Hydro Paragominas invests $114 million in its M5 bauxite mining project

Norsk Hydro's local unit, Hydro Paragominas, is investing 590 million reais ($114 million) in the M5 bauxite mining project in northern Brazil's Pará state. Norsk Hydro-owned Hydro Paragominas has contributed significantly to the economic and social development of Paragominas for 15 years and intends to continue its sustainable bauxite mining operations.

Miltônia 5 (M5) represents the objective of an investment of approximately BRL 590 million (about US$114 million) in a new mining front beginning in 2023 while remarking by ensuring that mining is conducted with respect and care for the environment.

Anderson Martins, the Director of Hydro Paragominas, said, "This new mining front consists of the construction of an access road and infrastructure to support the operation."

"The work is already underway, with completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2023. Over the years, the M5 project will increasingly take on a greater proportion in Hydro's production chain, representing the longevity we expect from these assets in Pará.”

“Hydro Paragominas is using a method known as Tailings Dry Backfill, in which Hydro is a pioneer. The technology allows the inert tailings from bauxite mining to be returned to areas already opened and mined, instead of being deposited in separate, permanent storage areas”, he added.

Hydro is a pioneer in using dry tailings backfill on the new mining front, a method that will continue to contribute to sustainable mining. This method allows inert tailings from bauxite mining to be returned to areas already mined instead of deposited in separate, permanent storage facilities. Consequently, the M5 project will not require the construction of new dams. Furthermore, the mining area rehabilitation program continues to operate, always utilizing the best reforestation practices.