Anglo American has put 766 Brazilian workers on “collective vacations” following two incidents at an iron ore slurry pipeline in March that led the company to halt operations and sales of the commodity.
The incidents occurred on March 12 and March 29 at the company’s 529kmlong (328milelong) Minas-Rio pellet feed-transporting slurry pipeline, connecting different cities in the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.
Anglo American said the decision affects its beneficiation and filtration units in Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro state.
The collective vacations will affect about 20 percent of the company’s total taskforce in Brazil and 36 percent in the Minas-Rio iron ore project. Additionally, the company said it transferred 98 workers from Minas-Rio to the company’s nickel business in Goias state.