Six companies become defendants per share in Serra do Curral (MG) – 03/28/2023 – Environment

Six companies became defendants in the Federal Court in Minas Gerais for illegal extraction of mineral resources in Serra do Curral, a postcard in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte and an area that belongs to the Union. In addition to condemning those involved, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office’s complaint, which was accepted by the Court, asks for a minimum amount of R$ 50.7 million to repair the damage caused.

They are the companies Valefort Comércio e Transporte Ltda-Me, Mineração Gute Sicht Ltda, Fleurs Global Mineração Ltda, Irontech Mineral Ltda, Saae Participações S/A and CDM Participações S/A. Twelve people also became defendants in the process – the Attorney General did not detail who they are.

Sought after, the companies Gute Sicht and Fleurs Global claim innocence and that the licenses are regular. Valefort’s defense says it was not aware of the complaint and that it will manifest itself in the process. The others involved had not spoken until the end of the afternoon of this Tuesday (28).

Rich in iron ore, but also in fauna and flora, the Serra do Curral has part of its extension protected through the creation of parks. On the other hand, there are areas in the region in the hands of mining companies.

According to the inquiry opened by the Attorney General’s Office in 2020, all companies are involved in a fraudulent ore marketing scheme in Belo Horizonte and Sabará (MG) under the alleged claim of carrying out earthworks which, however, covered up the illicit practice of mining. The complaint is dated February 28, 2023, but only this month was the confidentiality of the process removed.

The attorney in charge of the case, Bruno Nominato, says that experts found that the movement of trucks in these areas was not consistent with earthmoving activities.

“This type of mineral exploration has grown a lot through earthmoving licenses for extraction, which is something that worries because it is an extremely degrading practice from an environmental point of view. And, if this is happening, it is because the mining companies are managing to give flow to this illegally extracted ore”, he says.

Authorizations for earthworks are granted by the municipality, environmental licenses by the state and mine design licenses are the responsibility of the ANM (National Mining Agency), under federal jurisdiction.

According to the MPF, irregular exploration characterizes a crime provided for in article 55, combined with article 3, both of Law 9.605/1998, which provides for administrative, civil and criminal liability for the crimes of research, mining or extraction of mineral resources without permission. The expected penalty ranges from six months to one year and a fine, which was set at a minimum of R$50.7 million by the MPF.

Iphan (National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute) declared the area a federal landmark. Iepha, a state body, has not yet declared the area a protected area, despite several opinions to that effect.

The Nominato attorney states that “it is necessary to improve the systematics of action within the state to avoid licensing, in which it seems that the agencies have not communicated, to avoid this type of distortion that involves an area that is the object of heritage protection”.

In a note, the company Fleurs Global stated that “Fleurs Global does not carry out any mineral extraction activity in Serra do Curral”. “For this reason, the company has absolute peace of mind that all facts will be duly clarified throughout the process, proving the absolute innocence and regularity of the company’s activities”, they further state.

Gute Sicht, also in a note, says that “it does not carry out mining activities in the protected area of ​​Serra do Curral”.

“In addition, its activities have always been accompanied by all the licenses and authorizations of the competent bodies, which is why it is convinced that the Justice will recognize the complete groundlessness of the accusation”, he says.

The companies belong to the same shareholding group: Gute Sicht [registrada como Mineração Boa Vista –a tradução do alemão] is a mining company, while Fleurs Global Mineração is a beneficiation company, but the parent company of both is the same.

_{The Planeta em Transe project is supported by the Open Society Foundations.}