2011
Inaugurated
About the Operation
Onça Puma produces ferronickel alloy and, with the commissioning of Furnace 2 in 2025, it has reached a nominal production capacity of 40,000 tons of nickel per year.
The operation employs approximately 1,800 people, including direct employees and contractors. As with all Vale Base Metals operations, Onça Puma is committed to contributing to regional socioeconomic development by prioritizing the hiring of local talent. Currently, 73.6 per cent of the operation’s direct employees are from the Pará region, reinforcing its strong ties with the community.
Photographer: Ricardo Teles
About the Deposit
The operation’s deposits are located in the Onça and Puma pits.
Ore is extracted using excavators and transported by truck, followed by crushing, drying, and calcination processes. The calcined material is fed into an electric furnace, where it is melted, allowing for the separation of ferronickel from slag. The ferronickel is processed and granulated for transport to Barcarena, Pará, from where it is sold.
Key Metrics
Ferronickel
Main Products
~ 1,800 (direct and third-party)
Employees
Commitment to Communities
Commitment to Communities
Onça Puma maintains a strong commitment to local socioeconomic development, acting responsibly through job creation, tax contributions, and strengthening the local supply chain, with a focus on valuing regional suppliers.
Among the initiatives supported by the operation are projects promoting cocoa and cattle farming, which help diversify and strengthen the local economy.
Additionally, Onça Puma invests in education, sports, and professional training through ‘Estação Conhecimento’ and partners such as SENAI (National Service for Industrial Training), providing growth and opportunities for children, youth, and adults in the community.
Engagement with Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities
Onça Puma’s engagement with Indigenous peoples and traditional communities, especially the Xikrin and Kayapó Peoples, focuses on building and maintaining trust, supporting autonomy and resilience, and promoting ethnodevelopment and mutual benefits.
Through jointly developed basic environmental plans, the operation mitigates its impacts and contributes to the strengthening of traditions, lifestyles, sustainability, environmental preservation, territorial protection, and the appreciation of the culture of indigenous peoples.
Onça Puma also supports community organization, economic sustainability, and autonomy in harmony with the environment. Initiatives include a cocoa production training course for indigenous people from 40 Kayapó villages, a sewing course covering techniques and product pricing, and the Xikrin Kenhoro Village Fair held at the Ourilândia Municipal Market.
Environmental Initiatives
Onça Puma is committed to sustainability and responsible natural resource management.
The operation carriesout forest recovery and protection actions, restoring over 1,100 hectares through the planting of 106 native species, including Permanent Preservation Areas and mine closure projects. In 2025 alone, more than 200 hectares were restored. Onça Puma also conducts regular environmental monitoring to ensure the quality of the area surrounding the project.
Strict measures are taken to protect wildlife, including systematic monitoring of aquatic and terrestrial species and rescue operations for wild fauna, ensuring animal protection and welfare.
Interesting Facts
Diversity
50 per cent of leadership positions are held by Black individuals. Women make up 28.6 per cent of the workforce and 19.4 per cent of leadership roles.
Fun Fact
The ferronickel produced at Onça Puma is primarily used as a raw material in stainless steel production.
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