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FORM 6-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 or 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For MARCH 29, 2002
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Valley of the Doce River Company
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
Federative Republic of Brazil
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Avenida Graca Aranha, No. 26
20005-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
(Address of principal executive offices)
[Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:]
FORM 20-F X FORM 40-F
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[Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
+Commission pursuant to rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.]
YES NO X
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[If "Yes " is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):] Not applicable
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Companhia Vale do Rio Doce
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Form 6-K contains the following:
Sequential
Page
Item Number
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1. Press Release entitled "CVRD Inaugurates Sao Luis Pellet Plant",
dated March 28, 2002................................................3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
COMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE
By: /s/ Roberto Castello Branco
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Name: Roberto Castello Branco
Title: Head of Investor Relations
Dated: March 29, 2002
[LOGO] COMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE Press Release
CVRD Inaugurates Sao Luis Pellet Plant
Rio de Janeiro, March 28, 2002 - Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) has
announced the inauguration of its twelfth iron ore pellet production plant
located in the port of Ponta da Madeira, Sao Luis, state of Maranhao. This
plant is a wholly-owned asset of CVRD. It is expected to produce 2 million tons
of pellets this year and according to its production ramp up it will reach full
nominal capacity on 2003.
The Sao Luis pellet plant, which has a nominal production capacity of 6 million
tons per year, will use the high quality Carajas iron ore. This investment,
brings CVRD's consolidated pellet production capacity to 43 million tons per
year.
The new pellet plant is the most automated of its kind in the world, using new
concepts of network communication with the use of fibre optics and intelligent
instruments which send data already processed to control computers.
Pursuant to CVRD commitment to environmental preservation and taking advantage
of the knowledge accumulated with the operation of the pellet plants based in
the port of Tubarao, state of Espirito Santo, significant investment was made
in latest-generation equipment to ensure that the best environmental protection
practices are used. Ninety seven local technicians were trained at the Tubarao
units to work in the Sao Luis pellet plant.
The pellet plant uses a travelling grate process developed by
Lurgi-Mettalurgie, the same used in the seven pellet plants located on Tubarao.
Of the equipment used in this industrial unit, of special mention are two
rolling presses used in the grinding of iron ore, which produce considerable
savings in energy consumption, reducing therefore, the plant's operating costs.
Total capital expenditure for the project was US$ 408 million. This amount
comprises investments in plant construction and all the infrastructure for the
project. Investments were made to increase capacity of the Carajas iron ore
mines, the Carajas Railroad and the port of Ponta da Madeira to cope with the
extra volume generated by the new plant. The plant's capex cost per ton is
US$ 31.
The world's steel production profile is changing. There is a growing trend
towards a higher participation of electric arc furnaces steel mills
(mini-mills) which consume direct reduced iron, a product made from pellets. At
the same time, basic oxygen furnaces mills are seeking to minimize their
environmental impact, which is reduced by more intense use of pellets. As a
consequence of this process of change, CVRD believes that global demand for
pellets will grow at a faster pace than iron ore fines over the next ten years.
Therefore, the Company is investing to meet client needs.
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For further information, please contact:
Roberto Castello Branco: castello.branco@cvrd.com.br +55-21-3814-4540
Andreia Reis: andreia.reis@cvrd.com.br +55-21-3814-4643
Barbara Geluda: barbara.geluda@cvrd.com.br +55-21-3814-4557
Daniela Tinoco: daniela.tinco@cvrd.com.br +55-21-3814-4946
Rafael Azevedo: rafael.azevedo@cvrd.com.br +55-21-3814-4700
This release includes "forward-looking statements" that express expectations of
future events or results. All statements based on future expectations rather
than on historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve a number
of risks and uncertainties, and the company cannot give assurance that such
statements will prove to be correct.