[Ferro-Alloys.com] 

Vale moves closer to deal for Onca Puma nickel mine to resume operations

Vale and the Brazilian state of Para have moved closer to an agreement that could allow the mining group to resume operations at its Onca Puma nickel mine.

Onca Puma, which has an estimated annual nominal capacity of 27,000 metric tons, had its operating licence suspended earlier this year after Para’s environment department flagged irregularities in an annual environmental report.

Vale, which has maintained since February it did not see signs of environmental or social breaches at the mine, brought the matter to courts and the parties had a conciliation hearing before Brazil’s Supreme Court on Monday.

The hearing concluded with both Vale and the state signaling they are willing to find a way to resolve the stalemate, the minutes showed, adding a further meeting is expected to take place on June 20.

• [Editor:邢亚敏]