The Brazilian government signed an agreement this Friday with the mining companies Vale and BHP for the repair of the disaster caused in 2015 by the collapse of a dam in the state of Minas Gerais. The disaster left 19 dead and caused an environmental catastrophe.
Vale and BHP, controllers of the company Samarco, committed to pay a total of 132 billion reais over a period of 20 years as compensation for the disaster. Of that amount, 32 billion will be allocated for compensation to about 1.2 million people affected by the tragedy in Mariana.
The rest of the money will be used by the state for works related to environmental recovery and infrastructure damaged by the toxic spill that contaminated rivers and flooded towns in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.
The attorney general of the state, Jorge Messias, led the signing of the agreement, which has the endorsement of the Supreme Court. Present at the ceremony were the president of the Supreme Court, Luis Barroso, the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, other authorities, and representatives from the companies.
"This is a historic agreement," Messias said, highlighting that it focuses on caring for people and the environment, two objectives of the government. Part of the funds will be allocated to subsidies for farmers and fishermen, as well as actions for the economic recovery of the affected areas.
In parallel to this agreement, a court in London began a trial this week for a class-action lawsuit against the company BHP, which demands compensation of 46.8 billion dollars for the Mariana disaster. Vale was also responsible for another spill in Brumadinho in 2019, where 270 people died. The company has already signed a reparations agreement for 37.7 billion reais with the government of Minas Gerais for that disaster.