Samarco expansion suspended due to environmental concerns

The Federal Court in the state of Minas Gerais has issued a precautionary measure, suspending work on expanding the mining activities of Samarco, a Brazilian producer of iron ore and pellets.

According to the local press, the suspension was based on alleged environmental violations in a "long-term project" designed to expand mining activities in the Germano complex, located between the municipalities of Mariana and Ouro Preto, in Minas. Gerais.

The request was made by residents of Bento Rodrigues, a city that was destroyed by the collapse of the Fundan Dam in 2015.

The court argues that the environmental license does not take into account the likelihood that future precipitation will exceed historical averages due to climate change. It also states that the environmental license does not give priority to the processing or disposal of dry waste in depleted mining areas.

Samarco said in a statement that it had not been notified of the decision and that it believed in the legality and legitimacy of the licensing process for the Long-term Project, adding that operations were continuing as normal.

Samarco is a 50/50 joint venture between Vale and BHP.