Brazil’s Vale hit with first fine over dam disaster
- US$66.5 million fine levied against company by the government’s environmental protection agency Ibama
Brazilian mining giant Vale was hit with an initial US$66.5 million fine Saturday over a dam collapse at one of its mines a day earlier that killed at least 10 people and left hundreds missing.
The amount, confirmed by multiple sources including a government official, was announced by the environment ministry, which did not immediately give an official figure.
It was levied by the government’s environmental protection agency Ibama.
The penalty, for violations at the Vale iron ore mine in Brumaldinho, near the city of Belo Horizonte, is likely to be followed by others as authorities evaluate the scale and gravity of the disaster, analysts told Brazilian media.
An official dealing with environmental issues in Minas Gerais state, where the dam collapse happened, told AFP the state was preparing another fine.