Vale Mining Company Completed the Removal of Two Upstream Dams in Minas Gerais

The Baixo João Pereira Dams and Dike 4 of the Pontal Dam, Both in Minas Gerais, Were the Structures Eliminated by the Mining Company Vale

The mining company Vale announced today that it has completed, in the current month of July, the elimination works of two upstream dams: the Baixo João Pereira dam, at the Fábrica Mine, in Congonhas, Minas Gerais, and Dike 4 of the Pontal dam, in Itabira, also in Minas Gerais.

Both dam eliminations are the first completed out of five scheduled for 2022. In total, of the 30 dams built using the same method as the Brumadinho dam, nine have been removed since 2019. By the end of 2022, 12 will be eliminated, representing approximately 40% of the structures planned in the company’s Decharacterization Program.

According to the mining company, the elimination of all upstream dams operated by Vale in Brazil is one of the main activities undertaken to prevent failures like that of the Brumadinho dam, in Minas Gerais. Vale also emphasizes that the dam elimination works are challenging, with individual solutions for each structure, and are being carried out diligently.

According to the mining company Vale, the Baixo João Pereira dam contained approximately 72,000 cubic meters of sediment, which were 100% removed from the reservoir and placed in sterile piles at the Fábrica Mine, according to the prior authorization of the competent authorities.

There were no residents in the Self-Salvage Zone (ZAS) of the dams in Minas Gerais, which had a positive Stability Condition Declaration (DCE) and performed its function of containing sediment resulting from mining operations at the Fábrica complex. During the works, approximately 230 jobs were created, with the vast majority designated for residents of the Congonhas region, Minas Gerais.

In a Statement, Vale Reports That the Excluded Dams in Minas Gerais Did Not Receive Tailings and Others Will Be Built in Their Place

After the completion of the exclusion of the dams in Minas Gerais, the development of a new dam immediately began in the same area, which will be built in a single phase and will serve the same function as the eliminated dam while maintaining environmental control in the region. The new dam is expected to be completed by the end of this year, Vale reports in a statement.

The Dike 4 has not had the function of retaining tailings since the year 2014 and the removed material was placed in a properly prepared area within the Pontal System.

Also in Itabira, Minas Gerais, the Coqueirinho containment dam has been completed, expanding safety for the upcoming phases of works for the Minervino and Cordão Nova Vista dikes, which will be part of the Pontal System.

More Three Dams Are Scheduled to Be Excluded This Year by the Mining Company Vale

In addition to the Baixo João Pereira dam and Dike 4 of the Pontal dam, which have already been eliminated, three more dams are scheduled to be completed this year. They are: Dike 3 of the Pontal dam and the Ipoema dam in Itabira (MG); and the Auxiliary Dike of dam 5 at the Águas Claras Mine in Nova Lima (MG).

“The Upstream Dam Decharacterization Program is part of a broad transformation in the management of dams at Vale, shortly after the failure of the Brumadinho dam in Minas Gerais, which included an extensive technical analysis of the history and current conditions of each of Vale’s tailings disposal dams. The Program was announced in 2019, before the publication of the related legislation”, states the mining company Vale.