By Bianca Oliveira
SAO PAULO – The government of Minas Gerais and mining company Vale signed on Thursday (5th) the largest agreement in the history of Brazil in terms of socio-environmental repair. The agreement, in the amount of R$ 37.68 billion, aims to repair the damages caused by Brumadinho tragedy.
The rupture of Dam 1 of the Córrego do Feijão mine, in the city of Brumadinho, in Minas Gerais, happened on January 25, 2019 and caused the death of 259 people and 11 more missing. This was the biggest work accident in Brazil in loss of human lives and one of the biggest mining environmental disasters in the country.
In the agreement, socioeconomic investments are planned in the Paraopeba River Basin, in water security, urban mobility and improvement of public services, in addition to the transfer of income to residents of the affected regions. About 30% of the amount will be allocated exclusively to the municipality and the people of Brumadinho.
All socioeconomic and environmental repair projects foresee the creation of about 365,000 direct and indirect jobs. It was not defined, however, a financial ceiling to be spent on the repair of the environment, because the costs included in the account are a projection and it was agreed that the environment should be recovered in its entirety.
“Vale is determined to fully repair and compensate for the damage caused by Brumadinho tragedy and to increasingly contribute to the improvement and development of the communities in which we operate. We trust that this global agreement is an important step in that direction. We know that we have a way to go and we remain steadfast in our purpose, in line with our New Pact with Society, ”said in a statement the CEO of Vale, Eduardo Bartolomeo.
The conclusion of this agreement does not prejudice individual actions for civil or labor indemnities, which continue to be processed normally. More than 8,900 people are part of these negotiations with Vale,