Vale cuts capex as coronavirus hinders operations
Vale cut its forecast for 2020 capital expenditure on Tuesday and warned that the novel coronavirus could hinder medium-term production, underlining the impact of the outbreak on the labor-intensive mining industry.
In a securities filing in which it divulged worse-than-expected first quarter results, Vale warned that ongoing postponements to maintenance programs could have a significant effect on some operations.
Vale plans to cut its capital expenditure this year to $4.6 billion from $5 billion, as the coronavirus has made some construction and maintenance work unsafe. It added that more downward capital spending revisions were possible, but that such revisions should not be considered savings, as the expenditures may be carried over to 2021.
“Looking forward, Vale has postponed scheduled maintenance stoppages at many of its plants, which will hinder achievement of optimal production levels especially at base metals operations,” the company said.
“Vale may also suffer production impacts from increased absenteeism associated with quarantining measures, and resumption of idled mines in iron ore will be postponed due to delays in inspections, assessments and authorizations.”
It was not the first time Vale flagged potential production and maintenance issues from the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier in April, the company revised down its 2020 production forecast across several divisions.
In the filing on Tuesday, Vale reported net income of $239 million and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of $2.88 billion. Analysts polled by Refinitiv had predicted Vale would post EBITDA of $3.18 billion. Net income also came in below most analysts’ estimates.
The company said its results were hit by a rapid devaluation of Brazil’s real currency against the dollar, in which Vale’s hedge positions and much of its debt are denominated, as well as a $357 million loss associated with its bunker fuel hedging program.
The company expects freight rates should fall by at least $3 per tonne in the second quarter. Vale expects to realize shipping cost gains because of lower fuel prices in the next quarter since many ships were in transit and refueled only after prices fell in February.
On Wednesday Vale also announced that has received non-binding offers for its operations on the Pacific island of New Caledonia.
source: Mining.com
Top News
Six last month
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 12 tons of ferrotungsten through public tender
Gold loses some luster after Trump’s decisive win
Hedge funds slash bullish wagers on gold over Trump election win
Iron ore price flirts with key $100/t level on firm demand, China stimulus hopes
Resolute Mining says it will pay Mali $160 million in tax dispute
Russia takes aim at US nuclear power by throttling uranium
Aluminum price to average 6% higher in 2024 on strong demand: Fitch
BHP to spend up to $14 billion on Chilean copper expansion
Trump chooses oil fracking boss as energy secretary
Marimaca Copper eyes ASX dual listing to boost Chile project
Osisko Development surges on permitting milestone for Cariboo gold project
Earth AI, Legacy Minerals make first greenfield palladium discovery using artificial intelligence
Mexico’s proposed higher mining royalties could block nearly $7bn in investments
Sierra Leone woos miners to clean energy with $11 billion plan
Alrosa plans production cuts and staff reduction for 2025
Chile’s rare salt flat fish face threat from lithium mining project
Endeavour Silver raises $73m for Pitarrilla project
BHP to spend up to $14 billion on Chilean copper expansion
Chile’s rare salt flat fish faces threat from lithium mining project
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 12 tons of ferrotungsten through public tender
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 150 tons of Low-Carbon Ferro Manganese through public tender
Marimaca Copper eyes ASX dual listing to boost Chile project
Osisko Development surges on permitting milestone for Cariboo gold project
Earth AI, Legacy Minerals make first greenfield palladium discovery using artificial intelligence
Mexico’s proposed higher mining royalties could block nearly $7bn in investments
Sierra Leone woos miners to clean energy with $11 billion plan
Alrosa plans production cuts and staff reduction for 2025
Chile’s rare salt flat fish face threat from lithium mining project