Mariana accepts R$ 1.2 billion settlement for Fundão dam disaster

The municipality of Mariana has decided to join a reparation agreement regarding the 2015 Fundão dam collapse, which will result in the city dropping a multi-billion real lawsuit currently in the London courts against BHP, one of Samarco’s controllers.

Under the terms of the settlement, Mariana is expected to receive approximately R$ 1.2 billion. In addition to this amount, the city has negotiated further benefits and works to be executed directly within the municipality. The agreement follows a repactuation of damages related to the disaster that was ratified by the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court.

The dam collapse, which occurred in November 2015, caused 19 deaths and significant environmental and socio-economic damage to the Rio Doce basin, affecting both Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.