Mining companies in Brazil that operate 'upstream' tailings dams will have to completely decommission them by August 15, 2023, according to a new resolution issued by the country's mining agency ANM on Friday February 15.
The document, published in the Brazilian official gazette on Monday February 18, showed that 84 dams currently operate through the upstream method, or an 'unidentified' one, and all need to be disabled when the decommissioning begins on August 15, 2021.All miners are obligated to prepare technical projects on the decommissioning of upstream dams that should include fortifying the structures through downstream methods by August 15, 2019, ANM said. Dams will have to be reinforced until the same date in 2020, ANM added.Additionally, the authority forbid mining companies from building any structures that require constant human presence in the direct path...