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Prosecutors request freezing of BRL 1 bi of Braskem

The subsoil of one of its salt mines collapsed, adding to the damage
Gabriel Corrêa (Rádio Nacional)
Published on 15/12/2023 - 12:10
São Luís
Iminente colapso de uma mina de exploração de sal-gema da Braskem, provoca afundamento do solo que já condenou milhares de casas em bairros de Maceió. Foto: UFAL
© UFAL

Federal prosecutors have requested the freezing of BRL 1 billion of Braskem’s assets, alleging the company failed to propose an agreement to include new properties in its compensation program. The company owns the rock salt mine that collapsed in Alagoas state.

With the accelerated sinking of the ground in areas of the state capital Maceió, the Civil Defense updated the risk map last month, and federal court authorities ordered the inclusion of the Bom Parto neighborhood in Braskem's relocation program.

However, at a conciliation hearing last Tuesday (Dec. 12), the company did not present a proposal or a timetable for implementing the measures ordered by the courts. Instead, it told the federal prosecution it would appeal the decision.

Appeal

In a recent statement, Braskem said it had already disbursed over BRL 9 billion for measures taken in Alagoas, including compensation and socio-environmental and economic efforts. The organization added that some 40 thousand people from more than 14 thousand properties have been relocated over the course of four years under its Financial Compensation Program.

On Wednesday (13), Maceió city authorities met with the officials from the Federal Attorney-General’s Office to discuss the technical and legal aspects of the reparation.

New equipment to monitor soil movements near mine no. 18 was installed and began sending data to the city’s Civil Defense. The previous device was compromised by the collapse of the mine last Sunday (10). The equipment measuring the other underground mines in Maceió is still working.