Another 19 municipalities join the New Rio Doce Agreement, implemented by Samarco on Thursday (August 20). The municipalities will have access to approximately R$ 2.6 billion allocated for public policies for reparation and compensation, in accordance with the conditions and deadlines established in the New Rio Doce Agreement.
The accessions occurred within the scope of the mediation conducted by the Federal Regional Court of the 6th Region (TRF-6), based on a request by the Public Consortium for the Defense and Revitalization of the Rio Doce (Coridoce), and followed the same criteria and values provided for in the New Agreement signed in 2024. The initiative reinforces the recognition of the competence of Brazilian institutions and the Judiciary, and the respect for national sovereignty in the conduct of measures related to reparation.
The acceding municipalities will receive the first payment within 30 days of the judicial decision and compliance with the conditions provided for in the Instrument of Accession and Commitment. This payment corresponds to the first three installments made to the municipalities that acceded previously. The remaining installments will follow the schedule provided for in the New Rio Doce Agreement.
“The broad accession by the municipalities demonstrates that the New Rio Doce Agreement is the legitimate path to reparation. Our goal is for these funds to contribute to strengthening local communities. At the same time, this movement reaffirms the sovereignty of the Brazilian Judiciary and strengthens the construction of consensual and lasting solutions for reparation, the present, and the future of the Rio Doce Basin”, states Rodrigo Vilela, CEO of Samarco.
The result of a joint effort by Samarco, Vale, BHP Brasil, the Federal Government, the governments of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, Public Prosecutor's Offices, Public Defender's Offices, and other Judicial Institutions, the New Rio Doce Agreement was approved by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) in November 2024.
With the new accessions, the New Agreement now covers 45 of the 49 eligible municipalities. In Minas Gerais, Aimorés, Alpercata, Belo Oriente, Bom Jesus do Galho, Conselheiro Pena, Coronel Fabriciano, Galileia, Ipaba, Itueta, Mariana, Naque, Periquito, São Domingos do Prata, São José do Goiabal, and Tumiritinga acceded. In Espírito Santo, the municipalities were Aracruz, Baixo Guandu, Marilândia, and Sooretama.
By March 2025, 26 municipalities had already acceded to the agreement: Córrego Novo, Iapu, Santana do Paraíso, Marliéria, Sobrália, Ponte Nova, Bugre, Caratinga, Pingo D'Água, Rio Doce, Santa Cruz do Escalvado, Rio Casca, Dionísio, São Pedro dos Ferros, Raul Soares, Barra Longa, Ipatinga, Timóteo, Sem Peixe, Fernandes Tourinho, Anchieta, Conceição da Barra, Fundão, São Mateus, Serra, and Linhares.