Following the rupture of an iron ore waste pipe earlier this week at Vale’s Fabrica iron ore mine in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, waste material has reportedly reached local rivers.
Vale previously said the “issue” had been solved, but an Itabirito city environmental secretary notified Vale about the leakage of waste in several areas of the city. Vale has 20 days to respond to Itabirito’s city claims, otherwise it could be fined.
Local media said Vale has not yet reported the waste leakage to the city hall of Itabirito.
Vale’s waste pipe burst was registered near the Mariana area, also in the state of Minas Gerais, where a Samarco’s dam collapsed, killing 19 people and halting output at the pellets producer in November 2015. Samarco is a 50/50 JV between Vale and BHP Billiton.
Vale said the pipe burst did not affect the company’s output.