Samarco released, this Monday (Jun-10), the 2023 Annual Sustainability Report, which highlights the progress made in the management of environmental, social and governance issues, conducted throughout the entire company. The report highlights progress in 2023, the year in which the company reached the milestone of 25.7 million tons of ore pellets and fines produced since resuming operations in 2020. Last year, there were no serious accidents or safety-related absences recorded. The document also points out the 12% reduction in energy consumption. We implemented initiatives to preserve and rehabilitate areas of native vegetation, which total around 17 thousand hectares, approximately four times the operational area of ​​our units, and also plan to invest BRL 1.6 billion, by 2025, to double our production capacity, reaching 60%.

“The Annual Sustainability Report transparently compiles and shares the 2023 indicators, which demonstrate the company's effort to write a new chapter of its journey, in which the core commitment is sustainability, with relevant results for partners, employees and the territories of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, which have hosted us for over 46 years”, highlights Samarco’s CEO, Rodrigo Vilela.

Among the main milestones is the Strategic Sustainability Program, which brings together ESG indicators (environmental, social and governance), essential for the company and society – such as water, biodiversity, decarbonization, human rights, communities, health , safety, innovation, diversity, equity and inclusion.

These indicators started to be monitored with goals and initiatives for the period from 2023 to 2032, in an integrated manner with the study of corporate risks and business opportunities, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Global Compact.

Operations – Another milestone, which demonstrated the sustainability capacity of Samarco's business, is operational stability. Last year, the company reported the safe production of 9.4 million tons of iron ore pellets and fines. There was also progress in the project to de-characterize the Germano dam and the completion of the closure of the Pit. The interventions received BRL 850 million in investments from the company in 2023.

The journey of growth to reach installed capacity is another highlight. Samarco's Board of Directors approved, in 2023, the investment plan for the company to reach 60% of production capacity by 2025. BRL 1.6 billion were allocated to this end last year. The expectation is to designate another BRL 2 billion by the end of this year.

“At the same time, we continue working on an important environmental licensing process for operational continuity in the medium and long term”, explains Rodrigo Vilela. This process involves new mining areas and the expansion of the tailings filtration capacity of the Germano Complex, in Minas Gerais, without the use of dams - a model which has been adopted by the company since December 2020.

Samarco also outlines in the document the results of its financial restructuring, with the approval of the Judicial Reorganization Plan (JRP) approved by the Court, which provides security and visibility to the company's creditors in relation to its payment capacity and future investments.

Social engagement – ​​Among the major indicators in the 2023 Sustainability Report are advances in the Força Local program, through which Samarco supports the development of the local economy in Minas and Espírito Santo. Last year, more than 380 companies were certified, totalling 15 thousand qualified people. Samarco and suppliers also made purchases of over BRL 2.3 billion from local suppliers.

Currently, Samarco employs around 13 thousand people (own employees and contractors) and maintains more than 1.5 thousand suppliers in the areas in which it operates. For the next two years, the expectation is to generate up to 3 thousand new jobs, including 600 direct vacancies, preparing the company to reach 60% of production capacity.