Impacts of iron ore mining in Conceicao do Mato Dentro/MG, Brazil

Last update:
2019-02-11

Impacts of iron ore mining in Conceicao do Mato Dentro/MG, Brazil

Description:

The Minas-Rio Project is a big business owned by Anglo Ferrous, a subsisidiart of Anglo American (this project originally belonged to MMX) that provides for the installation of a mine to extract iron ore in Conceicao do Mato Dentro, Minas Gerais, a pipeline of 523 km, which will go through 32 counties to deliver the ore in São Joao da Barra in Rio de Janeiro. In São Joao da Barra the construction of a private port complex is planned (under the responsibility of the company LLX) which will distribute part of the ore to steel mills to be installed inside the complex and another part is exported through ships to Europe, United States and China.

Basic Data

Name of conflict:	Impacts of iron ore mining in Conceicao do Mato Dentro/MG, Brazil
Country:	Brazil
State or province:	Minas Gerais
Location of conflict:	Conceicao do Mato Dentro e Alvorada de Minas
Accuracy of location	MEDIUM (Regional level)

Source of Conflict

Type of conflict. 1st level:	Mineral Ores and Building Materials Extraction
Type of conflict. 2nd level:	Tailings from mines Mineral ore exploration Mineral processing
Specific commodities:	Electricity Iron ore

Project Details and Actors

Project details	It is planned to produce 26.5 million tons of iron ore during 40 years. See more The Minas-Rio Project includes the construction of a pipeline of 523 km, which will go through 32 counties and will make the transport of ores to the Porto do Acu, in the municipality of Sao Joao da Barra, Rio de Janeiro. The pipeline should consume 2,500 cubic meters of water per hour of Rio do Peixe, equivalent to 9% of its historic flow in dry periods. A dam of 5 km in diameter will be built to receive 25 million tons of waste. (See less)
Level of Investment:	8000000000
Type of population	Rural
Start of the conflict:	2008
Company names or state enterprises:	Anglo American from United Kingdom
Relevant government actors:	Instituto Estadual de Florestas IEF);, Secretaria do Estado de Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento (SEMAD);, Instituto Mineiro de Gestao das Aguas (IGAM);, Fundacao Estadual do Meio Ambiente (FEAM);, Instituto Estadual do Patrimonio Historico e Artistico (IEPHA);, Instituto do Patrimonio Historico e Artistico Nacional (IPHAN);, Ministerio Publico Federal (MPF);, Ministerio Publico Estadual de Minas Gerais (MPE/MG); Defensoria Publica de Minas Gerais (DPMG);, Prefeitura Municipal de Conceicao do Mato Dentro
Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available:	Comissao Pastoral da Terra (CPT);, Movimento Pelas Serras e Aguas de Minas

Conflict & Mobilization

Intensity	MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization)
Reaction stage	PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase)
Groups mobilizing:	Farmers Indigenous groups or traditional communities Local ejos Neighbours/citizens/communities Ethnically/racially discriminated groups Local scientists/professionals Quilombolas
Forms of mobilization:	Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Objections to the EIA Public campaigns Appeals/recourse to economic valuation of the environment

Impacts

Environmental Impacts	Visible: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Noise pollution, Soil erosion, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality Potential: Food insecurity (crop damage), Global warming, Soil contamination, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Mine tailing spills
Health Impacts	Potential: Accidents, Occupational disease and accidents, Infectious diseases
Socio-economical Impacts	Visible: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement, Increase in violence and crime, Social problems (alcoholism, prostitution, etc..), Violations of human rights, Land dispossession Potential: Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Militarization and increased police presence, Loss of landscape/sense of place

Outcome

Project Status	Under construction
Conflict outcome / response:	Compensation Corruption Court decision (victory for environmental justice) Court decision (failure for environmental justice) Migration/displacement
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:	No
Briefly explain:	The project continues to generate the impacts reported.

Sources & Materials

References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries

MAPA DE CONFLITOS ENVOLVENDO INJUSTICA AMBIENTAL E SAUDE NO BRASIL. Mineraco e transposicao de aguas para grande empresa e licenciada de forma irregular pelos governos estadual e federal, condenando uma das areas com patrimonio natural e cultural mais sig
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FURBINO, Zulmira. Disputa entre mineradoras e preservacao deixa cidade em pe de guerra. O Estado de Minas, 28 mar. 2010. Disponivel em: Acesso em: 14 mar. 2013.
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Mineradora descumpre acordo com Ministerio Publico em Conceicao do Mato Dentro. O Estado de Minas, 01 abr. 2012. Disponivel em: Acesso em: 14 mar. 2013.
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Anglo-American website
[click to view]

BRASIL, Claudia. Beneficios e prejuizos para os municipios que dependem da exploracao. Radio Camara, 06 fev. 2012. Disponivel em: Acesso em: 14 mar. 2013.
[click to view]

UCHOAS, Leandro. Do outro lado do mineroduto. Brasil de Fato, 26 jan. 2012. Disponivel em: Acesso em: 14 mar. 2013.
[click to view]

Meta information

Contributor:	Diogo Rocha
Last update	18/08/2019

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