Brazil's federal police have accused three companies, including BHP Billiton joint venture Samarco and Vale, and seven executives of those firms of environmental crimes in connection with a deadly tailings dam breach last November. Vale, the world's largest iron ore exporter, co-owns Samarco in a 50:50 joint venture with BHP. However, Brazilian police have not accused the Australian mining giant of any crimes. In Brazil, only prosecutors can press formal charges and open a lawsuit, but the police accusations may be a sign charges are on the way. Samarco owns the Fundao tailings dam. The dam collapsed on November 5 last year, causing an avalanche of waste water that buried several hamlets in the south-eastern state of Minas Gerais, leaving 17 dead and two missing and contaminating a 650-kilometre stretch of the Doce River and a section of the Atlantic coast.
Vale, the world’s largest iron-ore exporter, co-owns Samarco in a 50-50 joint venture with BHP Billiton, but Brazilian police have not filed charges against the Anglo-Australian mining giantIn a statement, Samarco said: "Samarco does not agree with the indictment of its professionals as so far there is no technical expert conclusion about the causes of the incident"Samarco is the owner of the Fundao tailings dam that collapsed on November 5 last year, causing an avalanche of waste water that buried several hamlets in the south-eastern state of Minas Gerais, 17 dead and two missing with contamination over a 650km stretch of the Doce River and a section of the Atlantic coastline.