24th Dec 2020 06:26
(Alliance News) - BHP Group PLC on Thursday said Samarco Mineracao SA has met the licensing requirements to restart operations at its Germano mine complex in Minas Gerais and its Ubu complex in Espirito Santo, Brazil.
BHP Billiton Brasil Ltda and Vale SA each hold a 50% interest in Samarco.
Samarco's operations were suspended following the catastrophic failure of the Fundao tailings dam in November 2015.
On Thursday, Melbourne, Australia-based BHP said Samarco's gradual restart of operations incorporates concentrator 3 at the Germano complex and pelletising plant 4 at Ubu, as well as a new system of tailings disposal combining a confined pit and tailings filtering system for dry stacking.
Samarco expects initially to produce approximately 8 million tonnes of iron ore pellets per annum.
Independent tests have been carried out on Samarcos preparations for a safe restart of operations, BHP said.
Meanwhile, the work undertaken by the Renova Foundation to remediate and compensate for the damages of the failure of the Fundao dam in 2015 continues, and BHP Billiton Brasil continues to support Renova in its work.
The dam collapse in the city of Mariana had resulted in 19 deaths and forced hundreds from their homes. Considered the worst environmental disaster in Brazilian history, it left 250,000 people without drinking water and killed thousands of fish. An estimated 60 million cubic meters of waste flooded rivers and eventually flowed into the Atlantic Ocean.
BHP shares closed up 1.2% on Thursday in Sydney at AUD42.95 a share.
By Evelina Grecenko; [email protected]
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