BHP Says Samarco Dam Breach Released Tailings Of 32 Million Cubic Meters

(RTTNews) - BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP.AX, BLT.L, BBL, BHP) Friday provided an update on the breach of its Fundao tailings dam an Santarem water dam in Minas Gerais in Brazil. The disaster has killed 17 people.

The satellite assessments showed that the volume of tailing material released during the dam breach was approximately 32 million cubic metres and approximately 85 per cent of the released tailings were retained within 85 kilometers of the Fundão dam, the company noted. Initial estimates of tailings released were about 50 million cubic meters.

The company has carried out a mapping of the Rio Doce and studied the 670 kilometer stretch and detected fish living in areas affected by the turbidity plume as well as in unaffected tributaries of the Rio Doce. It will further carry out a species study.

Furthermore, Samarco has undertaken several activities to stabilise the released tailings and prevent more material from entering the Rio Doce system. It construct dikes to contain tailings and revegetation along the Gualaxo Doce rivers. Dredging of Candonga hydroelectric dam will be undertaken to improve water quality.

Repair and reinforce the Selinha dike above the Fundão dam in the Germano complex is complete, Sumarco said.

Rio Doce confirmed that the water treatment facilities along the Rio Doce are operational and capable of treating water for human consumption and industrial and agricultural use.