BHP and Vale Minariers presented a plan 4 1.4 billion Complete an important judicial process against them in UK justice. The move, which has been affected by the devastation of the Fando Dam in Mariana (MG) in 2015, is one of the largest joint demands in the history of British law.
What is in danger
The proposed plan allocates $ 800 million to pay compensation from victims And $ 600 million to cover legal costs The process. During a meeting in New York, the controversy was regulated with representatives of the British Law Institute in charge of the Bogast Goodhead and the US Correctional Fund.
Victim, is currently estimated 640 thousand people – residents, fishermen, farmers, tribal communities and infected municipalities – achieved compensation 36 billion pounds. The amount paid refers to a significant negotiation effort that faces the initial demand.
Complex environment
Case in English Courts since 2022. The jurisdiction was initially rejected for reasons, reopened after the appeals, and the test began on October 2024. The first phase of the first phase of the trial ended in March 2025, with the expectation of the decision on the responsibility-and the verdict of the damage October 2026.
It is worth noting that in 2024, a contract was signed in Brazil between mining companies, federal government and Minas Zeroys and Esprido Santo. US $ 30 billionIt is aimed at repairing social and environmental impacts and compensation to victims in the country. However, this internal negotiation does not end this process in the UK, which is independent and requires the approval of the victims.
Controversy between parts
The US $ 1.4 billion proposal faces opposition from the law of the victims, which considers that it is not sufficient to face human, economic and environmental losses. The Bogast Goodhead office, the PHP and the Vale have said that the values are reduced – and the way to ensure reasonable repairs, despite the existing amount already in Brazil.
In addition, a parallel controversy gained strength: the British Office filed a lawsuit against the BHP and Vale in support of the victims 3 1.3 billion (approximately $ 1.7 billion) In the unpaid lawyer's fee, contracts may be misrepresenting the amount due to their customers. The claim is that the victims were encouraged to accept unfavorable rules and that legal expenses were eventually underestimated or retained.
BHP and Vale responded that the controversy should be resolved by rejecting the complaints and the appropriate legal copies. They emphasized that they consider themselves the most effective way to repair the Brazilian agreement and that they continue to cooperate with the ongoing processes.
Possible impacts and improvements
If the judiciary is accepted by the victim and recognized, the US $ 1.4 billion contract will stop this process in the UK – however in internal measures or new measures (such as the Netherlands). The value refers to a milestone because to date, no international compensation has reached a similar amount for the Brazilian environmental disaster.
On the other hand, if the process progresses, the value is expected to increase significantly, especially if the court decides for moral, environmental, economic and structural damage to mining companies. The Brazilian Agreement has already included most of the impacts and that in foreign courts, discussing the same issue affects national sovereignty.
The expectation of justice and responsibility
On their side – especially women who lost children in disaster – emotional crying for justice. For many, a favorable decision in the UK has the identity of multinational corporations that work with global gears. For the upcoming months, the judgment of responsibility is awaiting before January 2026, which will encourage or confirm the need to follow in the court.
The effect will be decisive. A sentence may promote re -negotiations in Brazil and create pioneers for global environmental conflicts. A contract may end one of the most complex legal conflicts, including social and environmental disasters, but leaves the adequate problem of open repairs.
