Brazilian steelmaker ArcelorMittal Brazil, the owner of local mining subsidiary ArcelorMittal Mineração, said it is continuing to evaluate technical conditions at its Serra Azul dam.
The Serra Azul dam, at the Serra Azul iron ore mine, is located in the city of Itatiaiuçu, in Minas Gerais state.The mine produces 1.2 million mt/year of iron ore lumps and fines.
ArcelorMittal Brazil said it is now monitoring and analyzing actions for the structure’s safety, adding that a group of external consultants from Brazil, Canada, the US and England is helping the company perform an analysis.
The company said it is also in the final stage of hiring a specialized consulting company for physical and geotechnical analysis of the Serra Azul’s dam structure.
Last week, ArcelorMittal Brazil decided to evacuate about 200 people living near its Serra Azul iron ore dam. ArcelorMittal Brazil said at the time that the dam, which is similar to the one that collapsed in Brumadinho, killing 166 people, had been inactive since October 2012 and is the company’s only dam to use such a technology.