Brazilian miner and iron ore producer Vale might see a decrease in iron ore output due to ongoing mine audits, according to a media report.
Minas Gerais state prosecutor Andressa Lanchotti said prosecutors are still investigating the deadly Brumadinho dam collapse, which killed thus far 259 people. She argued Vale wasn’t proactive in presenting the real risks of its operations in 2019.
Independent auditors have been auditing 25 Vale mines in Minas Gerais state, as part of a deal between the miner and state prosecutors. Vale is paying for the audits, but all information is sent to Minas Gerais state prosecutors.
“As there have been audits in all these dams, I don’t discard new problems might presented within the next few days and months that might require (Vale) to suspend output,” Lanchotti said.
Vale has been working to avoid a halt at four mines with a high risk of a collapse, including Gongo Soco, the media report said.