Kelly Strong, VP of Operations for VALE Ontario and UK recently spoke to an assembled crowd of 240 people during a President’s Series luncheon.
Over 45 minutes, Strong spoke of 
the challenges associated with competitively priced ‘pig nickel’ from China, oil prices that have increased by 350 per cent and the Canadian dollar, which has increased in value by 60 per cent compared to the U.S. dollar since 2006.
He also referenced the company’s challenges within tighter environmental rules and that, ” rather than striving to be the biggest producer in the world, Vale now wants to be the best, with an eye on long-term success.”
Key to that goal is reducing operating costs, which they’ve done by closing unprofitable mines such as Frood. They’ve also reorganized, with more of a regional focus.
Last year alone, VALE spent $800 million on Greater Sudbury operations.