United States
Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of

December 2007

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce

Avenida Graça Aranha, No. 26
20030-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
(Address of principal executive office)

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)

(Check One) Form 20-F þ          Form 40-F o

(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1))

(Check One) Yes o          No þ

(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7))

(Check One) Yes o          No þ

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

(Check One) Yes o          No þ

(If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b). 82-___.)

 

 

Table of Contents

Press Release
Signature Page

Vale signs contract to operate FNS

Rio de Janeiro, December 21, 2007 — Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Vale) hereby informs that it signed today the contract to commercially exploit for 30 years the 720 km stretch of the North-South railroad (FNS), running from Açailândia, the Brazilian state of Maranhão, to Palmas, the Brazilian state of Tocantins.

The first installment of R$ 739 million, paid today, equals to 50% of the total amount for the sub-concession. The second installment, equal to 25% of the amount, is scheduled to be paid in December 2008, while the third and last installment shall be paid at the time of the completion of the last part of the railroad. Additionally, Vale will invest R$ 66 million in the railroad infrastructure (traffic signs, repair shops, filling stations, etc...) until 2010.

Vale participation in this project is a clear demonstration of its commitment to invest not only on its own infrastructure but also in the country’s infrastructure as well, in line with the main logistics businesses of Vale, which encompass the transportation and handling of general cargo for clients.

For further information, please contact:
+55-21-3814-4540
Roberto Castello Branco: roberto.castello.branco@vale.com
Alessandra Gadelha: alessandra.gadelha@vale.com
Marcus Thieme: marcus.thieme@vale.com
Patricia Calazans: patricia.calazans@vale.com
Theo Penedo: theo.penedo@vale.com
Tacio Neto: tacio.neto@vale.com

This press release may contain statements that express management’s expectations about future events or results rather than historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements, and Vale cannot give assurance that such statements will prove correct. These risks and uncertainties include factors: relating to the Brazilian and Canadian economy and securities markets, which exhibit volatility and can be adversely affected by developments in other countries; relating to the iron ore and nickel business and its dependence on the global steel industry, which is cyclical in nature; and relating to the highly competitive industries in which Vale operates. For additional information on factors that could cause Vale’s actual results to differ from expectations reflected in forward-looking statements, please see Vale’s reports filed with the Brazilian Comissão de Valores Mobiliários and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.