Nineteen additional Brazilian municipalities have joined the compensation agreement tied to the 2015 Brumadinho dam collapse, raising the total number of participating cities to 45 out of 49 eligible jurisdictions. The agreement, which includes Vale and BHP Group as responsible parties through their joint venture Samarco, establishes a 170 billion reais ($32.74 billion) package for reparations and compensation.
The expanded participation follows the October 2024 ratification of the deal, which allocates 6 billion reais specifically for affected cities. As of March 2025, only 26 municipalities had joined, underscoring the gradual consolidation of support. The four remaining holdouts—Ouro Preto, Governador Valadares, Resplendor (all in Minas Gerais), and Colatina (Espírito Santo)—continue to withhold participation.
Mariana, the disaster’s epicenter, confirmed its inclusion after London’s High Court ruled in November that BHP bears responsibility under Brazilian law. The court’s decision reinforced the legal framework for the agreement, though a further trial in April 2027 will address potential damages claims in the London lawsuit. Mariana’s mayor, Juliano Duarte, described the development as a "historic victory," while noting ongoing support for individuals and companies still pursuing claims in the UK legal process.
