2.2.0.25falsefalse0221 - Disclosure - Commitments and contingenciestruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Jan-01-2010_Dec-31-2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000917851duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0vale_CommitmentsAndContingenciesAbstractvalefalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseCommitments and contingencies [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00  <div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b>21   Commitments and contingencies</b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b> </b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td><b>a)</b> In connection with a tax-advantaged lease financing arrangement sponsored by the French Government, we provided certain guarantees on December 30, 2004 on behalf of Vale New Caledonia S.A.S. (VNC) pursuant to which we guaranteed payments due from VNC of up to a maximum amount of US$100 (“Maximum Amount”) in connection with an indemnity. This guarantee was provided to BNP Paribas for the benefit of the tax investors of GniFi, the special purpose vehicle which owns a portion of the assets in our nickel cobalt processing plant in New Caledonia (“Girardin Assets”). We also provided an additional guarantee covering the payments due from VNC of (a) amounts exceeding the Maximum Amount in connection with the indemnity and (b) certain other amounts payable by VNC under a lease agreement covering the Girardin Assets. This guarantee was provided to BNP Paribas for the benefit of GniFi.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Another commitment incorporated in the tax—advantaged lease financing arrangement was that the Girardin Assets would be substantially complete by December 31, 2010. In light of the delay in the start up of VNC processing facilities, the December 31, 2010 substantially complete date was not met. Management proposed an extension to the substantially complete date from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011. Both the French government authorities and the tax investors have agreed to this extension, although a signed waiver has not yet been received from the tax investors. The French tax authorities issued their signed extension on December 31, 2011. Accordingly the benefits of the financing structure are fully expected to be maintained and we anticipate that there will be no recapture of the tax advantages provided under this financing structure.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>In 2009, two new bank guarantees totaling US$58 (€43 million) as at December 31, 2010 were established by us on behalf of VNC in favor of the South Province of New Caledonia in order to guarantee the performance of VNC with respect to certain environmental obligations in relation to the metallurgical plant and the Kwe West residue storage facility.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Sumic Nickel Netherlands B.V. (“Sumic”), a 21% stockholder of VNC, has a put option to sell to us 25%, 50%, or 100% of the shares they own of VNC. The put option can be exercised if the defined cost of the initial nickel-cobalt development project, as measured by funding provided to VNC, in natural currencies and converted to U.S. dollars at specified rates of exchange, in the form of Girardin funding, shareholder loans and equity contributions by stockholders to VNC, exceeded US$4.2 billion and an agreement cannot be reached on how to proceed with the project. On February 15, 2010, we formally amended our agreement with Sumic to increase the threshold to approximately US$4.6 billion at specified rates of exchange. On May 27, 2010 the threshold was reached and on October 22, 2010, we have signed an agreement to extend the put option date into the first half of 2011. On January 25, 2011 a further extension to the agreement was signed extending the put option date into the second half of 2011.</td> </tr> </table> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> </div> <div align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">We provided a guarantee covering certain termination payments due from VNC to the supplier under an electricity supply agreement (“ESA”) entered into in October 2004 for the VNC project. The amount of the termination payments guaranteed depends upon a number of factors, including whether any termination of the ESA is a result of a default by VNC and the date on which an early termination of the ESA were to occur. During the first quarter of 2010, the supply of electricity under the ESA to the project began and the guaranteed amount now decreases over the life of the ESA from its maximum amount. As at December 31, 2010 the guarantee was US$169 (€126 million). </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">In February 2009, we and our subsidiary, Vale Newfoundland and Labrador Limited (“VNL”), entered into a fourth amendment to the Voisey’s Bay Development agreement with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that permitted VNL to ship up to 55,000 metric tonnes of nickel concentrate from the Voisey’s Bay area mines. As part of the agreement, VNL agreed to provide the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador financial assurance in the form of letters of credit, each in the amount of US$16 (CAD$16 million) for each shipment of nickel concentrate shipped out of the province from January 1, 2009 to August 31, 2009. The amount of this financial assurance was US$110 (CAD$112 million) based on seven shipments of nickel concentrate and as of December 31, 2010, US$11 (CAD$11 million) remains outstanding. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">As at December 31, 2010, there was an additional US$114 in letters of credit issued and outstanding pursuant to our syndicate revolving credit facility, as well as an additional US$39 of letters of credit and US$57 in bank guarantees that were issued and outstanding. These are associated with environmental reclamation and other operating associated items such as insurance, electricity commitments and import and export duties. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%"><b>b) </b>We and our subsidiaries are defendants in numerous legal actions in the normal course of business. Based on the advice of our legal counsel, management believes that the amounts recognized are sufficient to cover probable losses in connection with such actions. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">The provision for contingencies and the related judicial deposits are composed as follows: </div> <div align="center"> <table style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="52%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="6" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>December 31, 2010</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="6" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>December 31, 2009</b></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2"><b>Provision for</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2"><b>Provision for</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>contingencies</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>Judicial deposits</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>contingencies</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>Judicial deposits</b></td> <td> </td> </tr>   <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Labor and social security claims </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">748</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">874</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">657</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">657</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Civil claims </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">510</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">410</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">582</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">307</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Tax — related actions </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">746</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">442</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">489</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">175</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Others </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">39</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">5</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">35</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">4</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>2,043</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,731</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,763</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,143</b></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr>  </table> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">Labor and social security related actions principally comprise of claims by Brazilian current and former employees for (i) payment of time spent traveling from their residences to the work-place, (ii) additional health and safety related payments and (iii) various other matters, often in connection with disputes about the amount of indemnities paid upon dismissal and the one-third extra holiday pay. