Photographer: Marcio Nagano
Vale Base Metals has a significant endowment and resource potential that distinguishes us from our peers.
This includes the largest copper reserve and resource in Brazil, featuring a highly-attractive project pipeline that is expected to nearly double copper production to roughly 700 kt per year by 2035.
Click on the map to learn more about our projects.
*All units in kilotonnes (kt) or kilo ounces (koz).
Brazil
Bacaba
The Bacaba Project is a copper development in Brazil’s Carajás region, located about 10 km from the Sossego plant in an area known as the South Hub. It is projected to produce about 50 kt of copper annually over an eight-year life of mine, with ore to be trucked to Sossego for processing. Now in the construction phase, Bacaba is expected to begin production in 2028. It is the first of several projects in Brazil that will leverage VBM’s existing infrastructure and support the company’s long-term copper growth strategy.
Cristalino
The Cristalino Project is a key copper initiative located in the Carajás region in the South Hub. The project is envisioned as an open pit mine and expected to produce 80 kt of copper annually over a 21-year life of mine. Located about 45 km from the Sossego plant, the project is currently in the feasibility study phase.
Barão
The Barão Project is a future open pit copper mine located about 15 km from Sossego. Barão is a mini-mine that will allow us to accelerate production and serve as a bridge to keep the Sossego Mill operating at optimal capacity while larger projects are completed.
Alemão
The Alemão Project is a high-grade copper development in the Carajás region, located near our Sossego Complex in an area known as the North Hub. Envisioned as an underground operation, Alemão is expected to produce about 80 kt of copper annually over a 20-year life of mine. The project is currently in the feasibility stage.
118
Project 118 is a high-grade copper development located about 10 km from the Sossego complex in the Carajás region. It is expected to produce approximately 60 kt of copper annually over a seven-year life of mine, with ore trucked to Sossego. The project is currently in the feasibility stage.
Paulo Afonso
The Paulo Afonso Project is a future open pit copper mine in the North Hub, with a planned 12-million-tonne-per-year processing plant and potential for underground expansion. Paulo Afonso is expected to produce about 70-100 kt of copper annually over a 17-year life of mine. The project is currently in the pre-feasibility stage.
Salobo Expansion CPF
The Salobo Coarse Particle Flotation (CPF) Project is an advanced copper processing initiative to boost recovery and efficiency at the Salobo Complex, the largest copper operation in Brazil. Currently in the testing phase, CPF will reduce energy and water usage while significantly increasing throughput. It is expected to be introduced at Salobo in 2028 with a 30-year life of asset, highlighting VBM’s focus on innovation and sustainable development.
Indonesia
Hu’u Project
The Hu’u Project in Indonesia, in which VBM holds an 80 per cent interest, is one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits. The project is currently in the pre-feasibility stage and a key part of VBM’s international growth strategy with significant value potential and optionality.
Canada
Nickel Rim South Expansion with Glencore
In December 2025, Vale Base Metals and Glencore Canada signed an agreement to jointly evaluate a potential brownfield copper development project at their adjacent properties in the Sudbury Basin. The project consists of a mine extension to develop highgrade copper and nickel orebodies and is currently in the feasibility study stage.
Click here to access the page – Nickel Rim South Expansion with Glencore
