Brazilian mining regulator, ANM, said on Wednesday it has halted operations at 54 waste dams in Brazil, citing the failure of mining firms to send a stability certificate.
In Brazil, miners send the stability certificate, which they issue themselves, twice a year. The first step in the process is stating whether the dam is safe, followed by an external audit to attest to the safety of the structure. Then, the miner needs to hire an external auditor to attest the safety of the structure. If a miner fails to send the stability certificate, dam operations are halted, and the company must pay a fine.
ANM said it is currently monitoring the 54 dams that did not have a stability certificate issued; 369 miners in Brazil sent documents attesting a stability certificate for their dams.
ANM said ArcelorMittal Brazil, through its mining company, ArcelorMittal Mineração Serra Azul, had a dam halted in Minas Gerais state. Vale had several dams halted, all of them in Minas Gerais state.