Environment
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We are a global company, that practices sustainable mining in the countries where we are present. We exist to improve life and transform the future. Together.
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Our Future
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Innovation is one of the main pillars for achieving our purpose. We use technology to redesign our ways of working. Learn how.
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Reparation
Reparation
We will never forget Brumadinho. We have learned from our history and we are committed to the full reparation of the communities and people impacted by the dam collapse, in accordance with the signed legal agreement.
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Our priority is to carry out actions aimed at recovering the area impacted by the collapse of Dam B1, in Brumadinho.
This page is being updated. Soon, you will have access to all the content about Vale's environmental reparation.
To this end, we remain committed to carrying out actions to monitor local biodiversity, such as water, soil and animals, in addition to carrying out activities aimed at the revegetation of affected areas.
Explore the studied area
Discover our areas of activity:
Biodiversity monitoring
Biodiversity monitoring
Biodiversity monitoring is carried out on a permanent basis by specialized companies.
Altogether, 35 points are studied for aquatic biodiversity and 20 areas for terrestrial biodiversity, which include unaffected regions, areas affected to a lesser extent and areas severely affected by tailings.
The fauna and flora in some marginal lakes and in the main tributaries of the Paraopeba River are also analyzed.
Aquatic biodiversity
Aquatic biodiversity
The study area ranges from the Small Hydroelectric Power Plant (PCH) of Salto do Paraopeba, in Jaceaba, to after the Três Marias Dam.
After studies by experts from government institutions, 35 points were selected for aquatic monitoring in affected and unaffected areas.
In the river, we monitor fish, aquatic insects and microscopic plant and animal organisms known as plankton. Fish from the Paraopeba river basin are also monitored during spawning, the period in which they reproduce.
In addition, we monitor the aquatic biota, that is, the set of aquatic living beings, from the Ferro-Carvão stream basin. Ten points were defined in the tributaries of the stream for monitoring fish and three streams in the Ferro-Carvão basin, in addition to other watercourses in nearby basins with similar hydrological characteristics for monitoring invertebrates.
Terrestrial biodiversity
Terrestrial biodiversity
In the forested areas, in the basin of the Ferro-Carvão stream and on the banks of the Paraopeba river, the teams analyze the cycle of nutrients in nature, the pollination of plants, the dispersion of native seeds and various species of animals present there.
The wild animals found in the areas of emergency works are captured and clinically evaluated. These animals are monitored by specialists who perform various procedures. Once rehabilitated, animals in good condition are reintegrated into their natural environment. Those who do not have the capacity for rehabilitation or release are referred to an institution capable of maintaining keeping their well-being.
More than 65 wild animals were carefully returned to nature and in compliance with appropriate technical and legal procedures.
Botanical Monitoring
Botanical Monitoring
Botanical studies are carried out to monitor, among other things, possible changes in vegetation structure and species diversity.
Recovery of plant species
Recovery of plant species
The affected vegetation is receiving a technique developed by researchers at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), capable of rescuing the DNA and creating copies of the plants in the region.
Trees that could take more than eight years to bloom should start this process between 6 and 12 months, which will help to accelerate the recovery of the region's biodiversity. Genetic material has already been collected from five pre-selected species, including endangered species such as Stephanopodium engleri, braúna (Melanoxylon brauna) and caviúna (Dalbergia nigra) and protected by law, such as the yellow ipê (Handroanthus serratifolius).
In December 2020, Vale completed the first stage of the Marco Zero project, which involved forest restoration work such as: seed collection, seedling production, acclimatization and planting in the areas to be recovered at the mouth of the Ferro-Carvão stream. At the end of the restoration work, the Marco Zero area will have around 4,000 seedlings of tree species native to the region.
Fotógrafo: Ricardo Teles
Paraopeba river water quality
The restoration of the Paraopeba River is one of the main commitments of our environmental reparation work.
Discover all the monitoring points that exist today
How is monitoring done?
What are the results obtained so far?
- Since May 2019, the Paraopeba River has not received tailings loading;
- The tailings did not reach the São Francisco River. The impacts on water quality were identified up to the limit with the Retiro Baixo Hydroelectric Power Plant, in Pompéu (MG);
- No impacts were detected on the waters of the Três Marias Hydroelectric Power Plant reservoir, as demonstrated in studies by environmental agencies;
- The turbidity levels and the total metals, Manganese, Iron and Aluminum, are progressively reducing during the dry period, and statistical trend tests prove an improvement in the water quality of the affected regions.
