Renova Foundation (Mariana dam, Brazil)
- 19 people died.No primary source was identified in the sources reviewed.
After the 2015 collapse of the Mariana tailings dam, a foundation funded by the mining companies ran the repair programmes for nine years. In October 2024 it was closed and replaced by a R$170 billion agreement, of which R$38 billion had already been spent.
R$170bn in total, of which R$38bn had already been spent through Renova to September 2024, R$100bn is new money to public authorities and communities over 20 years, and about R$32bn is Samarco performance obligations.
Status As of August 2025: the R$170bn agreement of October 2024 replaced the Renova Foundation; a federal court released the R$1.3bn insurance-bond requirement on 6 August 2025; completion of the dissolution was not confirmed.
- BHP and Vale — Booked their insurance receipts as other income or equity results; no source found says the proceeds went to Renova, the settlement or restoration.
- People killed and affected by the collapse — 19 deaths recorded; damage along the Doce River; rebuilding of affected communities unfinished as of December 2023. Exame
What happened
The Mariana dam in Brazil collapsed in 2015. The research record lists 19 deaths and damage along the Doce River. The operator was Samarco, linked in the record to Vale and BHP.
The Renova Foundation was created after the collapse to carry out repair programmes. The record describes it as set up by BHP and Vale and funded by Samarco, with Vale and BHP Brasil as secondary funders at 50% each. In its fiscal year 2021 BHP agreed to provide up to US$725 million for Renova programmes plus US$40 million of working capital. R$1.3 billion of insurance bonds, which are guarantees and not payouts, secured Renova's obligations. In 2017 an independent science panel was formed at Renova's request; it was chaired by Yolanda Kakabadse, a former president of IUCN and of WWF International.
Renova's independence from the companies was questioned. According to Agência Pública (September 2018), about 20% of Renova's staff came from the companies that financed it, and a prosecutor assessed the companies and the foundation as in practice the same. In December 2023 the Minas Gerais state prosecutor’s office (MPMG) asked for Renova to be closed on the ground that it was not autonomous from the mining companies; the rebuilding of affected communities was not finished, Exame reported.
On 25 October 2024 an agreement was signed with a total of R$170 billion (about US$31.7 billion) on a 100% basis. It comprises R$38 billion already spent through Renova, R$100 billion to public authorities and communities over 20 years, indexed to the IPCA inflation index, and about R$32 billion of Samarco performance obligations. The agreement extinguished Renova; Samarco was to take over its programmes over a 12-month transition. The signing came nine years after the collapse. The research record states that where the R$38 billion went is unclear, and reports that President Lula said no one knows.
In 2025 BHP was found liable in England, according to the research record. Individual criminal proceedings in Brazil are recorded as ending in acquittal. On 6 August 2025 a federal court released the requirement for the R$1.3 billion of insurance bonds.
- 2015Mariana dam collapses (19 deaths recorded)
- 2017Independent science panel formed at Renova’s request, chaired by Yolanda Kakabadse
- 2018Agência Pública reports about 20% of Renova staff came from financier companies (September)
- 2021BHP agrees up to US$725m for Renova programmes plus US$40m working capital (fiscal year 2021)
- 2023Minas Gerais prosecutors ask for Renova to be closed (December)
- 2024R$38bn spent through Renova to September; R$170bn agreement signed 25 October; Renova extinguished
- 2025BHP found liable in England; federal court releases the R$1.3bn insurance-bond requirement (6 August)
What was said
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
About 20% of Renova’s staff came from the companies that financed it (September 2018).
Assessed the companies and the foundation as in practice the same.
Asked in December 2023 for Renova to be closed because it was not autonomous from the mining companies; rebuilding of affected communities was unfinished.
ExameR$38bn spent through Renova to September 2024.
R$170bn comprises R$38bn already spent, R$100bn to public authorities and communities over 20 years, and about R$32bn of Samarco performance obligations.
Vale S.A. / SEC EDGARThe agreement totals R$170bn, of which R$100bn is new money payable until 2043; Renova’s R$38bn is questioned.
Diário do ComércioNo one knows where the R$38bn went.
How it looked
Shown
- An “independent repair foundation”, Fundação Renova.How the foundation was presented publicly, as reported in the sources reviewed
Recorded
- About 20% of Renova’s staff came from financier companies (Agência Pública, September 2018).
