New Agreement Between Vale, Caterpillar and Sotreq to Expand Autonomous Mining in Brazil

Vale, one of the world’s largest mining companies, is working alongside Caterpillar and SSotreq, Caterpillar’s official dealer in Brazil, to expand autonomous technology in the Northern System, in Pará (Brazil).

The three companies have signed an agreement to increase the fleet of autonomous haul trucks used in iron ore operations. The technology will be rolled out gradually over the next five years at the Serra Norte and Serra Sul sites. The initiative aims to enhance operational efficiency, improve safety standards, and promote environmental sustainability. It also includes a workforce development plan to train employees for new roles in an increasingly digital mining environment.

This new agreement will expand the Northern System fleet to approximately 90 autonomous trucks in the region by 2028, operated by Cat MineStar Command for hauling, including trucks with a capacity to carry up to 400 tons.

“By integrating autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analysis, we are modernising our mining operations in the Northern Corridor, becoming a global benchmark in smart mining, promoting the transformation of the industry, and connecting us to international best practices”

Says Rafael Bittar, Vale’s Vice President, Technical.

Autonomous trucks improve safety by removing workers from high-risk areas, while also increasing efficiency and reducing emissions. According to Vale, results from other operations using autonomous vehicles have shown up to a 15% gain in operational performance and a 7.5% reduction in fuel consumption, contributing to the company’s carbon reduction goals.

Since the introduction of autonomous vehicles in the Northern System in 2019, more than 260 employees have been trained for new roles involving digital systems, aligned with international standards and industry trends. Vale’s autonomous haulage program began in 2018 at the Brucutu mine, in Minas Gerais, with the deployment of Cat autonomous trucks. Today, the company operates over 70 autonomous units, including trucks, drills, and yard machines.

At the Serra Sul site, the autonomous trucks will operate alongside Vale’s established truckless system, which uses long-distance belt conveyors to move ore without fuel consumption, significantly cutting emissions. The new agreement with Caterpillar includes the introduction of the Cat Command system at Carajás, aimed at supporting a mixed fleet with scalable, autonomous solutions.

New Agreement Between Vale, Caterpillar and Sotreq to Expand Autonomous Mining in Brazil published on The HeavyQuip Magazine.