Brazil Mining Mogul Batista Wants Vale To Expand Steelmaking Operations

Brazilian mining mogul Eike Batista, who declared his intention of seeking a minority stake in miner Vale SA (VALE, VALE5.BR) over the weekend, has outlined his vision for the company.

According to a spokeswoman for Batista, the billionaire businessman wants Vale to make more use of its metals raw materials in Brazil by increasing its steelmaking business.

"Vale could add more value to the products it exports," Batista said.

Vale produces around 300 million metric tons of high grade iron ore a year and exports the majority.

"Vale could also be an instrument to give more efficiency to the country's logistics. Looking from the outside I can glimpse loads of uncut diamonds at Vale that need polishing," he said.

Vale already operates two heavy-haul freight railroads, which are among the world's busiest and most efficient.

As part of his strategy for Vale, Batista said there was a lot of room for steelmaking, but company president Roger Agnelli has held the position that the company shouldn't compete with its steelmaking clients.

Batista's attitude toward Vale is in line with that of President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, who recently criticized Agnelli for not investing more in Brazil and creating more jobs.

Lula was upset late last year when Vale was quick to lay off workers at the height of the global financial crisis. Lula has also indicated that he thinks Vale should make more use of raw materials in Brazil.

"You don't need to make the final product. But at least make semifinished goods," Batista said.

"Vale is of a sufficient size to do some projects to benefit Brazil," he added.

Batista also criticized Vale's attempt to buy Xstrata Plc (XTA.LN) last year as an example of the company ignoring the development of better assets at home.

Batista said Xstrata's mining assets aren't world-class, as Vale's are.

"Would you mix caviar with bones?" he asked.

-By John Kolodziejski, Dow Jones Newswires; 55-21-2586-6086; [e-mail]