EroBrasil Caraíba (MCSA) is the first company to emerge from the EroBrasil group. It is located in the north of Bahia, in the District of Pilar, in the municipality of Jaguarari, and has around 3,181 employees (direct and outsourced).
The copper ore deposit was discovered in 1874 in the middle of the Bahian hinterland. In 1944, the National Department of Mineral Production (formerly DNPM, current ANM) identified its productive potential. In 1969, Francisco Baby Pignatari began the feasibility studies and in 1974 the enterprise came under the control of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES).
On October 29, 1979, 105 years after the discovery of the reserves, the operations of the open pit mine began. At the end of the 1980s, Caraíba Metais managed both operations and produced 23,506 tons of concentrate in the first quarter. Metallurgical activities were also part of the scope of work, and as it happens until today, they were carried out in Dias D’Ávila (BA).
In 1988, the process of privatization of metallurgy began, which resulted in the creation of the company Paranapanema. In 1994, the mining company entered the National Privatization Program under the name Mineração Caraíba S/A.
In 2006, operations began at the leaching plant, which aimed to extract copper from oxidized ore, stored since the beginning of operations. In 2016, MCSA was acquired by Ero Copper Corporation and in 2017, the company started the implantation program of the Vermelhos mine, in Vale do Curaçá and the project developed in such a bold way that in October 2018 the operation at the mine of Reds was started.
The year 2019 was marked by the 50 years of MCSA and 40 years of operation. This means half a century of a history based on respect, overcoming and transformation of an entire region, people and society. In addition, we recorded a record of approximately 40 thousand tons of concentrated copper produced.
In 2020, operating two copper mines in Bahia, MCSA produced more than 43 thousand tons of copper concentrate. In a new production record, in 2021, the mark of 45 thousand tons of the product was surpassed.
The year 2022 is marked by the new positioning of the company. Mineração Caraíba now introduces itself as Ero Brasil Caraíba, a business unit of Ero Brasil. A new identity that represents the renewal and evolution that will be built today, in the future, preserving the history of success and overcoming.