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">Civil actions principally relate to claims made against us by contractors in Brazil in connection with losses alleged to have been incurred by them as a result of various past Government economic plans, during which full inflation indexation of contracts was not permitted, as well, as for accidents and land appropriation disputes. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">Tax related actions principally comprise of challenges initiated by us, on certain taxes on revenues and uncertain tax positions. We continue to vigorously pursue our interests in all the actions but recognize that we probably will incur some losses in the final instance, for which we have made provisions. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">Judicial deposits are made by us following court requirements in order to be entitled to either initiate or continue a legal action. These amounts are released to us upon receipt of a final favorable outcome from the legal action, and in the case of an unfavorable outcome, the deposits are transferred to the prevailing party. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">Contingencies settled during the three-month periods ended December 31, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, totaled US$224, US$67 and US$236, respectively. Provisions recognized in the three-month periods ended December 31, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, totaled US$41, US$68 and US$294, respectively, classified as other operating expenses. </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> <div align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">Contingencies settled during the year ended 2010, 2009 and December 31, 2008, totaled US$352, US$236 and US$856, respectively. Provisions recognized in the year ended 2010, 2009 and December 31, 2008, totaled US$112, US$294 and US$331, respectively, classified as other operating expenses. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">In addition to the contingencies for which we have made provisions, we are defendants in claims where in our opinion, and based on the advice of our legal counsel, the likelihood of loss is reasonably possible but not probable, in the total amount of US$4,787 at December 31, 2010, and for which no provision has been made (2009 — US$4,190). </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%"><b>c) </b>At the time of our privatization in 1997, the Company issued debentures to its then-existing stockholders, including the Brazilian Government. The terms of the debentures, were set to ensure that the pre-privatization stockholders, including the Brazilian Government would participate in possible future financial benefits that could be obtained from exploiting certain mineral resources. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">A total of 388,559,056 Debentures were issued at a par value of R$0.01 (one cent), whose value will be restated in accordance with the variation in the General Market Price Index (IGP-M), as set forth in the Issue Deed. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">The debentures holders have the right to receive premiums, paid semiannually, equivalent to a percentage of net revenues from specific mine resources as set forth in the indenture. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">In April and October 2010 we paid remuneration on these debentures of US$5 and US$5, respectively. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%"><b>d) </b>We are committed under a take-or-pay agreement to purchase approximately 23,620 thousand metric tons of bauxite from Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. — MRN at a formula driven price, calculated based on the current London Metal Exchange — LME quotation for aluminum. Based on a market price of US$24.50 per metric ton as of December 31, 2010, this arrangement represents the following total commitment per metric ton as of December 31, 2010: </div> <div align="center"> <table style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="88%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> </tr>   <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">2011 </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">141</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">2012 </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">145</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">2013 </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">146</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">2014 </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">146</td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>578</b></td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> </tr>  </table> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt; margin-left: 4%"><b>e) Description of Leasing Arrangements</b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">Part of our railroad operations include leased facilities. The 30-year lease, renewable for a further 30 years, expires in August, 2026 and is classified as an operating lease. At the end of the lease term, we are required to return the concession and the leased assets. In most cases, management expects that in the normal course of business, leases will be renewed. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">The following is a schedule by year of future minimum rental payments required under the railroad operating leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2010. </div> <div align="center"> <table style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="88%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> </tr>   <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">2011 </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">90</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">2012 </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">90</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">2013 </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">90</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">2014 </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">90</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">2015 thereafter </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">1,068</td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><b>Total minimum payments required</b> </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,428</b></td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> </tr>  </table> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">The total expenses of operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were US$90, US$80 and US$53, respectively. