CSN's measure concerns residents due to the proximity of residential areas to the Casa de Pedra Mine in Congonhas
In a meeting similar to the one that approved the installation of the Thames mining complex, in Serra do Curral, last April 29, the CMI (Mining Activity Chamber) of Copam (Environmental Policy Council) also approved an increase of 50 % of CSN's production capacity at the Casa de Pedra Mine, Congonhas, in the central region of Minas Gerais.
Congonhas is home to one of the largest tailings dams in Latin America, which raises the concern of residents due to the proximity of accommodation to the Mina Casa de Pedra development.
the program of National Steel Company (CSN), which foresees a 50% increase in production at Mina Casa de Pedra in Congonhas, culminated in a mining company producing 5 million tons per year in the processing of iron ore. Currently, Congonhas production is around 10 million tons per year. The increase in production at CSN's mines, in the largest area of dams in Latin America, raises concern among the population.
The director of the Environment at Unaccon (Union of Community Associations of Congonhas), Sandoval de Souza Filho, considered that the increases of “five in five, ten in ten” more worrying.
The environmental concern is based on a statement to the market, in which CSN stated that it wants to “cover the growing demand for high quality iron ores” and, for that to happen, it must have large expansion projects, which the company believes that they will rise from R$ 33 million per year to R$ 108 million tons per year of iron ore processing by 2033.
Casa de Pedra mine uses brownfield plan
According to the Casa de Pedra Mine in Congonhas, the plan is the “brownfield expansion plan” that will generate value through the full recovery of 180 million tons of waste currently stored in dams, as part of its disintegration program.
It is estimated that the aforementioned 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 in the period of 5 years, predicted the Casa de Pedra Mine, Congonhas , in a document focused on shareholders.
“What we are discussing is not the increase, it is how (CSN) is doing its expansion. Thus, the whole story disperses. Yes, the increase of 5 million tons per year is small, but they are not playing open to the public, talking to the market about something and not licensing what they want to do”, announced Sandoval Filho.
Suppri considers the expansion of the Casa de Pedra Mine to be of great importance
According to the vision of Suppri (Superintendence of Priority Projects), the industry benefited by the increase in CSN at Casa de Pedra Mine, Congonhas, will be important for the better use of fuels fossil fuels and reduced tailings production, eliminating the need for new storage facilities and increased capacity. It will expand production at the Casa de Pedra Mine and will release a high volume of iron ore under the mines, 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 called “single” by the directors, excluding all previous grants 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 fresh water in the benefit system”, in addition to “no need for new pressures or an increase in areas without a license ”.
The process was scheduled for a meeting in March, as well as a proposal for the installation of the Thames in Serra do Curral. However, the expansion of CSN in Congonhas was postponed until the month of April after directors asked for a review of the process, that is, asking for more time to analyze the development of the company Mina Casa de Pedra.