Metal concentration
Since January 2019, a complete list of metals has been analyzed in water and sediment samples from the Paraopeba River, main tributaries and also in points in the reservoirs of the Retiro Baixo and Três Marias Hydroelectric Power Plants.
The presence of metals in water can also be associated with the dissolution of compost from the soil, and the contents of these metals are directly related to the geological composition of the places where water bodies are inserted or discharge of industrial effluents and other human activities.
How to interpret maps
To verify the quality condition of the Paraopeba river stretches, a comparison is made of the monthly maximum result of each parameter with the maximum of the seasonal periods obtained before the disruption by Igam monitoring.
The result of this comparison with the pre-disruption period (called baseline) is graphically represented by colors, ranging from the best result (blue) to the worst (red), as follows:
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Dissolved iron
Total manganese
In the monitoring carried out by Vale, significant results of these metals were identified in stretches more impacted by the input of tailings, with attenuation as we move away from the region where the Ferro-Carvão stream meets the Paraopeba river. The contents of manganese and iron, in total form, show an increase in the rainy season and a reduction in the dry season, and the current condition indicates that the water quality is in a transition phase, with a progressive reduction in concentrations.
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Dissolved aluminum
The analysis of aluminum metal has shown significant concentration levels, which may be associated with the tailings. However, specifically in the stretch of the Paraopeba River after the municipality of Maravilhas, it is observed that natural geological factors influence the increase in the concentration of this element.
Trace metals
However, for these elements, which are also present in the tailings, the data analyzed currently show that the levels in the Paraopeba River are similar or even lower than those recorded in public databases for the pre-rupture period.
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Turbidity
Turbidity is a basic parameter for assessing water quality, easily influenced by rainfall and related to the transparency and quantity of suspended particles
The presence of suspended solid materials such as clay, organic and inorganic matter, microscopic organisms and algae cause water turbidity.
The origins of these materials can be diverse:
- River bottom sediments;
- Soils on the banks and in areas with suppression of vegetation;
- Mining;
- Sand removal or clay exploration;
- Industrial waste;
- Domestic sewage.
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Understand the difference in water behaviour in the rainy x dry season
Climatic aspects have a relevant influence on water quality. During rainy periods, the water tends to become more turbid, mainly due to the carrying of materials from the banks and the resuspension of sediments from the bottom of the river. On the other hand, in periods of drought (drought), the rivers present reduced flow, low flow velocity and less resuspension of sediments, resulting in better measurements of some parameters.
Regarding the Paraopeba River, we can say that, in periods of drought, the water quality approaches the conditions prior to the break.
The joint analysis of the dissolved aluminum, dissolved iron and total manganese parameters shows that there is a progressive reduction in the concentration of these parameters, indicating recovery close to the conditions of a class 2 river in periods of drought.
During the rainy season, the water quality worsens, as has happened in the past. The increase in the concentration of some of these parameters such as aluminum, iron, manganese and turbidity may be related to the suspension of the material deposited on the riverbed and the new contributions caused by natural soil materials in the region, or due to other activities historically carried out in the region.
The evaluation of the water quality of the Paraopeba River and its tributaries continues to show results that indicate the reduction of several physicochemical parameters, regardless of the influence of climatic factors.
Monitoring in numbers
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About 90 monitoring points.
14 telemetric stations installed for continuous monitoring.
6.5 million results from water, soil and sediment.
More than 53,000 samples collected.
About 250 professionals involved in this process.
Photographer: Ricardo Teles
Water supply
After the collapse of Dam B1, in Brumadinho, the use of water from the Paraopeba River was interrupted and Vale assumed a commitment, together with the competent public bodies, to ensure the water supply of all affected municipalities.
So far, Vale has provided a flow rate of:
204,060,040
Volume of mineral water supplied to communities
19,306,838
Volume of water made available by drilled wells
2,384,773,800
In a total of:
3,586,476,649
Photographer: Vale's Archive
Discover the actions being carried out
Do you want more information about the public supply schedule via water trucks?
The data obtained from the monitoring works is periodically delivered to inspection agencies and to the Public Presecution Office of Minas Gerais.
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Learn about some of our initiatives aimed at improving the well-being and quality of life of the communities impacted by the collapse of Dam I, in Brumadinho.
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