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">During 2008, we entered into operating lease agreements with our joint ventures Nibrasco, Itabrasco and Kobrasco, under wich we leased four pellet plants. The lease terms are from 5 to 30 years. </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> <div align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The following is a schedule by year of future minimum rental payments required under the pellet plants operating leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2010:</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="center"> <table style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="88%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="3%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> </tr>   <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">2011 </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top">107</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">2012 </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top">107</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">2013 </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top">107</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">2014 </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top">107</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">2015 thereafter </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top">1,092</td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><b>Total</b> </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top"><b>1,520</b></td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td valign="top"> <div style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" valign="top"> </td> <td align="right" valign="top" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> </tr>  </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The total expenses of operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was US$107, US$114 and US$49, respectively.</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="4%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td><b>f) Asset retirement obligations</b></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>We use various judgments and assumptions when measuring our asset retirement obligations.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Changes in circumstances, law or technology may affect our estimates and we periodically review the amounts accrued and adjust them as necessary. Our accruals do not reflect unasserted claims because we are currently not aware of any such issues. Also the amounts provided are not reduced by any potential recoveries under cost sharing, insurance or indemnification arrangements because such recoveries are considered uncertain.</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 6pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The changes in the provisions for asset retirement obligations are as follows:</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="center"> <table style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="40%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="10" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>Three-month period ended (unaudited)</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="6" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>Year ended as of December, 31</b></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2"><b>December 31,</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2"><b>September 30,</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2"><b>December 31,</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>2010</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>2010</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>2009</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>2010</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="right" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><b>2009</b></td> <td> </td> </tr>   <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><b>Beginning of period</b> </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,230</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,162</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,102</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,116</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>887</b></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Accretion expense </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">34</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">21</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">31</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">113</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">75</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Liabilities settled in the current period </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td align="right">(33</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td align="right">(2</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td align="right">(21</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td align="right">(45</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td align="right">(46</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Revisions in estimated cash flows (*) </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">110</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td align="right">(11</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td align="right">(14</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">125</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td align="right">(23</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Cumulative translation adjustment </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">27</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">60</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">18</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">59</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">223</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><b>End of period</b> </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,368</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,230</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,116</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,368</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,116</b></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Current liabilities </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">75</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">79</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">89</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">75</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">89</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Non-current liabilities </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">1,293</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">1,151</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">1,027</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">1,293</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">1,027</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><b>Total</b> </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,368</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,230</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,116</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,368</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right"><b>1,116</b></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr>  </table> </div> <div align="left"> <div style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">  </div> </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr> <td width="3%"></td> <td width="1%"></td> <td width="96%"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left">(*)</td> <td> </td> <td>Includes US$44 for the purchase of Vale Fertilizantes S.A. and Vale Fosfatados S.A.</td> </tr> </table>   </div>  <div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"> <div align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"> </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged NotefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringIncludes disclosure of commitments and contingencies. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure including data and tables.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 14 -Paragraph 3 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 falsefalseCommitments and contingencies12Commitments and contingenciesUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue