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The Measure of CSN Concerns Residents Due to the Proximity of Residential Areas to Mina Casa de Pedra in Congonhas
In a meeting similar to the one that approved the installation of the Tâmisa mining hub, in Serra do Curral, on April 29, the CMI (Mining Activity Chamber) of Copam (Environmental Policy Council) also approved a 50% increase in CSN’s production capacity at Mina Casa de Pedra, Congonhas, in the central region of Minas Gerais.
Congonhas houses one of the largest tailings dams in Latin America, which raises concerns among residents due to the proximity of accommodations to the Mina Casa de Pedra project.
The program of the National Steel Company (CSN), which plans a 50% increase in production at Mina Casa de Pedra in Congonhas, culminated in a mining company producing 5 million tons per year in iron ore processing. Currently, Congonhas produces about 10 million tons per year. The increase in production from CSN’s mines, in the largest area of dams in Latin America, raises concerns among the population.
Sandoval de Souza Filho, the Environmental Director of Unaccon (Union of Community Associations of Congonhas), considered the increases of “five by five, ten by ten” more concerning.
The environmental concern is based on a market statement in which CSN stated that it aims to “cover the increasing demand for high-quality iron ore,” and for that to happen, large expansion projects need to be in place, which the company believes will increase from R$ 33 million per year to R$ 108 million tons per year in iron ore processing by 2033.
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According to Mina Casa de Pedra in Congonhas, the plan is the “brownfield expansion plan” that will generate value through the complete recovery of 180 million tons of waste currently stored in dams, as part of its disintegration program.
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It is estimated that the mentioned tailings rehabilitation projects in the dams will provide an increase in production of 8 million tons per year, with an estimated investment of R$ 1.1 billion over a period of 5 years, projected by Mina Casa de Pedra, Congonhas, in a document focused on shareholders.
“What we are discussing is not the increase; it is the way (CSN) is carrying out its expansion. Thus, the entire story gets dispersed. Yes, the increase of 5 million tons per year is small, but they are not being open to the public, talking to the market about something, and are not licensing what they want to do,” announced Sandoval Filho.
Suppri Considers the Expansion of Mina Casa de Pedra Highly Important
According to the vision of Suppri (Superintendence of Priority Projects), the industry benefited by CSN’s increase at Mina Casa de Pedra, Congonhas, will be important for better utilization of fossil fuels and reduction of waste production, eliminating the need for new storage facilities and increasing capacity. It will enhance production at Mina Casa de Pedra and will release a high volume of iron ore, ensuring the continuity of production at the central plant.
CSN Requests License Excluding All Previous Contracts
Despite all the changes in production, CSN Mineração requested the issuance of a separate license, also referred to as “single” by the councilors, excluding all previous concessions and permits.
According to CSN, the ADA (Directly Affected Area) will be smaller with the expansion “and without the need to increase the use of freshwater in the benefit system,” in addition to “not needing new pressures or expanding unlicensed areas.”
The process was scheduled for a meeting in March, as well as a proposal for the installation of Tâmisa in Serra do Curral. However, the expansion of CSN in Congonhas was postponed to April after councilors requested more time to analyze the development of Mina Casa de Pedra.
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