Brazilian pellet producer Samarco, a 50/50 joint venture (JV) between Vale and BHP Billiton, owes about BRL 1.1 billion in taxes, a media report from UOL said.
Samarco ranks as the No. 1 mining tax debtor, according to government data. Other mining tax debtors include Mitomineração (BRL 915 million) and Mineração Diacal (BRL 422 million).
The media report noted that Samarco accounts for 15 percent of all unpaid taxes to the government by local mining companies. The company has also failed to pay several Mariana disaster-related fines, the media report noted.
Samarco denied being a top mining tax debtor, and said tax payments are suspended, as it offered guarantees to fully pay the owed taxes.