Mosaic suspends phosphate mines in Brazil after new dam rules, Reuters report

Mining regulations in Brazil have been affected by a dam disaster in January, involving miner Vale SA, that killed hundreds, prompting new rules to try to avoid more accidents. Brazil has dozens of tailings dams, which hold back byproducts created during the extraction of mineral resources.

To meet demand, Mosaic has said it will import products from its phosphate site in Tampa, Florida, and also product from its operations in Peru to meet demand from Brazilian clients.

Mosaic said it filed a request for an extension of a deadline to present a stability report for three of its dams, ‘to allow expert consultants to finalise additional recommended studies and geotechnical analysis’.

Brazil's National Mining Agency did not approve the extension, said Mosaic, which led the company to stop using the dams that were part of the Tapira and Catalão production complexes.

How long the dams' suspension will last is still unclear.

One industry source told Reuters he does not see a large impact from the mines idling on the flow of fertilizers in Brazil or to agricultural costs, since there is enough phosphate production in Tampa and in other sites abroad. He did not want to be named.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/environment-sustainability/15042019/mosaic-suspends-phosphate-mines-in-brazil-after-new-dam-rules-reuters-report/