Brazil: fines and charges imposed on Vale mining company

The Brazilian environmental agency Ibama has imposed a $ 66.3 million fine on Vale today for violations related to the failure of the Minas Gerais dam, the overflow of two others containing mineral waste and an avalanche of mud at least 10 dead and hundreds of missing.

In addition, the Justice of Minas Gerais has determined a $ 270 million embargo on the company's accounts to ensure "the effective and immediate protection of the victims and the reduction of environmental consequences and damage", informed local authorities.

Within 48 hours, the company must submit to the justice system a report on actions for victims and measures to be taken to avoid contamination of tributaries. and leave the amount seized available in a judicial account.
Regarding the fine, Ibama claimed that the mining company had generated pollution, left the area uninhabitable and committed other offenses. The environmental agency reported today that each offense is worth 50 million reals fine.

Brazilian miner Vale, the world's largest producer of iron ore, was covered in mud yesterday after the collapse of one of its dams. Just three years ago, another of its roadblocks had left 19 dead and Brazil's biggest environmental disaster.

The company is still suing for the previous tragedy, which occurred in 2015, when the dike of one of its companies (Samarco) was also broken up in the state of Minas Gerais.
Samarco and its controllers (Vale and giant BHP) have reached an agreement with the Attorney General of Minas Gerais for the payment of compensation to those affected by the disaster. .
The tragedy then generated a wave of mineral waste worth seven million cubic meters that destroyed the city of Bento Rodrigues, which falls under the jurisdiction of Mariana (Minas Gerais), and caused untold damage on 650 kilometers in the basin of the Twelve River.