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Vale expects tentative dam collapse settlement with Brazil authorities this month

Brazilian miner Vale expects to reach a tentative contract by the end of this month with Brazilian federal and state authorities to settle reparations over the lethal 2015 collapse of a tailings dam, an executive stated on Thursday.

The Mariana dam collapse caused a wave of harmful tailings that eliminated 19 people. It left hundreds homeless, flooded forests and contaminated the entire length of the Doce River.

It does not indicate that (an arrangement) will be signed by the end of June, since that depends upon the building and construction of the definitive files, but by the end of June we hope that there will be an agreement, said Alexandre D'Ambrosio, Vale's. executive vice-president of business and institutional affairs,. at an occasion in Rio de Janeiro.

A definitive agreement might take at least another month, he. said.

D'Ambrosio's remarks come a day after Vale, Australian miner. BHP and their joint venture Samarco provided Brazilian. authorities with a brand-new offer to settle reparations for the dam. collapse after Brazil declined its previous one.

The miners' proposition totals 140 billion reais ($ 26.08. billion), which breaks down to 82 billion reais to be paid to. the federal government and the Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo. states over 20 years, 37 billion reais they have currently spent. and 21 billion for future responsibilities, such as the elimination of. tailings from the Doce River.

In 2019, another Vale-owned tailings dam in Brumadinho,. Brazil collapsed, eliminating 270 people.

(source: Reuters)