Vale, among other things, runs the world’s largest iron ore mine Carajás Mine in the state of Para in northern Brazil. And it is precisely in Para that the indigenous people are believed to have been poisoned by residual products from the mining industry when they have leaked into the water.
A study by the Federal University of Para, which was conducted last spring in villages in the Xikrin do Catetes area, found dangerously high levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and nickel in the hair on virtually all 720 people examined in the area.
“A true humanitarian tragedy”
The problems have been known for a long time. As early as 2022, the company and the Xikrin people reached an agreement on a monthly compensation due to the polluted water. But the compensation did not include that the people were also affected by health problems, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.
“The situation for Xikrin do Catete is a true humanitarian tragedy and requires an urgent response from the Brazilian judicial system. Inactivity would only increase the suffering of the indigenous people, which are subjected to contamination daily in their own environment, ”the lawsuit states.
Vale: “Not responsible”
Vale dismisses the charges. In a statement, the company writes that experts have stated that their operations were not responsible for polluting the Catete river and that they monitor the water quality around their mines.
The mining giant is currently responsible for a large infrastructure project where they are building new facilities for the COP30 climate summit to be held in November this year.