English 
Francês 
Alemão 
Italiano 
Japonês 
Norueguês 
Portuguese 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
Vale Is Developing A New Sustainable Sand That Can Be Produced From Iron Ore Tailings. The Company Has Already Invested R$ 50 Million In The Development Of The Product.
After years of research, most of the tailings from Vale’s iron ore operations will receive a new destination. From discarded materials, the company has created another product: sustainable sand. Each ton produced also means one ton less of tailings in the dams, and this is precisely Vale’s purpose. Reducing the need for dams is one of the pillars of the principle of ensuring no recurrence of accidents.
Vale Invests R$ 50 Million For The Production Of Sustainable Sand
Since 2014, the company has been dedicated to researching uses for the recycling of tailings in the country and, to this end, has made investments totaling R$ 50 million to develop non-toxic sand with quality certified by studies from specialized laboratories and universities.
According to André Vilhena, Vale’s New Business Manager, the main focus of the activity is the sustainability of the company’s operations in iron ore, reducing environmental liabilities, as well as promoting employment and income through new businesses. To produce sustainable sand, the tailings that would be discarded in dams undergo several stages of concentration, filtration, and classification.
-
Abandoned house for 15 years disappears in the woods, shocks owner with unrecognizable scenery and is reborn in an intense transformation after almost 90 hours of work in just 10 days.
-
In just three hours, a natural stone floor transforms the entrance of the house with an organic effect, immediate drainage, and a sophisticated non-slip finish that doesn’t puddle water, dries quickly, and impresses with the final result.
-
‘Interlocking brick’ made of earth arrives in the construction industry with cost reductions of up to 40% on the project.
-
Espírito Santo will receive the largest engineering project in its history with the duplication of BR 262, which will have 50 viaducts, 28 bridges, and 2-kilometer tunnels cutting through the most challenging mountainous region of the entire state.
The process follows the same quality controls as iron ore production and generates a circular economy in operations in Minas Gerais. According to Marcello Spinelli, Vale’s Executive Vice President of Ferrous, this initiative generates a circular economy within the company’s units and mitigates the impact of tailings disposal on the environment and society, in addition to being a reliable alternative for the construction industry, which faces a high demand for sand.
More Than 250 Thousand Tons Have Already Been Processed
As the tailings are primarily composed of silica, the main component of sand, and low iron content, the result is a sand quality suitable for use in the construction market. Just last year, approximately 250 thousand tons were processed and allocated for sale and donation, with applications in concrete, precast items, mortar, artifacts, cement, and road paving.
The estimate is to allocate one million tons in 2022 and reach two million tons in 2023. Recycling this material decreases disposal in dams and aligns with the company’s efforts to prevent breaches like the one in Brumadinho. According to Rogério Nogueira, Director of Marketing for Ferrous at Vale, the company is preparing to further scale the allocation of sustainable sand starting in 2023.
To achieve this, the company has a team of professionals focused on this new business and is adjusting its operations to meet market demands. The benefits continue: in addition to reducing tailings production and dependence on dams, the product is a sustainable solution for a material that suffers from predatory extraction.
R$ 7.1 Million Has Already Been Invested In Sustainable Sand In Specific Niches
Currently, Vale’s production takes place at the Brucutu Mine in São Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo (MG), and other mines belonging to the company are in the process of mining and environmental regularization for the production of the input.
In addition to utilizing the existing infrastructure, Vale also has the already developed road network to transport the sand to markets in Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, the Federal District, and São Paulo.
Three application niches for the sand were prioritized after technical and market studies: paving, cement, and precast or concrete.
Only in research and innovation for use in road pavements, more than R$ 7.1 million has already been invested.
Seja o primeiro a reagir!