OREANDA-NEWS. From left to right: Executive Director Roger Downey; client Jorge Matsuda, President of the Matsuda Group; CEO Murilo Ferreira; and President of the Vale Board of Directors, Dan Conrado, unveiled unit's commemorative plaque

A new Vale Fertilizers dicalcium phosphate plant with an annual production capacity of 120,000 metric tons was inaugurated on August 28, during an event at the Uberaba Industrial Complex in Minas Gerais, attended by members of the Vale Board of Directors, Vale CEO Murilo Ferreira, managers, clients and employees. Strategically located to service our clients in Brazil's Midwest - the region with the greatest growth potential, the plant has the latest in bulk and bagged loading facilities to meet the various requirements of our clients.

This production unit is part of a BRL 330 million investment program launched by Vale Fertilizers in 2011, with the transfer of some of its operations in the city of Cubatão, in São Paulo, to the Uberaba Complex in Minas Gerais. Following the move, our company was able to boost competitivity by optimizing customer service logistics and integrating the mining, processing and chemical production operations. More than 1,100 people were directly involved in the construction of the new plant, while 88 employees currently work on the operation.

In the opinion of Fertilizers Executive-Director Roger Downey, the advent of the new plant enables the company to make an even greater contribution to the growth of Brazil's livestock sector and strengthens our commitment to sustainable development. “Dicalcium phosphate is an important segment for us. Brazil is the world leader in beef production and this is closely linked to our fertilizer business, given the fact that each kilo of beef, for example, equates to the consumption of seven kilos of grain,” he stressed.