Vale Will Begin Disposing of Tailings From Dam Breach at Feijão Mine


Vale said it will separate waste — such as metals, rubber, and wood — before disposing of the tailings in the extraction site. (Photo: Vale)
Brazil’s Vale has begun to streamline the process to remove and dispose of the tailings from the dam failure that occurred on January 25, 2019, at the Córrego de Feijão mine in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, that killed at least 259 people and surrounding communities are still reeling from its damage. Brazil’s National Mining Agency (ANM, Agência Nacional de Mineração) and the State Department of Environment and Sustainable Development (Semad, Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Sustentável) authorized the company to dispose of the tailings that have already been inspected and released by the Military Fire Brigade of Minas Gerais at Córrego do Feijão mine, in Brumadinho.

This measure is part of the Integrated Tailings and Waste Management Plan delivered and approved by the relevant authorities. The company expects the tailings deposited at the valley of Ferro- Carvão stream up to the confluence of Paraopeba river will be removed and disposed of in the extraction site by 2023.

Vale said it will separate waste — such as metals, rubber, and wood — before disposing of the tailings in the extraction site. This process complies with the specifications of the environmental agencies so that the tailings conditions are adequate to be disposed of and for the proper disposal of waste. In order to carry out this action, the company will use the screens from the Dry Ore Treatment Plant (ITMS, Instalação de Tratamento de Minério a Seco) of Córrego do Feijão mine and other mobile screens.

As featured in Womp 2020 Vol 04 - www.womp-int.com