Landmark Ruling Finds BHP Guilty of Dam Collapse, Paving Way for Multibillion-Dollar Payout
A high court in London has ruled that global mining giant BHP Group is liable for the devastating 2015 collapse of a Brazilian dam. The ruling, which could lead to a multibillion-dollar payout, found that the Australian-based company had a responsibility for the disaster despite not owning the dam at the time.
The collapse of the Fundão dam in Mariana, Brazil, released massive amounts of toxic waste into the Doce River, killing 19 people and causing widespread environmental damage. The disaster was described as one of Brazil's worst environmental disasters, with tonnes of sludge destroying a village and badly damaging nearby towns.
According to the ruling, BHP had been aware of the risks associated with the dam's design and construction, including obvious signs of contractive, saturated tailings and numerous incidents of seepage and cracking. The court found that these warning signs could have been addressed to prevent the disaster.
The landmark ruling brings a step closer to securing compensation for 600,000 Brazilians affected by the disaster, with damages yet to be determined in a second phase of the trial. BHP has stated its intention to appeal against the decision and will continue to defend itself against the UK group action.
The ruling is significant, as it addresses only the legal liability for the disaster. The Australian company owns 50% of Samarco, the Brazilian mining company responsible for the iron ore mine where the tailings dam ruptured. The trial was filed in Britain because one of BHP's main legal entities was based there at the time.
The ruling follows a multibillion-dollar settlement reached by Brazil's federal government with other mining companies involved in the disaster. Samarco agreed to pay 132 billion reais (£19bn) over 20 years, while BHP had previously stated that the UK legal action was unnecessary and duplicated matters already covered by Brazilian proceedings.
The disaster had a profound impact on the local community, with the Krenak Indigenous people revering the Doce River as a deity. The river has yet to recover from the damage caused by the collapse, highlighting the devastating consequences of environmental disasters like this one.
A high court in London has ruled that global mining giant BHP Group is liable for the devastating 2015 collapse of a Brazilian dam. The ruling, which could lead to a multibillion-dollar payout, found that the Australian-based company had a responsibility for the disaster despite not owning the dam at the time.
The collapse of the Fundão dam in Mariana, Brazil, released massive amounts of toxic waste into the Doce River, killing 19 people and causing widespread environmental damage. The disaster was described as one of Brazil's worst environmental disasters, with tonnes of sludge destroying a village and badly damaging nearby towns.
According to the ruling, BHP had been aware of the risks associated with the dam's design and construction, including obvious signs of contractive, saturated tailings and numerous incidents of seepage and cracking. The court found that these warning signs could have been addressed to prevent the disaster.
The landmark ruling brings a step closer to securing compensation for 600,000 Brazilians affected by the disaster, with damages yet to be determined in a second phase of the trial. BHP has stated its intention to appeal against the decision and will continue to defend itself against the UK group action.
The ruling is significant, as it addresses only the legal liability for the disaster. The Australian company owns 50% of Samarco, the Brazilian mining company responsible for the iron ore mine where the tailings dam ruptured. The trial was filed in Britain because one of BHP's main legal entities was based there at the time.
The ruling follows a multibillion-dollar settlement reached by Brazil's federal government with other mining companies involved in the disaster. Samarco agreed to pay 132 billion reais (£19bn) over 20 years, while BHP had previously stated that the UK legal action was unnecessary and duplicated matters already covered by Brazilian proceedings.
The disaster had a profound impact on the local community, with the Krenak Indigenous people revering the Doce River as a deity. The river has yet to recover from the damage caused by the collapse, highlighting the devastating consequences of environmental disasters like this one.
I gotta say, BHP is literally getting roasted over this 
! They knew about all these warning signs and still didn't do anything about it. 600,000 people affected, 19 dead... it's just crazy that they're trying to appeal against the decision 
. And what really gets me is how Samarco got away with paying a fraction of the damage compared to BHP 
. It's like, one company does something wrong and everyone else gets to walk away scot-free 
. I hope they're forced to pay out big time 
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. The fact that they own 50% of Samarco and knew about the risks is just not okay. It's like they were playing a game of corporate roulette and got caught 
. The Krenak Indigenous people are still struggling to recover from this tragedy, and it's our responsibility as a global community to make sure this never happens again 
.
It's a massive payout coming our way, and while it's good that the 600k Brazilians affected are finally getting some sort of compensation, it's heartbreaking to think about the destruction caused and the river still recovering from the disaster 
... but on a positive note, this ruling is a step towards holding them accountable, so fingers crossed it sets a precedent for future environmental disasters 
I mean its pretty obvious they knew somethin was wrong with that dam and didnt do enuf to prevent it 
. 600k people affected is no joke, poor Brazilians 
. This ruling might lead to billions in damages, but its still not enough imo 
. It's not just about BHP owning Samarco, they had a responsibility to address these warning signs, despite not owning the dam at the time 
.
. We need to hold them accountable for their actions and ensure that they take responsibility for the harm they cause 
! Did you know that the Fundão dam disaster released 40 million liters of toxic waste into the environment? 
. I mean, 600,000 Brazilians are affected... that's like a whole country-sized population 
. According to a report, Samarco paid $19 billion over 20 years... but that's still not enough 
I just read about the latest news and I'm shocked that BHP is being held accountable for the devastating dam collapse in Brazil. Like, why wasn't they more careful with the design and construction of the dam? They knew all these warning signs were there... 
. The river's still polluted, the village was destroyed... it's like they're trying to make a profit off people's suffering 
what's wild is that they knew about the design issues but did nothing about it 
it's like they were just sitting on a ticking time bomb, waiting for disaster 
and now they're trying to appeal the decision but i think justice will prevail 
600k brazilians are gonna get some serious compensation from these guys 
And now they're gonna get some money from BHP, but is that really enough? 
.