Father Haroldo, Simone Sá, and siblings Graça and Gilmar Quintão have closely followed the progress of the project that will transform water supply in Itabira. All of them live directly along the Rio Tanque Project route and have already witnessed the first milestones achieved in 2025.

Gilmar Quintão says that the project is not only changing the city's present—it is preparing Itabira for a new cycle. “The world is facing a water crisis. Itabira consumes 400 liters per second. We will receive 600. This will give us autonomy. In two or three years, we won’t have this problem anymore,” Gilmar says.

“The Rio Tanque Project is a socially relevant initiative, and we, the residents, were well prepared for it. Whenever we reach out to Vale’s listening channels, we are immediately assisted,” says Graça Quintão, explaining how the relationship with the company has been working.

 In Barbosa, local entrepreneur Simone Sá experiences another dimension of the project: economic opportunity. While for many the Rio Tanque Project is simply a construction project, for Simone it has become a path to growth. “It’s wonderful to be part of it. I love cooking. I think it's beautiful how well I am welcomed. For us who live here in the countryside, it’s an opportunity to earn an income. We want to have a better space, to serve people better,” she says.

 Meanwhile, Father Haroldo, from Fazenda Esperança, reached out to the company to address airborne dust around the property. “I was surprised by Vale’s response in meeting the request for road humidification. It became more humid than I expected! It was wonderful, and the people who use the road were very grateful,” recalls Father Haroldo.

 About the Rio Tanque Project

Committed to strengthening water security in Itabira, we initiated the construction of a new raw water intake system from the Rio Tanque, aiming to expand the supply of potable water in the municipality, currently provided by the Autonomous Water and Sewage Service (SAAE).
The activities are expected to last approximately three years and include the construction of a 25-kilometer water pipeline, three water pumping stations, a directional supply tank, a transition chamber, and a Water Treatment Plant (WTP) with a capacity of 600 L/s.