Claudemir Sousa
Ottawa,ON
Summary
Result-oriented, highly motivated, process-driven and highly versatile senior manager, with over 20+ years of experience in the energy, metals and mining industry, and extensive expertise in market-intelligence analysis, business development, project administration, and client relationship management, with excellent analytical, cross-functional communication, and team collaboration skills. High mobility and flexibility are differentials. Functions effectively in a time-sensitive setting in environments of rapid change and conflicting demands.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Energy
Baffinland Iron Mines
Nunavut
07.2023 - 04.2024
- Leading, coaching and managing performance in the energy team; Developing a reliability study to optimize costs and assets utilization; Developing a long-term sustainable energy strategy for the company to meet strong consumption increase as part of growth plans; Developing routine management improvement;
Head of Global Energy – North Atlantic Operations
Vale S.A.
Sudbury, Ontario
02.2020 - 08.2022
- Led the development and implementation of the strategic global energy plan, including the identification, creation, development, negotiation, and execution of key opportunities and initiatives; Played an active role in regulatory processes, investment/budget allocations, and influenced the design of improved energy supply solutions offered by utilities and other suppliers; Identified and pursued new business opportunities for energy storage such as a battery energy storage system in Sudbury/ON, implementing the solution timely reducing the electricity costs with almost no investment; Collaborated with internal project specialists and oversaw third-party consultants to project development, including origination, interconnection and transmission, governmental relations and regulatory, real estate, environmental and permitting, health and safety team, communications, legal, engineering design, and finance; Led and assisted with the negotiations of commercial agreements for electricity and natural gas supplies, reducing the costs for business units; Worked collaboratively with the Energy Storage System developer, Health and Safety team, Legal, Finance, and Procurement regarding system design, project costing, operations and maintenance, safety and warranty; Coordinated and lead Request for Proposal, proposals shortlisting and supplier award processes; Participated in the assessment of regulatory, technical and budgeting aspects of battery energy storage system understanding key market drivers; Facilitated strategic and technical discussions internally and external stakeholders for project development and decision-making.; Managed the handover to the Construction team and support Engineering and Construction teams during the construction process.
Head of Natural Gas and Power Division – South America Operations
Vale S.A.
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
01.2014 - 01.2020
- Acted as Deputy Member of Board of Director at Alianca Energia (a joint venture between Vale and Cemig S.A
- With an installed capacity of 1,100 GW); Worked with member committees on technical submissions on transmission and distribution issues, including metering, microgrids, storage, power quality/harmonics standards, grid resiliency, joint use infrastructure and network capacity constraints; Led various discussions with Ministry of Energy in Brazil with the aims to secure competitive and reliable connection to many site operations; Negotiated energy supply agreements across Brazil and in remote locations in Peru, in liaison with regulatory, governmental entities, and partners in the power, oil and gas industry; Played a leading role in long-term power price projections and modelling, developing budgets, and strategic investment plans in the natural gas and power division; Managed several power/gas supply contracts and portfolios, and oversaw the negotiation and sale of exploration contracts in Brazil and Peru; Conducted desktop analysis related to distribution sector developments at the sub-national and national levels to support member discussions, including distribution system integration readiness, growth, and emerging Distribution System Operator (DSO) models and implications for member companies; Led discussions with Hedge Consultants/Funds in US to assess hedge options for natural gas and bunker oil portfolio management.
Head of Energy Solutions – Asia Pacific Operations
Vale S.A.
Brisbane, Australia
01.2011 - 12.2013
- Developed the long-term strategic plan for Vale’s business units in Australia, Indonesia, New Caledonia, and Malaysia, performing conceptual/feasibility studies on energy and carbon solutions for new mine development, green power delivery, carbon abatement, and the management of natural gas resources; Successfully implemented savings on power contracts, in close collaboration with a team of industry experts and all relevant stakeholders to negotiate power purchase agreements with suppliers; Negotiated key power purchase agreements in Malaysia, in addition to developing optimized power purchase solutions in New Caledonia.
Energy Manager
Vale S.A.
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
01.2003 - 12.2010
- Managed a team of energy analysts responsible for market analysis, regulatory affairs, power trading, budget management and reporting functions, in liaison with various government and regulatory agencies; Negotiated power supply agreements, managed Service Level Agreements, and developed studies to connect several large-scale projects to the power grid, and conceptual studies for thermal power generation units; Developed high voltage connection studies (138 kV/275 kV) to increase reliability and reduce costs, managing a 2000MW power portfolio valued at over US$300m annually; Identified alternatives to optimize a US$ 4 B energy matrix, developed opportunity studies to change the energy matrix and identified over US$ 400 M of potential opportunities.
Education
Master's - Power and Computing Systems
Catholic University of Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte, Brazil12.2019
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Entrepreneurship
Fundacao Dom Cabral
Brazil12.2006
Postgraduate - Power Systems
Federal University of Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte, Brazil12.2004
Postgraduate - Corporate Finance
Federal University of Espírito Santo
Brazil12.2002
Bachelor's - Electrical Engineering
Catholic University of Minas Gerais
Belo Horizonte, Brazil12.1997
Skills
- Friendly, Positive Attitude
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Customer Service
- Problem-Solving
- Flexible and Adaptable
- Attention to Detail
- Time Management
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Portuguese
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
French
Elementary
Timeline
Head of Energy
Baffinland Iron Mines
07.2023 - 04.2024
Head of Global Energy – North Atlantic Operations
Vale S.A.
02.2020 - 08.2022
Head of Natural Gas and Power Division – South America Operations
Vale S.A.
01.2014 - 01.2020
Head of Energy Solutions – Asia Pacific Operations
Vale S.A.
01.2011 - 12.2013
Energy Manager
Vale S.A.
01.2003 - 12.2010
Master's - Power and Computing Systems
Catholic University of Minas Gerais
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Entrepreneurship
Fundacao Dom Cabral
Postgraduate - Power Systems
Federal University of Minas Gerais
Postgraduate - Corporate Finance
Federal University of Espírito Santo
Bachelor's - Electrical Engineering
Catholic University of Minas Gerais