The B3/B4 dam, located at the Mar Azul mine in Nova Lima (MG), had its emergency level reduced from 2 to 1 by the National Mining Agency this Monday night (9/10). The progress of the de-characterization process, with the removal of approximately 85% of the reservoir's contents, led to an improvement in the dam's stability conditions and made it possible to reduce the emergency level, as required by current legislation.

Despite the improvement in the dam's stability conditions, in a joint decision with the Municipal and State Civil Defense, and in compliance with the regulations of the National Mining Agency (ANM), the structure's self-rescue zone (ZAS), now at Emergency Level 1, must remain evacuated as a preventive and safety measure. As such, there will be no return of families or release of access at this time.

The B3/B4 dam is one of 18 upstream dams still to be eliminated by Vale and is part of the company's de-characterization program. As of 2019, 12 of the 30 planned structures have already been eliminated (nine in Minas Gerais and three in Pará), representing 40% of the total. The Company expects to complete the elimination of the 13th structure this month.

Click here to read the full press release (available only in Portuguese).