The Juruti Mine is located in the West of the State of Pará, right in the very heart of the Amazon rain forest. Juruti is an old township, dating back some 125 years, and according to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) 2007, it has 34,000 inhabitants, of which 60% live in the 150 rural communities that predominate in the region. Its economy has been traditionally based on the growing of manioc, fishing, livestock farming and gathering from nature. 

With reserves of around 700 million metric tons of top quality bauxite Juruti has one of the largest deposits in the world, material that is going to be necessary to meet growing demand and that has also made it possible to expand Alumar (Aluminum Consortium of Maranhão) in São Luís (MA). Initial production at the Juruti Mine will be 2.6 million metric tons; the construction phase is scheduled for finalization at the end of 2008. 

The project started back in 2000, when Alcoa purchased Reynolds Metals and started prospecting for minerals in the Capiranga, Guaraná and Mauari plateaus. In deciding to go ahead with the investment, Environmental Impact Studies (EIA) were prepared, as was the Environmental Impact Report (RIMA). In August 2005 the Preliminary and Installation Licenses were granted and in June 2006 construction activities on the project started. 

On December 13, 2007, the Para Secretary of State for the Environment granted renewal of the Installation Licenses for all the Juruti Mine structures, covering the port terminal, the highway and the railroad, as well as infrastructure needed for mining and beneficiating the bauxite ore. The seal of approval from the environmental body confirms that the installation of the project is strictly in line with legal requirements and parameters and even exceeds them, since they have the Company’s own high standards as a benchmark.

Since the beginning of project activities various preliminary meetings and public hearings have been held with community leaders, public and private institutions and other stakeholders in Juruti, Santarem and Belem, in which some 6000 people have taken part. These meetings gave rise to the Environmental Control Plans (PCAs) and the Positive Agenda.

There are 35 programs included in the PCAs, covering activities such as the monitoring of climate, air, noise and water, conservation of the flora and fauna, the production of seedlings, environmental education, medical, sanitary and educational help, public security, valuing and rescuing local culture and support for the Juruti Master Plan. 

The Positive Agenda, complementary voluntary actions by the Company that are of direct benefit to the local community, mainly meets the concerns expressed by the people of Juruti themselves and ensures improvements in the areas of health, education, culture, the environment, urban and rural infrastructure, security and justice and social assistance. These initiatives are implemented through partnerships with the local authorities, non-governmental organizations and the community itself.

Institutional partnerships guarantee the development of strategic projects like the setting up of the Sustainable Juruti Council, the regional sustainability indicators and studies for creating a future fund for the development of Juruti. PCAs, the Positive Agenda and institutional partnerships that benefit the town are all based on Alcoa’s own sustainability Values and Principles for the development of the region.

A public opinion survey carried out by IBOPE (the Brazilian Public Opinion and Statistics Institute) in Juruti, between January 19 and February 1, 2008, shows that almost the whole of the population (89%) of the municipality view Alcoa’s project for the installation of a mine in the region in a positive way. An overall majority (54%) is expressly in favor of the initiative and a further 35% accept it and have no restrictions against it.

The biggest challenge for Alcoa in Juruti is to win the right to operate the undertaking on a day to day basis, thereby guaranteeing the region’s growth. Sustainability is the hallmark of the Juruti Mine and underpinned by Alcoa’s three pillars: environmental excellence, social responsibility and economic success.

Safety above all
In July 2008, the employees on all working fronts who are installing the Juruti Mine reached the expressive milestone of 20 million man/hours worked without any incident resulting in time lost. 

This record amount of time without incident resulting in time off work reflects the total success of the project’s safety management policy and the results are better than national and international safety parameters.

These are some of the Company’s sustainability principles: 

• To live Alcoa’s Human Rights’ Values and Principles;
• To respect culture and diversity;
• To actively listen and promote a transparent dialogue with all stakeholders;
• To improve and preserve the region’s biodiversity;
• To improve social and economic conditions;
• To encourage diversification in the local skills-base and avoid economic dependence on the project;
• To act in an effective manner in qualifying and developing the local population;
• To apply world class technology and management systems.