French-based Vallourec plans to expand Vallourec Mineração in Brazil. According to Minas Gerais state governor, Romeu Zema, Vallourec will invest BRL 220 million to expand its operations in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais state.
Vallourec Mineração operates the Pau Branco mine in Brumadinho city, supplying iron ore for Vallourec’s other sites in Brazil, including Barreiro and Jeceaba, the latter owned by Vallourec Soluções Tubulares do Brasil (VSB).
Vallourec supplies any exceeding iron ore to clients in the domestic market. Vallourec Mineração has an iron ore capacity of 6 million mt/year.
Neither governor Zema nor Vallourec disclosed further details about the proposed iron ore expansion. Zema said the expansion should generate 400 temporary jobs in the next two years plus another 335 permanent jobs. Zema’s statement indicate the expansion could last at least two years.