BHP Billiton Samarco settlement suspended by Brazil court
BHP Billiton's plans to settle claims over the 2015 Samarco mine disaster suffered a blow on Friday when a Brazilian court reinstated a AUD$8bn public civil claim.
BHP Group Limited NPV (DI)
2,058.00p
17:00 13/11/24
0.00%
0.00p
FTSE 100
8,030.33
17:15 13/11/24
n/a
n/a
FTSE 350
4,434.70
17:14 13/11/24
n/a
n/a
FTSE All-Share
4,392.88
16:44 13/11/24
n/a
n/a
Mining
10,674.33
17:14 13/11/24
-0.14%
-15.10
BHP and joint-venture partner Vale agreed a $3bn settlement in March, however Brazil's Superior Court issued an interim order suspending the ratification and reinstated the public civil claim for clean-up costs and damages against Samarco, Vale and BHP.
"BHP Billiton Brasil intends to appeal the decision of the Superior Court of Justice," BHP said in a statement
A burst tailings dam at the mine on November 5 unleashed a mud flow that killed 19 people, left hundreds homeless and polluted a major river.