Vale invests in the discovery of new mineral deposits and has an extensive mineral exploration program, carrying out research in 24 countries on all continents.
We follow a single global model that integrates mineral exploration and technological research in order to accelerate the discovery cycle. Our mineral exploration activities are organized by region, centered on offices in Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Lima, Peru; Johannesburg, South Africa; Toronto, Canada; and Brisbane, Australia.
In a scenario of constant challenges to make mineral extraction feasible and ensure the sustainable growth of the company, technological innovation plays a strategic role. We have an in-house group of specialists working to identify trends and develop new exploration and production technologies.
We have an advanced laboratory complex, the Mineral Development Center (known by its Portuguese acronym, CDM), located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. At the center, we research new ways of extracting and processing minerals in order to make them more productive and economically viable. This research is conducted in partnership with renowned institutions, thereby leveraging our access to new mining techniques.