Justice bans yet another mining company in Serra do Curral (MG) – 03/20/2024 – Environment

The first instance court in Minas Gerais ordered this Wednesday (20) the interruption of the activities of the mining company Fleurs Global Mineração in the Serra do Curral region, Belo Horizonte’s postcard, and which has part of its area under environmental protection.

The decision was taken as part of a lawsuit filed by the MPMG (Public Ministry of Minas Gerais) which questions the licensing obtained by the company to explore iron ore in the area.

Fleurs is already being investigated by the Federal Police, for the same reason, and by the MPF (Federal Public Ministry) for illegal extraction of mineral resources in the region. The report sought out the company to comment on the court decision, but there was no response until publication.

Due to deforestation identified as illegal for the exploration of iron ore, the Public Ministry requested in the action the blocking of R$30 million in the company’s accounts, which was granted.

As it is of first instance, the decision, taken by the 2nd Civil Court of the District of Nova Lima, a municipality neighboring Belo Horizonte, can be appealed. The Serra do Curral area covers three municipalities, Belo Horizonte, Sabará and Nova Lima. Another mining company, Thames, was also prevented from operating in the region.

In the action, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requests the suspension of Fleurs’ activities as it assesses that the company did not complete the necessary steps to receive operating authorization from state bodies, which would be the obtaining of three licenses: preliminary, installation and operating. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, this did not happen — the Federal Police investigation indicates the same.

“See that the company is a repeat offender of environmental crimes, mainly due to the various administrative fines suffered throughout its operation”, states judge Maria Juliana Albergaria Costa in the decision.

Serra do Curral has its north face facing Belo Horizonte, in the extreme south of the capital. This part has already undergone municipal conservation. In the region is, for example, Parque das Mangabeiras, one of the largest in the municipality. Other parts of the mountain, however, are not protected and are home to areas that belong to mining companies.

In November last year, the TJMG (Court of Justice of Minas Gerais) held a public hearing to discuss the listing of the part of the mountain that is not yet under protection.

Now, it is up to Iepha (Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage of Minas Gerais) to complete the listing studies and vote by the institute’s council so that the mountain can be fully protected.