Minas Gerais: Zema Uses Funds to Expand Mining in Some Traditional Areas. The Strategic Environmental Assessment Project Is Forecasting At Least Eight Workshops in Three Different Regions of the State.

In 2022, the State Secretariat of Economic Development (SEDE/MG), through the Superintendency of Mining, Energy, and Logistics (SPMEL), began a Strategic Environmental Assessment (AAE) project to explore iron ore in all other states.

As one of the main errors pointed out by the population of affected communities, from its inception, it is worth noting that the initiative, according to SEDE itself, was funded with financial resources aimed at repairing the environmental damages caused by the collapse of the dam at the Córrego do Feijão Mine in Brumadinho (MG).

These AAE activities, which started in workshop format in June of last year, are being fully conducted by the contracted company Tetra Mais Consultoria Ltda. Under contract No. 9327467/2022, which has a term of up to 14 months for completion, the resources for the evaluation of iron exploration total about R$ 1,841,947.30 – almost two million reais.

Among the regions where the project’s actions are named as the Nova Aurora Iron District, an area where the eggs and communities traditionally occupy more territory and that also composes the only iron geosystem that has not been explored by mining companies in this country.

According to the geraizeira communities, “what shocks and outrages is the use of resources from a crime against life and biodiversity, committed by the mining company Vale in Brumadinho, being used to expand mineral activity in the state of Minas Gerais.” Not to mention that the populations of the local districts denounce this lack of a rigorous and transparent listening process, as they also indicate a possible manipulation of the results in interviews by the responsible company.

“The database from the interviews conducted has defined assumptions in order to determine a previously calculated result by the company responsible for conducting them. We also question the criteria used and the database that supported the company to define the areas of coverage of this new complex they are calling Nova Aurora.”

This project affects several peoples and communities, compromising the basins of the Pardo, Jequitinhonha, and São Francisco Rivers with their springs, tributaries, and rivers that compose these three basins in the diverse territory,” states a section of a complaint presented by the Pastoral Land Commission of Minas Gerais (CPT-MG).

Even though the AAE project includes, among its documents, a “Participation and Social Engagement Report,” aimed at “interested parties,” this main demand among communities is for the guarantee of their fundamental rights, for free, prior, and informed consultation, as is advocated by ILO Convention 169.

According to the geraizeiros from Northern Minas, all these rights have been violated by not being carried out in an honest and appropriate manner and by failing to respect this state legislation, which aims to defend and respect the rights of traditional geraizeiro peoples and others.