Vale Sets Samarco Dam Bill Estimate At $30B, BHP Faces UK's High Court

Brazillian mining company Vale VALE has estimated the fines and compensation costs related to the 2015 Samarco dam collapse at $30 billion. 

After years of negotiations between the Brazilian federal and state governments and Vale, BHP BHP, and Samarco Mineração joint venture, the resolution for one of the worst environmental disasters in Brazil's history is approaching.

The settlement under discussion would cover past and future obligations. Of the total $30 billion, $7.2 billion has already been invested in remediation and compensation efforts over the past years.

Another $19 billion will be paid over 20 years to fund compensatory programs aimed at the Brazilian government and the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, where the disaster caused significant damage. An additional $6.1 billion will be allocated to performance obligations, such as environmental recovery, resettlement, and individual indemnifications for affected communities.

The Samarco disaster occurred in November 2015 when the Fundão tailings dam, holding mining waste, collapsed in Mariana, Minas Gerais. The collapse unleashed millions of cubic meters of toxic sludge, killing 19 people, destroying entire communities, and severely polluting 500 kilometers of the Doce River, which holds sacred importance to the Krenak indigenous tribe.

The disaster left thousands homeless and caused irreversible damage to local ecosystems and livelihoods. In the years since, Vale, BHP, and Samarco have faced multiple legal challenges to ensure full reparation for the damage caused.

Although companies initially clashed over the settlement costs, they reached a consensus in July, agreeing to share the financial responsibilities. Still, besides the Brazilian settlement, BHP faces a separate class action lawsuit in the United Kingdom.

The lawsuit began this week at the London High Court and involved over 620,000 claimants, including Brazilians, local governments, and businesses affected by the disaster.

The claimants seek up to 36 billion pounds ($47 billion) in damages, alleging that BHP bears liability for the dam collapse.

BHP contests the lawsuit, arguing that its compensation efforts in Brazil, including the $8 billion paid through the Renova Foundation, are sufficient.

The trial could last up to 12 weeks, and if successful, it would become one of the largest compensation awards in British legal history, setting a precedent for global environmental liability.

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