Vale expects production to resume at Voisey’s Bay Mine (above) in July. (Photo: Vale)
Vale has moved from care and maintenance into a planned maintenance period at the Voisey’s Bay Mine in Labrador, Canada, as a first step to resuming operations in early July. This includes restarting critical path activities related to the Voisey’s Bay Mine Expansion Project, the company said.
The planned return to production follows three months of monitoring progress and events associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Production is expected to resume in early July and reach full capacity by early August.
In line with World Health Organization (WHO) protocols to test, remove, track and treat positive or suspicious cases, Vale is partnering with a private testing lab in Newfoundland and Labrador to provide extensive PCR testing of all employees entering the site. The enhanced testing capacity enables the early identification, tracing and stopping of the spread of any potential COVID-19 cases. There have been no cases to date at site.
