In 2015, a dam collapse in Brazil caused one of the country’s worst environmental disasters, killing 19 people and displacing hundreds.
Brazil recently reached a 170 billion reais ($29.85bn) compensation agreement with mining giants BHP, Vale, and Samarco for the Mariana dam collapse. The collapse at an iron ore mine owned by Samarco, a joint venture between Vale and BHP, led to devastating consequences, including loss of life, homelessness, and environmental damage along the Doce River.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva oversaw the signing of the agreement, with initial payments of 5 billion reais ($878m) due within 30 days. The total compensation includes 132 billion reais ($23bn) in new resources to be paid to public authorities over 20 years, as well as 32 billion reais ($5.6bn) for affected individuals and environmental rehabilitation efforts.
‘Provide justice’
The agreement aims to provide justice for those impacted by the disaster, with annual payments scheduled until 2043. The resources will support families, environmental recovery, and economic revitalization in the affected regions.
This landmark agreement could potentially resolve numerous lawsuits against the mining companies, including a multi-billion-pound lawsuit in London, as efforts continue to address the aftermath of the Mariana tragedy.