Vale transforms former Águas Claras Mine, in Minas Gerais, into a territory for nature, sport and community life

First mine closure and transition to new uses led by Vale in Brazil includes environmental conservation of 93% of the area and gradual opening of the space to society.

For the first time in its 84 years, Vale is gradually carrying out the transition to new uses at a non-operating mine in Brazil. The Águas Claras Mine (MAC), located in Nova Lima (MG), on the border with Belo Horizonte and next to the Serra do Curral, spans more than 1,900 hectares and will be gradually opened to new uses of interest to society, such as sports, leisure, culture and sustainable tourism. About 93% of the territory will be dedicated to biodiversity conservation, including the protection of springs, watercourses, native vegetation and local wildlife. For comparison, the MAC area is equivalent to about 98 times the size of the Belo Horizonte Municipal Park, an important space for environmental conservation, culture and leisure in the center of the capital of Minas Gerais.

The project represents a new approach to mine closure, in which safety and environmental recovery measures take place alongside the definition and implementation of future uses. The proposal is to turn a former mining area into a territory integrated with the city and nature, with environmental, social and economic benefits.

The expansion of the trail connecting MAC to the Serra do Curral Park is part of this transformation, making it possible to leave Nova Lima, cross the Serra do Curral and reach Belo Horizonte on foot, surrounded by nature. Through loan-for-use agreements with the Belo Horizonte Municipal Parks and Zoobotanical Foundation, almost 108,000 square meters of green areas were granted by Vale and incorporated into the park for conservation and public leisure.

The Águas Claras Mine is home to protected green areas, including the Mata do Jambreiro Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN), as well as legal reserves and permanent preservation areas associated with the cerrado, rupestrian fields and seasonal forests.

"MAC is becoming a great asset for Nova Lima, Belo Horizonte and the entire region. Together with the competent agencies, authorities and communities, we are building a new way to close a mine, combining safety, environmental recovery and technology with the gradual opening of the territory to society. This process of listening and collective construction will allow us to create a space for community life capable of generating shared value, strengthening ties and leaving an important legacy for the population," said Gleuza Jesué, Director of Territory Management South/Southeast and Reparation at Vale.

A new territory built with society

In recent years, Vale has been holding opinion surveys, workshops, visits, public meetings and listening sessions in Nova Lima and Belo Horizonte to understand the population's expectations for the territory, with more than 22,000 people involved in the participatory process so far. This collective construction also takes place on an ongoing basis at Casa Uso Futuro (Future Use House), located inside MAC. Reopened on August 31, 2026, the space presents the history of the mine, the closure interventions carried out and the possibilities for the area's future use. The House functions as a permanent environment for dialogue with communities, institutions, public authorities and civil society representatives.

The area's suitability for sports and leisure has been tested through different initiatives since 2022. In July 2026, MAC hosted a stage of XTERRA Brazil, one of the world's leading off-road circuits, featuring trail running, mountain biking and duathlon events. The stage brought together more than 3,500 professional and amateur athletes.

Another project under development is a Bike Park covering approximately 30,000 square meters. The future park will have about 2.5 kilometers of trails, a dirt track for children and adults, support facilities, bike rental, a snack bar and areas for events and social projects linked to sports.

From mining to a collective legacy

The Águas Claras Mine produced iron ore for about 30 years, between 1972 and 2002, when its production activities ended. The unit was operated by Minerações Brasileiras Reunidas (MBR) and came under Vale's management in 2006, after the company was acquired. Since then, Vale has been responsible for the interventions needed for the unit's environmental recovery and closure.

More than marking the end of a mining cycle, the transformation of MAC points to a new relationship between mining, territory and society. The goal is to preserve the environmental heritage of the Serra do Curral and Mata do Jambreiro while creating a space that promotes health, well-being, knowledge, community life and sustainable development.