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Photo: Vale's Archive
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Photo: Vale's Archive

Our commitment is to increase the safety of the communities where we operate and protect the environment. 


With that in mind, in 2019 we started a program to eliminate all our dams in Brazil that have an upstream method (backed on tailings). 

The process is technically called “de-characterization” and is established in current dam legislation. 




 

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Upstream Dam De-Characterization Program in Brazil 



Vale's priority is the safety of people and communities downstream of its operations, as well as the safety of all its structures. In this regard, one Vale’s main initiatives is the Upstream Dam De-Characterization Program, which includes all 30 of our upstream dams, dikes, and drained stacks with upstream construction methods in Brazil. 

 


The de-characterization of upstream-built structures (over tailings or sediments) is a commitment Vale has undertaken since the collapse of the B1 dam in Brumadinho, Brazil, which has also become a legal requirement. 

This is a complex process; each project has its own characteristics and challenges, with our main concern being the safety of people and the environment. Vale plans to complete its de-characterization program by 2035. 

What is dam de-characterization?


It is the process that eliminates the dam's function of retaining tailings and water. It is a project that aims to increase the safety of communities, the environment and the company's employees. To help you understand more about how we are working to eliminate upstream dams, we have created a series of educational videos on the subject. 
 
What is an upstream dam and how is it de-characterized?
Downstream containment structures
Control and reduction of impacts on neighboring communities

Containment Structures 


Whenever necessary, Vale built containment structures for some upstream dams to be eliminated and that present a higher degree of risk.  

Containment structures are built to protect communities and the environment in areas close to the de-characterization works of the Sul Superior (Barão de Cocais); B3/B4 (Nova Lima); Forquilhas I, II, III and Grupo (Ouro Preto-Itabirito) dams; and the Minervino and Cordão Nova Vista (Itabira) dikes. 
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Schedule of the Upstream Dams De-characterization Program in Brazil

  
¹ Campo Grande: Due to the need to implement instruments, probings and complementary engineering studies, the completion date for Campo Grande changed from 2025 to 2026.
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Technology, innovation and safety

Unmanned equipment

Operation of vehicles remotely and outside the risk area, which increases employee safety.

Remote probing

Remote operation of a rig to investigate the tailings and obtain geotechnical data from the structures.

Tailing disposal

Use of unmanned earthwork equipment (remote operation), allowing the dismantling of elevations and removal of material by dredgers (under study).

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Monitoring

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Financial Resources for De-characterization of Upstream Dams 

As a result of the Brumadinho dam collapse and in compliance with Law 14,066, Vale decided to accelerate its plan to de-characterize all tailings dams built under the upstream method, certain structures called "centreline", and containment dikes located in Brazil.

As regularly disclosed in Vale’s Financial Statements since 2019, Vale disbursed $1.6 billion for the De-characterization Program ending on December 31,2023, with a $3.5 billion provision balance for disbursement flow of the program.

Technical Reports 

In compliance with the Term of Commitment for De-characterization signed with the main regulators and the Public Ministry, Vale provides monitoring reports on the execution of de-characterization works of its upstream dams (only in Portuguese): 

Frequently Asked Questions

De-characterization is the act of intervening in the structure with the objective of making it completely lose the characteristics of a dam. At the end of the works, the structure is completely stable and is reincorporated into the relief and the environment. 

Decomissioning, in turn, is the initial stage of the de-characterization process, beginning with the confirmation that the dam is no longer necessary in the operational context of the enterprise and, therefore, may be deactivated or de-characterized. 

The tailings will be disposed of in exhausted pits and in sterile material and tailings stacks
Vale has been adopting all the necessary measures to increase safety and minimize the risks arising from interventions related to the de-characterization process. In the case of de-characterization works for dams, for example, alternatives are studied, such as the use of unmanned equipment (tractors, excavators, trucks, among other types of equipment) operated remotely; helicopter and cargo cable car to access risk areas. The goal is to not place people in risk areas.
It is important to emphasize that the de-characterization project aims to make the structure completely lose the characteristics of a dam. That is, at the end of the works, the structures will be totally stable and reincorporated into the relief and the environment. In some cases, residual tailings may remain, which will not compromise the stability of the land where the dam used to be. 
Yes. We regularly share announcements about the status of the works and new actions that will be initiated and measures to mitigate and reduce impacts for people. Dams in works with evacuated communities also have a calendar of meetings and visits to the works, established with representatives of the communities and the Prosecution Office of Minas Gerais. 
The elimination of upstream dams (on tailings or sediments) is a commitment made by Vale since the Brumadinho collapse in 2019, in addition to being a legal obligation. The rupture caused a change in the company's dam management to ensure more safety for its structures and communities and the De-characterization Program is one of the main milestones of this management effort, with the aim of ensuring that nothing of the sort ever happens again. The first structure eliminated was the 8B dam (Mina Águas Claras, in Nova Lima-MG), in December 2019. 
It is important to increase the safety of communities living in the vicinity of these structures and our operations. By losing the function of retaining water, tailings or sediments, the structure no longer poses a risk of accidents such as the one that occurred in 2019 at the B1 dam of Mina Córrego do Feijão, in Brumadinho. 
The communities located in the ZAS will remain outside their homes until the end of the work. When there is no longer any risk of the dams breaking, people can return if they wish. 
The process to eliminate a dam is complex and any intervention can entail increased risks. As a result, the company has already carried out several preventive actions, including the removal of all residents from the Self-Rescue Zones (ZAS) and the construction of containment structures below dams that are at a higher alert level, with the aim of reducing socio-environmental impacts in case of emergency. The works are carried out gradually, with constant monitoring and evaluation of the results, in order to reduce risks. If necessary, the activities shall be immediately interrupted. 
As the works are treated as emergencies, the projects can begin immediately, as established by law, with subsequent environmental regularization. Documents related to environmental regularization and respective studies are delivered to the environmental agency. 
In some cases, this will be possible. But we emphasize that the future use of the areas is a process that will take place with the progress of the discussions between the company, society and the Government.
The de-characterization or elimination of an upstream facility is a complex process and can take a long time to be completed, in order to be carried out with due care for safety. Each project has its own characteristics and challenges, and the safety of people and the environment is assumptions for all of them. All actions are monitored and supported by external consultants, authorities and technical auditors from public authorities. 

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For more information about our dams, please visit our page here.
For information about our environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, access our Portal.