12th Nov 2015 07:00
MELBOURNE (Alliance News) - BHP Billiton PLC and Vale Wednesday issued a joint statement pledging support to the area affected by the dam breach in Brazil last week at the pair's Samarco joint venture, committing to set up an emergency fund to rebuild the community and help affected families.
BHP and Vale own a 50% stake each in Samarco, which operates the joint venture where the dam at its Germano unit located in the municipalities of Ouro Preto and Mariana in the state of Minas Gerais, burst.
Brazilian miner Vale and Anglo-Australian BHP announced they pledge to support Samarco in creating an emergency fund for rebuilding works and to help the affected families and communities.
The statement said Wednesday: "Our immediate priority is to understand the full extent of the consequences of the tailings dam breach and how we can provide further help."
"As an immediate step, Vale and BHP Billiton pledge to support Samarco in creating an Emergency Fund for rebuilding works and to help the affected families and communities. It is our intention to work with the authorities to get this fund functioning as soon as practicable," the pair added.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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