Samarco Reparations
Samarco is a non-operated joint venture and BHP Brasil, one of BHP’s subsidiaries, holds a 50 per cent share alongside Vale. Following Samarco’s Fundão dam failure, BHP Brasil made a long-term commitment to support the people, communities and environment affected.
Samarco is a non-operated joint venture and BHP Brasil, one of BHP’s subsidiaries, holds a 50 per cent share alongside Vale. Following Samarco’s Fundão dam failure, BHP Brasil made a long-term commitment to support the people, communities and environment affected.
But we can continue to strive to do what's right by the people, the community, and the environments who have been deeply affected by it.
A decade of reparation A decade of reparation
At BHP, we reaffirm our support for Samarco and our continued commitment to transparency, responsibility, and respect for the people and territories affected.
New Doce River Agreement
In October 2024, a comprehensive agreement was finalised between the Federal Government of Brazil, the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, public prosecutors and public defenders (collectively, the Public Authorities) and Samarco, BHP Brasil and Vale (collectively, the Companies).
The agreement provides reparation for the impacts of Samarco’s Fundão dam failure in November 2015 and builds on the existing remediation and compensation work already performed by the Renova Foundation in Brazil.
The New Doce River Agreement is a result of extensive consultation and engagement by the Companies, federal and states governments and other public authorities, including public defenders and prosecutors, over an extended period to address the requirements of those affected.
R$38 billion (US$7.9 billion)
Remediation and compensation activities (up to 30 September 2024)
R$100 billion (US$18 billion)
Programs to support people, communities and the environment
Approximately R$32 billion (US$5.8 billion)
Ongoing performance obligations to be carried out by Samarco
Funding for new community programs
Providing benefits to people, communities and environment in the affected regions through programs and initiatives in sanitation, health, economic recovery, income assistance and infrastructure.
Compensation for Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities
R$8 billion in funding for eligible communities will be made available following a consultation process led by the Federal Government.
A further compensation and indemnification system
Designed with the collaboration and endorsement of the public defenders and prosecutors to make payments to eligible individuals who have not previously been paid through the previous compensation programs available in Brazil.
Action so far
On the ground
~US$13.4 billion* (R$ 70 billion)
Delivered in remediation and compensation actions since 2015 to affected people and to Public Authorities in Brazil.
*includes amounts before and after the New Doce River Agreement.
98%
Of the resettlement cases (717/729) have been completed as at 30 September 2025.
Over 383
keys delivered to families. Public buildings have been delivered to the Municipality of Mariana and are now being operated and maintained by the municipality.
US$4.6 billion*
has been paid in more than 730,000 agreements with people affected by the dam failure, as of 30 September 2025.
*Includes payments before and after the New Rio Doce Agreement.
~US$5.6billion (R$ 30 billion)
In the first 12 months of the 20-year agreement’s implementation, this amount had already been disbursed by Samarco on delivery against the Agreement, including payments to Public Authorities. R$14 billion has been paid directly to impacted people in that time, including through the Definitive Compensation Program (PID).
~US$ 28 million
already paid to municipalities that opted to join the New Doce River Agreement terms and assured funding for the next 20 years.
Approximately 83
Active monitoring stations installed along the Doce River and coastal area, including real-time monitoring stations.
1.5 million
Data generated annually attest that the water quality has returned to historic levels.
~42,700 hectares
And 3,900 springs protected and undergoing restoration.
More than 610,000 people
Have received more than ~US$6.3billion (R$33 billion) in compensation and financial aid since the 2015 Fundão dam failure.
Status of legal proceedings
BHP Group Ltd and BHP Group (UK) Ltd (former BHP Group Plc) are defendants in a group action underway in the English Court, filed in 2018 by an English law firm. BHP is defending the claim.
BHP Brasil has been and remains dedicated to supporting reparation and compensation on the ground.
