CORRECTED-Vale to boost autonomous truck fleet in deal with Caterpillar

By Marta Nogueira

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Brazilian miner Vale VALE3.SA has signed an agreement with Caterpillar CAT.N and Sotreq to quintuple its autonomous off-road truck fleet by 2028 at its Northern System area, Executive Vice President of Operations Carlos Medeiros told Reuters.

"This contract is another step toward a larger plan we have, which is the adoption of these trucks on a large scale," Medeiros said.

• Vale's fleet would reach 90 units, up from 18 at the end of this year, according to Medeiros.

• The initiative will reduce emissions, improve safety and boost productivity at Vale's Northern System, its largest iron ore- and copper-producing area, he said.

• The bulk of the expansion will come from converting conventional vehicles already in use.

LARGE-SCALE ADOPTION

• Vale operates some 130-140 off-road trucks in the Northern System, including both autonomous and conventional vehicles.

• Autonomous trucks in operation carry up to 320 metric tons, but the fresh deal includes 400-ton models.

• Financial details were not disclosed, but Vale's total investment in autonomous trucks reached about $210 million through 2024.

• Vale's autonomous truck program began in 2018 at the Brucutu mine in Minas Gerais, a state where it also plans to expand its fleet.