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.
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.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.
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.
