Following the Brumadinho disaster, which killed thus far 134 people, Vale said on Monday a local court ordered the company to halt operations at several iron ore dams, including the Laranjeiras dam located at its Brucutu mine, the company’s largest mine in Minas Gerais state.
The court decision prevents Vale from using the following iron ore dams: Laranjeiras, Menezes II, Capitão do Mato, Dique B, Taquaras, Forquilha I, Forquilha II and the Forquilha III.
Some of the dams are similar to the one that collapsed in Brumadinho, Vale said, adding that the halt of operations of its Laranjeiras dam, which it said is “provisional,” will impact about 30 million mt/year in total capacity and compromise about 80 to 90 percent of Brucutu’s overall iron ore capacity.
Vale argued some other dams included in the decision are actually “conventional structures” aimed at containing sediments, and do not work as “waste” dams.
The company said it plans to appeal the decision, which it claims “lacks a technical foundation.” Vale also said all dams are licensed, and “there’s no reason that would justify suspending operations at any of these dams.”