Vale creates role of safety czar after two deadly dam collapses
SAO PAULO – Brazilian mining giant Vale said on Wednesday it had created the new role of executive director for safety and operational excellence, following a dam burst in January that killed hundreds, its second such disaster in three years.
The world's largest iron ore miner said it had recruited Carlos Medeiros for the role, a Brazilian executive who led the North and Central American operations of Ball Corporation, which makes aluminum cans.
Vale has faced increased scrutiny from regulators, prosecutors and investors in the wake of the January disaster, which took place in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, the center of mining production in Latin America's largest economy. The previous dam disaster, which took place in 2015, also happened in the same state.
Separately, the miner said on Wednesday it had determined that a third dam, also located in Minas Gerais, was less likely to collapse after safety measures were implemented. In a statement, Vale reduced the dam's "alert level" from 2 to 1.
Production near the dam, known as Vargem Grande, had already been suspended in the wake of January's disaster and 51 people had been relocated, Vale said. The miner said it would schedule a meeting with those who had been relocated to evaluate a potential return to their homes.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
Sika South Africa is a trusted partner for the nation’s infrastructure, commercial, residential, and industrial sectors.
VISIT SHOWROOM
Multotec, recognised industry leaders in metallurgy and process engineering help mining houses across the world process minerals more efficiently,...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
