Vale added as co-defendants in the Mariana dam disaster case

Vale is to become a co-defendant alongside BHP in the Mariana Dam disaster case, which is coming to trial in October 2024.

Around 720,000 Brazilians are suing the world's biggest miner by market value BHP, over the 2015 collapse of the Fundao Dam owned by the Samarco joint venture it operates with Brazilian iron ore producer Vale.

The judgement means that Vale will now have to jointly defend themselves from the allegations alongside BHP.

Representing 720,000 victims of the Mariana dam disaster in their claim through the UK courts, Tom Goodhead CEO and Global Managing partner of Pogust Goodhead, said, ‘The claimants are pleased to hear that Vale has been joined to the proceedings in England, as a result of the claim which has been brought by BHP, that Vale should pay 50% or more of the bill in relationship to the damages arising from the collapse of the Mariana dam.

‘BHP has previously told the court in London that the inclusion of Vale in the process would mean a settlement would be more likely and we hold them to their word. It’s time for BHP and Vale to both do the right thing and to engage with the claimants in this case in order to affect an effective resolution of an issue which has taken nearly eight years to resolve.’