In July, seven months after the resumption of production, in December 2020, Samarco reached the volume of 4.4 million tons of iron ore and pellets produced to supply the domestic and foreign markets. Over the past few months, the company loaded 47 ships bound for various countries. In this context, in order to preserve its operations, Samarco started in April the judicial reorganization process, accepted by the Minas Gerais Court. The judicial reorganization protects the company against actions of creditors in the international financial market.

Last week, the company obtained the approval of the Minas Gerais Court to obtain financing in the amount of USD 225 million, through a mechanism known as DIP Financing – specific for companies in a situation of judicial reorganization. The authorization for the loan was given by the 2nd Business Court of Belo Horizonte, which recognized the company's need for funds that guarantee the sustainability of its operations throughout the judicial reorganization process.

Currently, with 26% of its production capacity, the company employs more than 6,000 people, directly and indirectly, in the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, in addition to working with 1,533 suppliers. 

Safety

The path for the company to expand its capacity was traced considering the new production model and the fulfillment of its obligations in the social and environmental field, with a focus on the safety and sustainability of its operations.

The company's general commercial and marketing manager, Renato Pereira, points out that Samarco resumed operations in a different way, through the implementation of a tailings filtration system that enables its dry stacking, without the need to use dams.

“Samarco has been engaged over the past few years in a project we call operational readiness, which made it possible to check all production and corporate processes to ensure a safe and structured return. Our focus is to produce safely,” he said.

Also according to Pereira, “even during the five years we were with operations interrupted, we continued to maintain a close relationship with our customers, which also contributed to our resumption in a structured manner. The resumption of operations is an achievement for all of us and the result of a lot of effort and dedication, which enabled us to take this important step. We are currently operating at 26% capacity and other steps will be required for us to reach full capacity, but we want to take it one step at a time,” he said.