SAO PAULO- Brazilian miner Vale said on Monday it has partially halted operations at its Southeastern and South iron ore systems due to heavy rains that are affecting the state of Minas Gerais, but reiterated 2022 production guidance as the Northern system was not affected.
Vale said in a securities filing that train circulation at its Vitoria-Minas railway was partially interrupted following the rains, which led output to be halted at the Brucutu mine and the Mariana complex as it was unable to transport iron ore from these ventures.
Both are located at Vale's Southeastern system - as well as the Itabira complex, where production was not affected.
At the Southern system, Vale said all of its complexes had to halt production as key highways BR-040 and MG-030 were interdicted.
Vale added that the Northern System is still operating as planned, and it reiterated its 2022 iron ore production guidance at 320-335 million tonnes. It noted its production plan takes into account the seasonal rainfall impact.
"Vale is taking all measures needed to resume activities and keeping its focus on the safety of employees and communities," the company said. It did not provide a detailed timeframe for operations to be resumed.
The miner also said none of its tailing dams had their emergency levels changed so far due to the rains, and that it is monitoring them "24 hours a day, in real-time".
On Saturday, heavy rainfall caused a dike to overflow at an iron ore mine owned by French steel pipe maker Vallourec in Minas Gerais, cutting off a major federal highway. Nobody was injured, but the venture's operations were suspended.
The downpours may have also contributed to the dramatic collapse of a canyon rock face in the same state on Saturday, killing 10 people on motorboats visiting a waterfall.
(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo, Editing by Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan) ((Gabriel.Araujo2@thomsonreuters.com; +55 11 5644 7745;))
