BR
Search

Mining

The Mining segment of ArcelorMittal Brazil has an environmental management based on the Group’s 10 Sustainable Development Outcomes.

The main goal is to seek continuous improvement, implementing the best existing technologies and practices to minimize the impacts of its activities.

This applies to both iron ore mines of the Group in Brazil, Andrade and Serra Azul, located in the state of Minas Gerais.

The Environmental Management System of ArcelorMittal Brazil’s Mining segment is based on the management requirements of ABNT NBR ISO 14001 standard, to which both mines are certified.

Each unit is responsible to monitor and keep environmental licenses and authorizations for its operations, establishing internal goals to meet demands of local environmental agencies, in order to ensure that the environmental aspects of the operations comply with the applicable legal limits.

Likewise, environmental monitoring is carried out within and in its surroundings to guarantee the good maintenance of the natural resources available to employees and neighbouring communities.

Considering this context, transparency is applied as a guideline while treating events and serving environmental agencies and local communities.

Discover the environmental indicators and other information about the Mining segment management by accessing the Sustainability Report.

Waste Management and Ore Processing Highlights

Both mines have ore processing systems that do not demand using tailings dams.

Andrade Mine uses the dry extraction process, with generation of sterile, but no waste.

As for Serra Azul, where the wet extraction process is applied, the internal team developed and implemented, in 2012, a tailings disposal system that uses the drained stacking technique. Before being disposed of in piles, the material is drained and, due to its low humidity, the waste is stably stacked, thus minimizing the risks of environmental events. Moreover, by draining the material, the water is recovered, thus reducing the need to capture this natural resource from local water bodies.

This innovation implemented at Serra Azul is considered a benchmark in terms of waste management quality in the Brazilian mining segment. In 2016, it was included in the Bank of Good Environmental Practices of the Industry, coordinated by the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais (Fiemg) and by the State Environment Foundation (Feam), entities that aim to disseminate information on sustainable actions that can be implemented by other companies.

Biodiversity: fauna monitoring

In order to maintain its operations with the least possible environmental interference, every six months Andrade Mine carries out the fauna monitoring to verify the possible impacts of the site on local biodiversity.

The annual comparative report is public and can be found here.

Socio-environmental awareness

ArcelorMittal Brazil mines develop several socio-environmental actions for their employees, their family members and residents of local communities.

Among the activities carried out, the actions of the Environmental Education Program stand out for they aim at promoting the environmental awareness among the audiences.