A civil court in the Brazilian southeastern state of Minas Gerais has ordered the immediate suspension of activities of Mineração Santa Paulina, in the city of Ibirité.
According to the local press, the suspension derives from a request by the attorney general of the state, based on accusations of illegal mining of iron ore, coupled to damages to environmental damages in the Rola Moça mountain range park.
The civil court has also ordered the blocking of an estimated $2.0 million from the company’s accounts to repair the damages caused by the illegal mining activities.
Santa Paulina supplies iron ore to the major miners such as Vale and CSN Mineração, and to independent pig iron producers in the state of Minas Gerais.