Pollution at Minas Rio iron ore mine in Brazil
In the Minas Gerais state of Brazil, Minas Rio is a large-scale Anglo American project seeking to increase its output to 26.5 million tonnes of iron ore. However, indigenous communities, social movements and environmental organisations have vocally denounced the negative impacts of the operations on their livelihoods and the Mata Atlântica rainforest, as well as the eviction of families from their lands. Community consultation processes have, at times, been surrounded by police forces attempting to undermine the right of peaceful protest and participation.
In 2018, the 529km Minas Rio pipeline transporting processed ore for shipping to China ruptured twice, spilling about 1,000 metric tons of iron ore, polluting water sources and farmlands in Conceição do Mato Dentro and Alvorada´s municipalities. Death threats were reported against the communities that challenged the operation.
Curtis Mark (2018) “The rivers are bleeding” https://waronwant.org/sites/default/files/the-rivers-are-bleeding-updated.pdf
LMN (2018) “Death threats against critics of Anglo American’s Minas-Rio project in Brazil” https://londonminingnetwork.org/2018/05/death-threats-against-critics-of-anglo-americans-minas-rio-project-in-brazil/