Vale will be making some upgrades to their facilities in Thompson to correlate with the Manitoba operations transitioning out of smelting and refining nickel.  Vale’s Vice President of Manitoba Operations Mark Scott reports they are looking at producing and shipping nickel concentrate which will be an eighty million dollar project.  There will be two buildings constructed in April 2018 which will help save money on shipping costs as most of the process in developing the nickel will be done in Thompson.  The company will also be going through a 30 million dollar tailings management area upgrade project.  The project will ensure Vale can stay within the environmental regulations that currently are in place.

Vale will be closing down the refinery and smelter in 2018 and some employees are transitioning to the mining and milling operations.