Samarco Operations

We hold a 50% interest in Samarco, a non-operated joint venture in Brazil. The company employs around 15,000 people directly and indirectly and produces iron ore pellets through its operating units in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states.

germano
Samarco Operations

We hold a 50% interest in Samarco, a non-operated joint venture in Brazil. The company employs around 15,000 people directly and indirectly and produces iron ore pellets through its operating units in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states.

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Samarco Reparations
The Samarco Fundão dam failure in 2015 was a terrible tragedy. It should never have happened and must never be forgotten. As shareholders in the Samarco non-operated joint venture, BHP Brasil has always been committed to supporting Samarco to do what’s right by the Brazilian people, communities, organisations, and environments affected by the dam failure.

Samarco at a glance

Samarco is independently managed and has its own integrated logistics. This includes mines, concentrators, and pelletizing plants for the processing of iron ore, with pipelines that connect the two operating units and a port terminal for the export of production.
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60%

Production capacity after second concentrator restart - expected in Q1 CY25

The Germano pit dam decommissioning was completed and approved by the State Authority. Main dam decommissioning is advanced and on track for completion by FY29

~15,000

direct and indirect jobs created by Samarco, and ~USD 780MM in taxes since restart (~USD 780MM in taxes contributed until Dec 23 includes taxes generated from Samarco’s value chain activities)

New financial debt issued

in exchange for restructured debt as part of Judicial Reorganisation restructure completion in December 2023.

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Discover a new Samarco

The company resumed operations differently, using new technologies.

A new filtration system allows for the dry stacking of 80% of the generated tailings, with the rest deposited in a confined pit. Visit the website to find out more about Samarco's restart.

View the Samarco website
view of the river and trees

Reparation actions

Established by Brazilian public entities and the companies in 2016, the Renova Foundation was responsible to carry out the repair and compensation actions until 2024, when a new agreement was signed. The 42 programs overseen by the Renova Foundation will then be closed and all reparation measured will be taken over by Samarco or the Federal or States governments.

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Bento School

Bento Rodrigues students start classes in the new district

Classes began at the Municipal School of Bento Rodrigues on 31 July, initially receiving around 130 students.

Samarco completes two years since its restart

Samarco has completed 2 years since the safe and sustainable resumption of its operations.
Samarco

Samarco to double production by 2025

The amount will be allocated for operational readiness and, mainly, optimization focused on the proper disposal of tailings.