Development has also started at the Konkola North project, an underground mine, plant and related infrastructure, located in the Zambian Copperbelt.
The company expects to achieve an annual average production capacity of 45,000 metric tons of copper in concentrates.
Lubambe copper mine produced the first copper concentrate on 4 October 2012 following the commissioning of the processing plant.
The project is a 50-50 joint venture with African Rainbow Minerals, which owns an 80% stake in the operation. The remaining 20% stake is owned by Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines.
Vale said in a statement, "We expect the operation in the African Copperbelt to add value to our shareholders over the long term, since it enhances our global copper growth platform."
The company has plans to produce one million metric tons of copper annually by 2016, primarily from Brazil.
