Vale triggers emergency protocol at Ouro Preto dam

Market: Metals
31/10/19

Brazilian mining company Vale today triggered Level 1 emergency protocol at the Forquilha IV dam, located at its Fabrica iron ore mine near Ouro Preto, after discovering an anomaly in the structure.

The dam will now have its Statement of Condition of Stability (DCE) changed to "negative", Vale said. The decision is described as a preventive measure following a routine inspection and does not require the evacuation of the downstream population.

Vale's production plan for 2019 is unaffected by the emergency protocol, as is its timeframe for bringing an idled 50mn t of iron ore production back on line. The dam has not received any tailings since February, and Vale was not planning to use it to dispose of any further tailings in the coming years.

In early February, a Belo Horizonte court ordered Vale to refrain from disposing tailings or other activities at several dams, including Forquilha I, Forquilha II and Forquilha III, following the fatal dam rupture at Vale's Brumadinho iron ore mine on 25 January. Vale noted at the time that the three Forquilha dams were already inactive because they had been built using the upstream method.

Supply concerns after the Brumadinho disaster contributed to seaborne prices climbing to multi-year highs, with the Argus ICX index for 62pc Fe fines peaking at $125.20/dmt cfr Qingdao on 3 July. The ICX is now at $84.10/dmt cfr Qingdao.

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Australia’s BRE achieves first output at RE pilot plant

08/09/26

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08/09/26

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