Vale ushers modern era in Brazil

Vale has revealed its plan to splash $34m on Brazilian port and infrastructure projects this year.

A Vale-owned bulker loads iron ore at a Brazilian terminal.

The Rio de Janeiro-based mining giant says the massive investment will modernise and streamline its logistics operations, the company disclosed in a statement.

"We look for the best possible technology on the market to modernize our railroads and ports and, unusually for the industry, we adapt it to the specific characteristics of our heavy haul railroads" said Vale's director of logistics Humberto Freitas.

Vale's Brazilian logistics operation transports iron ore and other commodities by railroad to coastal maritime shipping terminals.

Over $5m will be invested in an artificial intelligence system at the Ponta de Madeira seaport in Sao Luis located on the northeast corner of Brazil.

The miner says conveyor belts which load ore onto bulkers will be operated remotely, a technology already implemented in most European load ports.

"Using cameras and sensors installed in the machines, operators can control the machines at a distance," said Freitas.

Rough and steep terrain is a challenge when transporting minerals to the port, Vale said.

For the first time in Brazil, trains will be outfitted with engines called "dynamic helpers" which will help move railcars up hills.

Vale's announcement marks a major development in Brazil's burgeoning shipping industry.

As TradeWinds has reported, the country has instituted a variety of programmes aimed at revitalizing Brazil's ailing maritime sector.

Promef, the billion-dollar state-sponsored fleet expansion program was designed to help Brazilian shipyards gain a global competitive edge while the country works to boost its domestic shipbuilding capability. It has fueled orders for over 33 Brazilian ships thus far.

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