en.Wedoany.com Reported - Vale officially launched the decommissioning of the Minervino and Cordão Nova Vista tailings dikes at the Pontal System in Itabira, Minas Gerais, at the end of June. The project includes modifying drainage systems, partially removing tailings from the reservoirs, and implementing vegetation restoration in the affected areas.

At peak construction, the project is expected to create approximately 300 direct and indirect jobs, with priority given to local labor. Gladson Dias, Vale's Manager of Geotechnical and Decommissioning Projects, stated that the company continues to advance the decommissioning plan in Itabira, committed to executing it safely, responsibly, and transparently, reducing impacts on communities, workers, and the environment while generating local employment opportunities.

Dust control measures will be implemented during construction, such as using sprinklers and dust suppressants, with air quality, noise levels, and vibration monitored at predetermined points. The project is subject to oversight by regulatory authorities and must pass independent technical audits by the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The decommissioning, aimed at eliminating the status of these structures as tailings storage facilities, is expected to be completed by 2030 for Minervino and 2033 for Nova Vista. Both structures have ceased receiving tailings since 2019 and hold Stability Condition Declarations (DCE) issued by independent companies, certifying their safety. Continuous monitoring is conducted by Vale's Geotechnical Monitoring Center (CMG).

Decommissioning Plan

Of the 10 structures (including dams and dikes) planned under the Itabira Decommissioning Program (Programa de Desmantelamiento de Itabira), eight have already completed decommissioning, leaving only the Minervino and Cordão Nova Vista tailings dikes to be finished. To ensure project safety, the company has taken additional measures, including a downstream containment structure (ECJ2) completed in September 2025, and the reinforcement of the Minervino tailings dike completed in December last year.

Vale's decommissioning plan in Brazil involves a total of 30 structures, of which 19 have already been decommissioned—16 in Minas Gerais and three in Pará—achieving a completion rate of 63%. Since 2019, the company has invested R$13.3 billion (approximately US$2.57 billion, based on the exchange rate on July 8, 2026) in the plan.