Brazilian steelmaker Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN) increased the risk of its B2 Auxiliar iron ore dam at its Fernandinho complex, Minas Gerais state authorities said.
The risk of CSN’s B2 Auxiliar dam increased to level 2, which requires the company to evacuate local residents in the event of a dam burst. Brazilian iron ore dam safety levels range from 1 to 3, in which level 3 indicates a dam will soon breach or is already bursting.
Minas Gerais authorities said the dam is currently in decommissioning process, but it did not provide a timeline for the company to complete the process.
CSN Mineração, the iron ore arm of local steelmaker CSN, is Brazil’s second largest iron ore producer.