SIGNIFICANT FALLING OF IRON ORE MINING IN THE SECOND QUARTER HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE THE VALE KEY OPERATIONS WERE FULLY OR PARTIALLY STOPPED AFTER A DEADLY DEPROST OF THE DAM IN JANUARY
The fall to 64.057 million tons resulted from the reduction of several major operations, including Brucutu, the largest mine in Rio de Janeiro in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, which was completely or partially closed after the deadly dam break at Corrego.
Vale also reported that sales of iron ore from March to June fell by 15.5% to 61.945 million tons.
After the dam collapsed in January, which killed at least 300 people, authorities and companies began to study the so-called dams upstream more carefully, the cheapest, but usually considered the most risky way of storing mine waste.
In March, Vale was forced to close its Timbopeba mine, which mined 12.8 million tons of iron ore per year due to security concerns. He also suspended operations at his complex in Mariana, where a similar accident occurred in 2015, resulting in the death of 19 people and flooded local areas.
The company later received an order to stop two more dams - Minerino and Kordo Nova Vista.
Overall, the company ceased production of about 90 million tons of iron ore, but was allowed to resume work in Brukutu at the end of the quarter, recovering about 30 million tons of annual capacity.
According to Vale, by the end of the year, another 30 million tons can be put back into service, using “dry treatment” methods to avoid the use of dams with hazardous waste.
Brazil’s Minister of Mines, Alexander Vidigal de Oliveira, said last week that he expects the industry’s main regulator to expand its investigation into the causes of the Feijiao disaster by January 2020.
An investigation by the National Mining Agency (ANM) investigates irregularities in mining regulations and other administrative regulations, while the police separately investigate criminal offenses.
