UK High Court Finds BHP Liable for 2015 Mariana Dam Collapse

Overview

• Judge Finola O’Farrell ruled that BHP should not have continued raising the dam’s height, calling that a direct and immediate cause of the collapse under Brazilian law.
• BHP said it will appeal the ruling within the permitted window and argues the UK case duplicates reparations already arranged in Brazil.
• Compensation has not been set, with roughly 620,000 to 640,000 claimants seeking about £36 billion in the UK collective action.
• The court validated releases signed by people already compensated in Brazil, a finding expected to reduce the number and value of UK claims.
• Vale disclosed an expected additional provision of about US$500 million under a pact to share liabilities equally with BHP.