Samarco to Allocate Billions for Doce River Restoration After Dam Failure

In a landmark agreement reached in October 2024, Samarco, along with BHP Brasil and Vale, will allocate significant funds towards remediation efforts following the devastating Fundão dam failure. The agreement,which involves public authorities,expands socioenvironmental remediation efforts dedicating over R$16 billion to government entities,augmenting Samarco’s direct reparation obligations.

Financial Breakdown of the Agreement

The agreement outlines a detailed financial commitment from Samarco:

• Federal Government: R$8.1 billion for environmental projects.
• Minas Gerais: R$3 billion for environmental projects, plus R$1 billion for flood prevention.
• espírito Santo: R$3 billion for environmental projects, plus R$1 billion for flood prevention.
• Reforestation: R$1.7 billion to restore 5,000 springs and 43,000 hectares of Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs) in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.
• Sanitation: R$11 billion to the state governments (R$7.54 billion for Minas Gerais and R$3.46 billion for espírito Santo) for water supply, solid waste management, and large-scale drainage projects.

Restoring the Doce River Basin

A core component of Samarco’s commitment involves directly addressing the environmental damage and improving sanitation across the Doce River basin. The plan will support the creation of the Doce River Mouth Environmental Protection Area and the consolidation of federal conservation units. The long-term goal is to facilitate extensive, lasting improvements to the region’s infrastructure.

Water Quality Monitoring

The recovery of the Doce River remains a primary focus. Water quality monitoring will continue at 84 points in the basin. According to the source material, the water quality “has already returned to pre-dam failure levels.”

Samarco’s Direct Responsibilities

Samarco will directly manage several critical remediation activities.

Along with providing funding to the federal and state governments to continue ongoing environmental recovery, Samarco is also responsible for continuing the Renova Foundation’s sustainability projects. This includes:

• Restoring springs and Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs).
• reforestation efforts in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.
• Tailings removal at the Risoleta Neves Hydroelectric Plant (Candonga) reservoir, requiring the dredging of up to 9.15 million cubic meters of tailings.
• Partial decommissioning of the Dique S4 dam involving the lowering of the impoundment and recovery of the degraded area.

Addressing Tailings toxicity

Studies will be conducted to assess the toxicity of the remaining tailings at Dique S4 and to propose mitigation measures, although there will be no additional dredging or total decommissioning.

BHP Brasil’s Continued Support

As a shareholder in the Samarco non-operated joint venture, BHP brasil affirms its ongoing commitment: “As a shareholder in the Samarco non-operated joint venture, BHP Brasil remains committed to supporting Samarco as it effectively works to deliver on its obligations as part of the new agreement and finalize definitive support for those affected by the dam failure.”

Moving Forward: A Lasting Future for the Doce River Basin

The multi-billion-dollar agreement marks a significant step toward environmental restoration and sustainable development in the Doce River basin. By investing in reforestation, water quality monitoring, and sanitation infrastructure, Samarco and its partners are working to address the ecological and social impacts of the dam failure. The allocation of R$11 billion for universal sanitation promises wide-ranging improvements, leveraging concessions, Public-Private Partnerships, and traditional public works to expand sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants.

The success of these crucial initiatives hinges on continued collaboration, clarity, and rigorous monitoring to ensure that funds are used effectively and that the Doce River basin is restored to a vibrant and sustainable ecosystem. Stay informed on the progress of these projects and advocate for responsible environmental practices to build a better future for the region.