With the completion of the work at the Campo Grande dam, in Mariana (MG), the company reaches 63% progress in its Decharacterization Program.

In December, Vale completed the decharacterization of the Campo Grande Dam, located at the Alegria Mine in Mariana (MG). This is the 19th project finalized by Vale, bringing the program’s execution to 63%.

During the works, the upstream elevation of the dam was removed, the structure was reconfigured, reinforcements were built, waterproofing was applied, and adjustments were made to the drainage system. All documentation and technical evidence of the decharacterization will be submitted for final validation by the competent authorities, and the structure will remain monitored for at least two years, as required by current legislation.

                                                      The Campo Grande dam in Mariana is the 19th to have its decharacterization completed by Vale.
                                                                                                              Credit: VideoDelivery
 

“The conclusion of the Campo Grande dam decharacterization shows how innovation and engineering can work together to accelerate safe and sustainable solutions. We have reached 63% progress in our Decharacterization Program, reinforcing our commitment to community safety and environmental preservation”, highlighted Rafael Bittar, Vale’s Executive Vice President of Technical Operations.

Decharacterization Program
Campo Grande is the first upstream dam in the Mariana Complex to have its decharacterization completed. Two others are in progress: Doutor and Xingu.

Of the 19 structures eliminated under the program, 16 are in Minas Gerais and 3 in Pará. The program foresees the elimination of 30 structures in total and has already received investments of R$ 12.7 billion.

In September this year, the company completed the works at the Grupo dam, at the Fábrica Mine in Ouro Preto. Another important milestone in 2025 was the reduction of the emergency level of the Forquilha III dam, also at the Fábrica Mine, from level 3 to level 2. With this, Vale no longer has any structure at the maximum emergency level.

Other significant advances in 2025 included the removal of emergency levels at the Doutor dam in Ouro Preto and the Dicão Leste dam in Catas Altas, as well as the reduction from level 2 to level 1 at the Xingu dam in Mariana, which also began its decharacterization works this year.

All of Vale’s upstream dams in Brazil are inactive and permanently monitored by the Geotechnical Monitoring Center (CMG), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.