Exhibit 10.17 Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu DELOITTE Av, Presidente Wilson, 231-22(degree) TOUCHE 20030-021 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ TOHMATSU Brasil Telefone: (21) 524-1281 Fac-simile: (21) 220-3876 www.deloitte.com.br Consent of Independent Public Accountants As Independent Public Accountants, we hereby consent to the use in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, as amended, filed by Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Registration No. 000-26030), which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (Registration No. 333-82136), of our report dated January 20, 1999, relating to the financial statements of Valesul Aluminio S.A., for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 which is included in such Annual Report. /s/ DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU Independent Auditors Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 6, 2002