What it does: Mines iron, nickel, coal, copper, manganese and ferroalloys.
Staff stats: Over 70,000 employees across more than 30 countries worldwide.
Best known for One of the world’s largest iron producers.
Financials: Recently earned nearly US 7 billion in net income, representing a nearly 25% increase on previous years.
The good: Highly paid.
The not so good: Worksites are quite remote.
Hiring grads with degrees in Engineering (all disciplines), with a mining specialisation being preferred.
The company began in Cauê Peak, Brazil when it was discovered to have the world’s largest iron deposit yet discovered at the end of the 19th century. By the 1950s, they were an essential part of the steel industry, with 80% of Brazil’s iron supply being shipped to the United States. In the aftermath of World War II, all of Europe was rebuilding, requiring enormous quantities of steel the likes of which had never been seen. This enormous opportunity was fraught with hazards, primarily strong competition from established European competitors. Nevertheless, by diversifying into other countries, Vale was able to succeed and rise as a major global mining outfit. Today, it seeks to continue the legacy it started in Brazil and become a leading, first-choice global resource provider.
Junior engineers are always in demand at Vale Indonesia, particularly those with some kind of additional mining certification. It’s a great chance to learn what the mining industry is like, as you’ll be flung straight into short-term mine planning, design a strip-mining process, evaluate the safety, efficiency and cost of mining operations and other essential activities. This makes a graduate job here a reasonable stepping stone into a long-term career here, or at another mining company.
Two things to be aware of are distance and safety. You’ll be required to travel somewhere you’re unlikely to live anywhere near, so if you’re in a long-term relationship, planning to have a family or otherwise, working here might make that difficult. Additionally, Indonesian employees report needing their own transport, so you’ll need to invest in a car or otherwise. Regarding safety, while the company takes care to maintain adequate safety measures, there are inherent risks to the job that are unavoidable, such as inhaling hazardous particles.
Promotions aren’t straightforward at Vale Indonesia, as there’s no defined career path. You’ll have to network extensively to ensure progression. But even if that isn’t appealing to you, a starting role at Vale is respectable on your CV should you decide to go elsewhere.
Vale’s mission is to convert natural resources into prosperity for the countries they operate in. Their vision is to one day be the top global resource provider. They see to accomplish this through six values:
One of their iron ore mines in south-east Brazil collapsed in January 2019, killing 300 people. The collapse was due to an ineffective dam drainage system, which a National Mining Agency (ANM) report in November later revealed to have been known by the company well in advance of the incident. “If ANM had been correctly informed, it could have taken precautionary measures”, the agency said.
To their credit, Vale’s sustainability report for 2019 was split in two parts, with one section dedicated to exactly why the dam failed and how the company is minimising environmental damage, with the other section dedicated to standard sustainability contributions. They coordinated 150 healthcare professionals to assist the wounded, 240 professionals to care for animals swept up in the disaster, distributed financial support to affected families and more. In the aftermath, they repaired damaged infrastructure and installed a water treatment plant by April. While avoiding the incident would have been ideal, their response was indicative of true remorse.
Responsible for the ‘Vale Foundation’, an organisation dedicated to developing local small businesses and supporting community health and education. They execute regular, funded social and cultural programs each year, including over 821 exhibitions and programs showcasing Brazilian artwork.