Who controls?
For the Minas engineering professor at the USP (University of São Paulo). dams must be inspected by external agents – such as the government. "It's the fox that takes care of the henhouse," he says, about inspections done by the companies themselves.
"I do not believe in anything Vale says, how is Mariana going, have they paid all the damages or are the lawyers still pleading?" They are worried about the high amount of the company's shares in the stock market and the bonuses of the board of directors, and not of what happened there, "he said.
But government oversight lacks the weaknesses of the public sector: people lack, structure and doubts remain about equity
"We need an inspection with enough people and skills, and there is a lack of equipment for tax inspectors, a car must be built.
The National Mining Agency (formerly DNPM – National Department of Mineral Production) has only 34 employees to inspect the 205 barrages in the country.
The law is not exactly the problem
For Professor Sérgio Eston, supervision and Brazilian standards are good on average, but there is a cultural problem of non-compliance.
José Marques Filho, Vice President President of the Brazilian Committee on Dams, an organization linked to the International Committee on Large Dams (Icold), has a similar badessment: the national legislation could be improved, but it is not the central point.
"What you need"
Marques Filho also mentions the training of the workforce as a point of attention
"We are a country We have technology, but we must make sure that it is available and that companies only hire those who have the right lification, "he says.
Vale is in "exemplary" countries
Marques Filho has cited Portugal, Norway, Canada, and Australia as good examples in mining. Professor Eston also congratulates Canada and Australia.
In none of these countries the law is not stricter than ours.
"A clear and transparent set of procedures has been in place since the design of a dam in these countries so that people never forget safety and security, and it remains the focal point of all actions", explains Brands Filho.
"Taxes can not only pay fines, they must also stop the operation, as is the case in Australia" (19659002) One of the largest mining companies on the planet Vale is present in some 30 countries, including Canada and Australia.
In the 2017 Sustainable Development Report, Vale states that in Brazilian activities, in addition to complying with international law, Vale adopts "the best and most stringent international practices, the standards of which exceed the legal requirements. Among the international references cited in the report are the Canadian Mining Association (MAC) and Icold.
UOL The Canadian Mining Association (MAC) English) stated that Vale complies with the laws and surveillance and security requirements required by the country, but does not repeat the same standards of safety than other countries. When questioned, the company declared "to comply with the specific legislation of each country"
