Vale to repair environmental and social damage

In the socioeconomic part, the settlement encompasses projects demanded by the affected communities, a programme of income transfer to the affected population – replacing the current payment of emergency aid – and projects for Brumadinho and for the other municipalities of the Paraopeba Basin, in addition to resources for the government of the State of Minas Gerais to carry out the Urban Mobility Programme and the Public Service Strengthening Programme.

Regarding the socio-environmental reparation, the Global Settlement establishes the guidelines and the governance for the execution, by Vale, of the Reparation Plan, as well as projects to be implemented as compensation for the environmental damage already known and projects aimed at water security in the impacted region.

The Global Settlement results from a high-level mediation process, conducted by the CEJUSC, part of the TJMG, over the past few months, and aims at a quick solution to mitigate the impacts of the dam rupture on the State of Minas Gerais and the affected regions.

Vale is committed to fully repair and compensate the damage caused by the tragedy in Brumadinho and to increasingly contribute to the improvement and development of the communities in which we operate. “We trust that this Global Settlement is an important step in that direction. We know that we have work to do and we remain firm in that purpose, in line with our New Pact with Society,” said Vale's CEO, Eduardo Bartolomeo.

The demands set forth in public civil actions and resolved with the Global Settlement refer to the socio-environmental damage caused by the dam rupture, as well as the socio-economic reparation, referring to lato sensu collective damage and homogeneous, non-divisible individual damage. Indemnifications for individual divisible damages are excluded from the Global Settlement. Regarding these, Vale reinforces its commitment to fair, swift and equitable reparation through the signing of individual settlements based on the Term of Commitment entered into with the Public Defender of the State of Minas Gerais on 5 April 2019.

“The mediation process conducted by the Court of Justice of Minas Gerais allowed the construction of a Settlement that definitively ends the disputes with the State of Minas Gerais, the Federal and State Public Prosecutors, and the Public Defender of Minas Gerais. The institutions engaged in the construction of the Global Settlement ensured swift, fair and effective solutions in a process conducted with transparency, legitimacy and legal certainty,” added Vale's General Counsel, Alexandre D'Ambrosio.

“According to the governance established in the agreement, the fulfilment of the agreed obligations will take place in two forms: upon payment of commitments, with defined values and schedule for projects managed by the State of Minas Gerais and Institutions of Justice; and upon the conclusion, by Vale, of the projects predefined in the settlement, that mainly include socio-environmental reparation projects,” explained Luiz Eduardo Osorio, Vale's Sustainability, Communication and Institutional Relations Director.

Repairing damage caused fairly and quickly is essential, and Vale has prioritised initiatives and resources for this purpose. Since the first hours after the breach, 2 years ago, the company has taken care of the impacted families, providing assistance to restore their dignity, well-being and livelihoods. In addition to meeting the most immediate needs of the affected people and regions, it is also working to deliver projects that promote lasting change to recover communities and benefit the population effectively.

“Vale's commitment is to promote a full repair of the damages associated with the disruption of dam B1. In this sense, the agreement includes countless measures for reparation, from actions to mitigate the impact over people and communities to projects aiming at strengthening the economy in the impacted municipalities. Many initiatives are still being implemented by Vale, while others will be handled by the State of Minas Gerais and its institutions, with resources provided by Vale. We acknowledge our responsibility and commitment with full repair, in a spirit of solidarity with people, families, communities and affected territories,” concluded Marcelo Klein, Vale's Recovery and Development Director.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/environment-sustainability/08022021/vale-to-repair-environmental-and-social-damage/