planning how to take it down. Since then, elevators have been built on the side to bring workers up and down. For the last two months, workers have been building a platform at the top. 'It's 95 per cent completed,' Guenette said. 'Probably in mid-July, we're going to see … the actual machine that's going to be doing the dismantling being set right on top of the rim.' Superstack dismantle The special equipment Vale will use to dismantle the superstack is like a jackhammer that will cut away panels. (Photo from video) He said the machine is like a jackhammer that will be 'cutting away panels in the stack and making them fall down on the inside.' Rubble will be removed as it accumulates inside the stack using a remotely controlled loader similar to what's being used underground. 'Again, (it's) super exciting piece that we're utilizing technology from underground to the above-ground, doing this monumental project,' Guenette said. Work will begin within weeks, but the process itself will take three or four years, he added. 'It's a lot of work, a lot of hours,' Guenette said. 'We have to respect all the bylaws, obviously, for the noise and other things just to make sure everybody's happy.' Work has to stop in winter because of the cold and extreme winds. He said that the water sprayer they use to control dust wouldn't work in winter because the water would freeze. 'That's why it's really going to take quite some time,' Guenette said. Vale hired Commonwealth Dynamics Canada, an external contractor, to help with the demolition and also has a team of about 27 employees working on the project. For people like Erin Newell, the Superstack has been a constant in her life. Newell's family has lived in Copper Cliff for 90 years. Superstack 4 While many are sad to see the Superstack go, Vale Base Metals said it's an important step forward in its environmental stewardship program. (Photo from video) 'My grandparents came here from Toronto, and they were down on Peter Street, where they raised nine children and there's still quite a few of us in town,' she said. 'I grew up on Crighton Road across from the park and I've lived on this street beside my sister for about 12 years.' Newell said the stack has always been a compass for her. 'Coming back from camp or a trip, you would always know that you were close to home (when) you started to see that in the skyline,' she said. 'It's going to be very different' 'And I think it's going to be very different now that it's not here. Definitely, a big piece of history that's always been a part of my life.' As the demolition moves closer to reality, Guenette said he knows it's bittersweet for many in the community. 'The stack, for certain generations of people, it was a sign of prosperity, right?' he said. 'You see smoke coming out of the stack, that means Inco or Vale, it was making money. People were working. We'd be able to put food on the table.' But the fact that it's no longer needed is a good thing since it means that emissions from mining have been drastically reduced. 'Look at Sudbury now -- it's completely green,' Guenette said. 'Thirty years ago, you wouldn't recognize this place. So there's two sides to it, I understand, but it's time to turn the new page as far as Sudbury and really showing the world that we care about the environment and we want to improve the world.' In addition to the Superstack, Vale is also taking down the less-famous Copperstack. Guenette said there are about 95 feet left to be dismantled. As for the Superstack, residents are being encouraged to share photos and memories of the stack while to company works towards creating a monument.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vale reports 17% drop in Q1 2025 net income amid lower iron ore prices
Brazil-based iron ore producer Vale has reported a 17% decrease in net income for the first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2025), ending 31 March, primarily due to lower iron ore prices. For the period, net income attributable to Vale's shareholders stood at $1.39bn, a drop from $1.67bn in the same period a year ago. Net operating revenues totalled $8.1bn, a 4% decrease compared to $8.45bn in the first quarter of 2024. The company's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the quarter stood at $3.1bn, a decline of 9%. Free cash flow during Q1 2025 declined sharply by 77% to $504m from $2.2bn in Q1 2024. At the end of 31 March 2025, Vale's net debt rose by 21% year-on-year to $12.19bn. Capital expenditures for the quarter were $1.17bn, reflecting a 16% decrease from the same period a year ago. Vale's C1 cash cost for iron ore fines, which reflects production expenses from mine to port, dropped 11% in the quarter, reaching $21 per tonne (t). Vale CEO Gustavo Pimenta said: 'We had a consistent start to the year, aligned with our objectives for 2025. We are seeing good momentum in cost management, with our C1 reaching US$21/t in Q1, continuing the year-on-year downward trajectory. 'Our value-accretive projects continue to progress, being essential elements towards enhancing our portfolio flexibility and improving operational and cost efficiency. At Vale Base Metals, the benefits of the Asset Review initiatives are emerging and we are laser-focused on delivering. 'Additionally, we have been consistently optimising our balance sheet through asset-light solutions, such as the transaction that created the strategic joint venture at Alianca Energia, which will also help us deliver on our long-term decarbonisation goals.' In February 2025, Vale said it plans to invest $12.26bn to expand iron ore and copper output in its main Carajas complex in northern Brazil. The investment plan focuses on expanding iron ore production to 200 million tonnes as well as increase copper production to 350,000t by 2030. "Vale reports 17% drop in Q1 2025 net income amid lower iron ore prices" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Reuters
04-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Miner Teck plans to sell to Asia to avoid US tariffs
TORONTO, March 4 (Reuters) - Canadian miner Teck ( opens new tab has been developing plans to sell zinc to Asia instead of the U.S. to circumvent tariffs from President Donald Trump's administration on Canadian imports, CEO Jonathan Price on Tuesday. Teck, which sells most of its refined zinc to the U.S., has been working on a contingency plan for months, Price told the PDAC mining industry conference in Toronto. "We will find buyers and prices will adjust." The additional warehousing and port spaces would be in Canada, a company representative said. Trump's 25% tariffs on imports from Canada as well as Mexico took effect on Tuesday, launching new trade conflicts with the United States' three biggest trading partners. Economists expect U.S. companies to bear the cost of those tariffs. Teck produces about 260,000 metric tons of refined zinc annually. That equates to less than a third of total U.S. demand in 2024 when it stood at 848,000 metric tons, or 6% of the world's total, according to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG). BNP Paribas estimates that the United States imports 62% of its zinc needs, opens new tab, mainly from Canada and Mexico. Price said he expects the tariffs to raise the cost of commodities and drive inflation, and that "there is little upside". Vale Base Metals, the base metals spinoff of iron ore giant Vale that sells Canada-produced nickel to the U.S., is also looking to adapt to the tariffs, Vale Base Metals Chair Mark Cutifani said. "We are talking to everyone on this to see how this can be resolved," he told reporters. Get a look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets with the Morning Bid U.S. newsletter. Sign up here.
