Monday update on Vale operations in Sudbury

NEWS RELEASE

VALE LIMITED

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SUDBURY, ON (February 6, 2012) - Vale announced today that employees have begun returning to the company's five Sudbury area mines following a temporary suspension of operations to focus on safety.

The return to work process will continue in the days ahead.

Operations were temporarily suspended after an employee, Stephen Perry, was fatally injured on Sunday, January 29 while working in the main ore body at the 4215-foot level of Coleman Mine in Levack.

The immediate focus in the Sudbury mines remains on safety and health.

Upon returning to work, mine employees and managers will be working together in the short term on tasks associated with safety and risk management.

Production will recommence once outstanding safety items are addressed.

With stockpiles of ore available for processing at the company's mill and smelter, there is no anticipated impact on production as a result of the temporary suspension of operations.

"Mine managers and supervision, along with Worker Health and Safety representatives, have been working on plans to address immediate safety items in the workplace," said Kelly Strong, vice president Mining & Milling (North Atlantic) and general manager, Ontario Operations. "Similar meetings have occurred across all of our surface plants and other departments in Sudbury. The best way to achieve our safety goals is by working together to ensure that hazards across all work areas are managed in an effective and timely way."

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