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Vale restarts ship loader after January fire at Ponta da Madeira

Vale says it’s commissioning loading activities at ship loader 6 at the Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal, after five months of maintenance following a January fire.

Staff reporter
 Vale’s Ponta da Madeira terminal in northern Brazil

Vale’s Ponta da Madeira terminal in northern Brazil

The blaze on January 14 had not caused casualties or environmental damage or impacted shipping, the Brazil-based miner said. 

Analysts had initially warned the fire could have reduced Brazil iron ore exports by as much as 32 million tonnes over the next 12 months. 

"The maintenance of CN6, which evolved the substitution of over 60% of its components, did not impact PDM's monthly iron ore shipment schedule," Vale said on Friday.

"During the maintenance period, the P4S sustained its shipping activities using its second ship loader (CN7), which was not affected by the fire."

The port has shipped almost 200Mtpa of iron ore in recent years and is one of Vale's main assets.

Vale shares have doubled in the past 12 months as the iron ore price recently powered to a record high, bolstered by production setbacks in Brazil and demand in China.

The company is capitalised about US$120 billion.

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