Vale Shares Fall 1.11% as Dam Risk Downgrade to Level 2 Boosts Safety Profile Stock Ranks 440th in $210M Daily Trading Volume

Vale (VALE) closed 2025-08-18 with a 1.11% decline, trading at a volume of $0.21 billion, ranking 440th in market activity. The stock’s performance followed updates on its dam safety initiatives, which have implications for operational risk assessments.

Vale announced the emergency level of the Forquilha III dam at its Fábrica mine in Minas Gerais was downgraded from Level 3 to Level 2 by Brazil’s National Mining Agency. This move eliminates all dams classified under the highest emergency risk category in its portfolio. The company attributed the reduction to enhanced monitoring, structural analysis, and adherence to the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM).

CEO Gustavo Pimenta emphasized the achievement aligns with Vale’s 2025 commitment to eliminate Level 3 dams, reinforcing safety protocols and environmental stewardship. The Forquilha III dam is now part of Vale’s Upstream Dam Decharacterization Program, with preparatory work for its decharacterization slated to begin in 2026. Rafael Bittar, Technical Executive Vice-President, noted 17 of 30 dams in the program have already been decharacterized since 2019.

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