Samarco Reparations

Samarco Mineração is a 50:50 iron ore operation joint venture between Vale and BHP Brasil, founded in 1971, operated independently by Samarco. In November 2015, Samarco's Fundão dam, located in Mariana, Minas Gerais, failed. There were 19 fatalities, in addition to impacts to communities and the environment. BHP responded quickly, providing Samarco with all the support needed for immediate actions.

Factsheet

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BHP has been fully committed to supporting the extensive ongoing remediation and compensation efforts through Fundação Renova (Renova Foundation) in Brazil.

The Renova Foundation is a non-profit, private foundation established to repair the social, community and environmental impacts of the dam failure. The Foundation exists as a result of the Transaction and Conduct Adjustment Term (TTAC), signed by the companies in 2016, with the participation of the Federal Government and other public entities. The term defines the scope of action of the Renova Foundation, which implements and supervises 42 reparation programs that cover compensation and financial assistance, resettlement, environmental repair and even support infrastructure for impacted people and communities.

Timeline since the Fundão dam collapse

Event:

2015 - Fundão dam collapse 2016 - Establishment of the Renova Foundation 2017 - First meeting of the Renova Board 2018 - Signing of Governance agreement, ensuring greater participation of those affected in the process 2019 - Start of construction of houses in the Bento Rodrigues 2020 - Start of payments of R$830 million (Integrated Agenda) to the Municipalities 2021 - Completion of works in the Bento Rodrigues municipal schools 2022 - Symbolic delivery of the Bento Rodrigues district to the Mariana City Hall 2023 - First family moved to Bento Rodrigues | Bento Rodrigues first business opened (grocery store).

2015 Fundão dam collapse
2016 Establishment of the Renova Foundation
2017 First meeting of the Renova Board
2018 Signing of Governance agreement, ensuring greater participation of those affected in the process
2019 Start of construction of houses in the Bento Rodrigues
2020 Start of payments of R$830 million (Integrated Agenda) to the Municipalities
2021 Completion of works in the Bento Rodrigues municipal schools
2022 Symbolic delivery of the Bento Rodrigues district to the Mariana City Hall
2023 First family moved to Bento Rodrigues | Bento Rodrigues first business opened (grocery store).

Delivery to date

As at June 2024

~430,000

people have received compensation and/or financial assistance.

US$7.7 billion

Disbursed in remediation and compensation actions to June 2024.

Around 91%

of the resettlement cases completed across the region

USD 3.5bn

paid in compensation and emergency financial aid to June 2024.

~260 families

have moved into their new homes and public buildings are open and operating.

~110,000 people

Paid through the NOVEL system.

BHP Brasil has allocated US$6.5 billion in provisions for the Samarco Dam failure

Environment

Efforts being taken to restore the environment.

180

Monitoring stations installed along the Doce River, providing real-time information.

~1.5 million

pieces of data are generated annually along the Doce River confirm the water quality has returned to historic levels.

Revegetation

Riverbanks and floodplains have been revegetated. In total, 40,000 hectares will be fully restored.

The BHP Group Ltd and BHP Group (UK) Ltd (former BHP Group Plc) is a defendant in a class action underway in the English Court, filed in 2018 by an English law firm.

Learn more in the fact sheet

Latest news

Samarco reparations

BHP Brasil has been and remains fully committed to supporting the extensive ongoing remediation and compensation efforts through Fundação Renova (Renova Foundation) in Brasil.

Bento Rodrigues students start classes in the new district

Classes began at the Municipal School of Bento Rodrigues on 31 July 2023, initially receiving around 130 students from 4 to 14 years of age.

Delivery of community buildings

Resettlement efforts continue to advance in Bento Rodrigues and Paracatu. While housing solutions have reached 84% of case completion, public buildings and other community facilities have been delivered or are under fair progress.

Updates to the repair process – February 24

BHP Brasil remains committed to supporting the Renova Foundation and its work to progress the remediation and compensatory programs to restore the environment and re-establish communities affected by the Samarco dam failure.

Latest images - Samarco reparations

Aerial View of Bento

May 2024

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