Tanca

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

Management and Performance 

 

Since the dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil, Vale has embarked on a journey to develop innovative solutions in the market, with the aim of reducing risks in the management and monitoring of its dams. Our risk management model adopts a conservative approach to Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) safety, with robust governance and multilayered protection and supervision, enhancing our ability to prevent accidents. As a result, external and independent companies periodically conduct reviews to update the physical and hydraulic safety conditions of the dams. These reviews comply with legal requirements outlined in Brazilian standards and agreements signed with official bodies such as the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP).

Download the Vale Tailings Dams Manual to stay informed about Vale's dam management and performance key concepts.

Evolution in Dam and Tailings Management

Governance for Dam and Tailings Management

 

Executive Compensation 

• 30% to 70% of short-term variable compensation linked to Safety, Operational Safety, Sustainability, and DEI goals. 

• Safety, Geotechnics, and Compliance area does NOT have goals linked to production or financial metrics


 

Dam Monitoring 

Our Dam and Tailings Management 


Tailings and Dams Management System: 

The Tailings and Dams Management System (TDMS) establishes the guidelines for managing the safety of Vale's dams and tailings storage structures. The TDMS is aligned with the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management (GISTM) and adopts the most advanced international guidelines as a reference. Through the pillars of People, Routine, Performance and Risk Management, the TDMS defines roles and responsibilities and establishes standards and requirements that translate Vale's Values, Ambitions and Principle for managing the safety of Dams and EARs.

Hazard Identification and Risk Analysis: 

The Hazard Identification and Risk Analysis (HIRA) process is defined through a risk identification and improvement methodology aimed at events classified as Material Unwanted Events (MUEs), which are high-consequence incidents that require the highest level of attention. HIRA assists in identifying priority risks in the company and implementing critical controls that can prevent an MUE from occurring in the first place or minimize the consequences if an MUE occurs and also in the definition of actions with determined and feasible deadlines, for identified vulnerabilities, opportunities for improvement, studies to improve the understanding of a risk, treatments and reduction of risk priority, among others. The identified risks are recorded and managed in Vale's risk management system (Bwise).

      

External Reviews: 

Vale requires periodic reviews of the physical and hydraulic safety conditions of dams, conducted by external and independent companies. These reviews comply with Brazilian legal requirements and commitments established with Brazilian authorities such as the Public Prosecutor's Office and the National Mining Agency.  

Main reviews include: 

• Regular Safety Inspection Report, with the issuance of a Declaration of Stability Condition in compliance with legal requirements 

Engineer of Record (EoR) is the external professional assigned to monitor the structure, analyze monitoring and inspection data, and issue periodic reports;  

Periodic Dam Safety Review (RPSB), with the issuance of a Declaration of Condition of Stability (DCE). The periodicity is defined according to the classification of the dam, in accordance with legal requirements.” 

• Independent Audit in response to the demand of the Public Prosecutor 
 

For more information on how Vale manages its dams and tailings, please refer to the Vale Tailings Dams Manual.  

Photo: Vale's Archive

Dam Monitoring 

 

Emergency Level:  

In aligment with Vale’s public commitment to having no dams ins Brazil at level 3 of emergency by 2025, Vale has intensified its preventive, corrective, and monitoring actions on its structures. This has resulted in a substancial reduction in the number of tailings storage structures at the emergency level since 2020.

Currently, the 16 structures that are at emergency level are:

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
5, Mutuca,6, 7A, B, B3/B4, Campo Grande,
Dicao Leste, Doutor, Maravilhas II, Norte/Laranjeiras,
Peneirinha, Pontal, Vargem Grande.
3/B4, Dique de Pedra, Forquilha I,
Forquilha II, Grupo, Xingu.
Forquilha III, Sul Superior

EoR Lighthouse

In January 2020, Vale established the role of Engineer of Record (EoR) as an additional review step to strengthen the governance of its tailings management system. Below is the lighthouse that the EoR assigns to each dam and TSF, updated on 11/22/2024:
 
Legends
Learn more about the legends
Satisfactory
Satisfactory with restrictions and no compromising safety
Unsatisfactory with possible security compromise
Unsatisfactory with increased risk
** Dique interno do Sistema Pontal

Want to Know More?


In Brazil, information on mining dams can be found in the Integrated Mining Dam Management System (SIGBM), provided by National Mining Agency.

Vale also provides the Mine Tailings Disclosure Table according to the criteria of the Church of England, for download: Disclosure table of TSFs aug/2023 (operated by Vale).

Technical Reports 


In compliance with article 14 of Law 23,291/19, which instituted the dam safety policy in the state of Minas Gerais, Vale provides the following information and technical reports with respect to its dams:   

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For more information about our dams, please access the page Dams.
For information about our environmental, social and governance performance, access our ESG Portal.