Vale halts raising dam-removes staff at Itabara mine

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https://g1.globo.com/mg/minas-gerai...retira-trabalhadores-de-mina-em-itabira.ghtml

Vale paralyzes construction work and removes workers from Itabira mine
Second mining, preventive measure was taken after changes in the terrain.
By G1 MInas - Belo Horizonte

7/28/2019 8:45 AM Updated 22 minutes ago

The works for raising the Itabiruçu dam in Itabira, in the Central Region of Minas Gerais, were halted by Vale on Saturday afternoon (27).  According to the mining company, there was identification of alteration resulting from land settlements.  Therefore, the project designer, as a preventive safety measure, recommended the stoppage.
On the morning of Sunday (28), Vale informed that these changes can happen during this type of work.  The mining company also says that the Itabiruçu dam is built by the downstream method, considered to be safer.  In Mariana and Brumadinho, the dams that collapsed were the so-called upstream elevation method, which allows the initial dam to be extended upward when the dam becomes full.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Flávio Godinho, coordinator of the Civil Defense of Minas Gerais, the agency was notified around 10 pm on Saturday.  He also said that there was no change in the dam's safety level and that the Civil Defense will not have direct actions at the site.
The Declaration of Condition of Stability (DCE) was renewed on March 30, according to the mining company and the Civil Defense.

Justice
In April, the court ruled that Vale would verify the regularity and safety of the dams in the Conceição and Mina do Meio complexes in Itabira.  The decision included the Conceição, Itabiruçu and Rio do Peixe dams in the Conceição complex;  and Cambucal I and II and Três Fontes, in the Mina do Meio Complex.  The request was made by the prosecutor.
See the full note of Vale:
'' Vale paralyzed, early on Saturday afternoon (28/7), the work of raising the Itabiruçu dam in Itabira (MG), following the direction of the project's designer. The recommendation, a precautionary safety measure, was given.  after the identification of alterations resulting from differential settlements on the ground, effects that may occur during this type of work, which has been reported to the competent bodies, which have already surveyed the works. Further studies are being conducted and, if necessary, measures  corrective measures will be taken.

Fear for the end of exploration in Itabira
Vale's birthplace Itabira races against the clock to find alternatives that lessen the impact of Vale's end of iron ore mining.  According to the 20F report, intended for the international market and published by the company in 2017, it is expected that the Conceição 1 and 2 mines will be exhausted in ten years.  At the end of 2018, the G1 showed that Itabira mining accounted for just over 9% of Vale's total production.  There are about 43 million tons per year.  At the time, the mining company informed that it did not intend to leave Itabira, but was preparing to change its business.  The idea is that the mills will be used to benefit the ore of every quadrilateral iron in Minas Gerais.