Vale Base Metals receives 2025 Hatch CIM Mining and Metals Project Development Safety Award

Montreal, May 5, 2025 — Vale Base Metals has been awarded the 2025 Hatch-CIM Mining & Metals Project Development Safety Award. The award was presented at the CIM-Caterpillar Celebration of Excellence Gala on May 5, during CIM’s annual convention and expo, held this year from May 4–7 in Montreal.

The award recognizes Vale’s exceptional safety performance at the Voisey’s Bay Mine Expansion (VBME) project. Despite the challenges of executing complex work in a remote location, Vale successfully implemented robust safety systems and processes, driven by a culture of care and shared accountability. This resulted in an outstanding safety record that reflects both operational discipline and strong team cohesion.

Established in 2012, the Hatch-CIM Mining & Metals Project Development Safety Award honors Canadian mine and processing facility projects that demonstrate exemplary safety performance during the development and construction phases. Eligible projects must exceed 300,000 work hours, be completed within the 12 months prior to nomination, and involve at least one active CIM member. 

“Congratulations to Vale’s Voisey’s Bay Mine Expansion team. Delivering more than 20 million hours of work in a remote, fly-in fly-out environment while maintaining focus, morale, and a firm commitment to safety is an exceptional achievement. This project sets a new standard for what disciplined execution and strong partnerships can accomplish,” said Mark Deziel, Hatch’s global director of Mining.

“This award is a recognition of our commitment to safety,” said Roberto Damasceno, director of Newfoundland and Labrador Operations and International Refineries. “At the peak of the project, there were over 3,400 employees working in Voisey’s Bay. The VBME team and all the contractors worked together to successfully and safely complete this project and hand it over to operations. It is a well-deserved recognition for the project team for embodying Vale Base Metals' commitment to safety and risk management.”

 
For more information on the Voisey’s Bay operation, please click here.