By Dec. 1, the mining giant must make its defense in a UK-filed lawsuit on the tragedy that occurred in Mariana, Minas Gerais state, in 2015. Vale had been unsuccessfully questioning the jurisdiction of the UK courts, whose merits will now be considered.
The company’s arguments contesting the jurisdiction of British courts have been rejected, and the mining giant must submit a statement by Nov. 10. The tailings dam collapsed eight years ago and left 19 dead.
Among the chief measures is the creation of two funds aimed at the compensation for the breach of the Mariana dam, in Minas Gerais state, which occurred in November 2015.
As per estimates from the state’s Prosecution Service, less than 30 percent of the victims have been compensated. The dam collapse caused a wave of sludge that swept over a number of municipalities in Minas Gerais and its neighboring state Espírito Santo through the Doce river basin. Furthermore, 19 people died.
BHP Billiton, the British-Australian mining company being sued in the UK over the tragedy in Mariana, Minas Gerais, is challenging the jurisdiction of the British courts moving ahead with the case. The matter is expected to be discussed at a hearing on June 9, 2020.