- The Minas Gerais prosecutor’s office asked in December 2023 for Renova to be closed because it was not autonomous from the mining companies.
- The October 2024 agreement totals R$170bn: R$38bn already spent, R$100bn over 20 years, about R$32bn Samarco obligations.
- R$100bn of the total is new money, payable until 2043.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- Vale: In its SEC filing Vale described the 25 October 2024 settlement as R$170bn (about US$31.7bn) on a 100% basis, comprising R$38bn already spent, R$100bn over 20 years and about R$32bn of Samarco obligations. · Vale S.A. / SEC EDGAR
- BHP (FY2021): In fiscal year 2021 BHP agreed to provide up to US$725m for Renova programmes plus US$40m of working capital.
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2024-10-25SettledBRL 170000000bn Total agreement, 100% basis (about US$31.7bn)Settlement agreement for the Mariana dam collapseBrazil (public authorities and the companies) · Civil · Public authorities → Samarco, Vale and BHP
R$38bn already spent, R$100bn over 20 years to public authorities and communities, about R$32bn of Samarco performance obligations. The agreement extinguished the Renova Foundation. Vale S.A. / SEC EDGAR
- 2025Claimant wonClaim against BHP in England over the Mariana collapseEngland (court not specified in the sources reviewed) · Civil · Claimants (number not on record) → BHP
BHP was found liable in England in 2025, according to the research record.
- Defendant wonCriminal proceedings over the Mariana collapseBrazil · Criminal · Prosecution → Individuals (not named in the sources reviewed)
Individual criminal liability is recorded as ending in acquittal.
Insurers
- 2025No policy foundNot named in the sources reviewed → Samarco (Renova obligations)
R$1.3bn of insurance bonds secured Renova obligations; they are guarantees, not payouts. A federal court released the requirement on 6 August 2025.
- PaidNot named in the sources reviewed → BHP and Vale
BHP and Vale booked their insurance receipts as other income or equity results. No source found says the proceeds went to Renova, the settlement or restoration.
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Insurers
- Unclear Not named in the sources reviewed: no decision on record.
Accounts
Record
- Unclear Where the R$38bn spent through Renova went: the research record describes this as unclear.
- None on record No source found says insurance proceeds went to Renova, the settlement or restoration.
- None on record Completion of the dissolution of Renova was not confirmed.
Did the harm stop?
The Renova Foundation was closed under the October 2024 agreement, nine years after the collapse, and Samarco was to take over its programmes over a 12-month transition. In December 2023 the rebuilding of affected communities was reported as not finished.
Who paid?
Samarco funded Renova, with Vale and BHP Brasil as secondary funders at 50% each. Under the 2024 agreement R$100bn is payable to public authorities and communities over 20 years, and about R$32bn is Samarco performance obligations.
Sources
Company or project
- Vale S.A. filing with the US SEC (Renova funding and the 25 October 2024 settlement terms)Vale S.A. / SEC EDGAR ·
Government and regulators
- Novo acordo de Mariana: poder público responsabiliza mineradoras e reparação de prejuízos causados por rompimento de barragem chegará a R$ 170 bilhõesAgência Minas (Minas Gerais state government) · 2024-10
Press and investigations
- Acordo Mariana assinado prevê 170 bi reparaçãoDiário do Comércio · 2024-10-25
- Caso Samarco: negociação para repactuar reparação esfriaExame · 2023-12
Connected cases
- Samarco Fundão dam collapse (Mariana): the settlement and the court cases Brazil · 2015–2026 Related matter
- Samarco Mineração (Company) — here: Dam operator; main funder of Renova; takes over its programmes; there: Dam owner and operator; convicted on appeal (2026)
- Vale (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50%; there: 50% owner; acquitted
- BHP (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50% (BHP Brasil); there: 50% owner; acquitted in Brazil; found liable in London
- Public Prosecutor's Office of Minas Gerais (MPMG) (Public authority) — here: Minas Gerais state prosecutor’s office; asked for Renova to be closed; there: State prosecutor; sought Renova's closure
- Brazil's 2015 mining code draft was created on Vale and BHP's law firm's computer Brazil · 2015
- Vale Brumadinho dam collapse Brazil · 2019–2027
- Vale (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50%; there: Dam owner and operator
- Public Prosecutor's Office of Minas Gerais (MPMG) (Public authority) — here: Minas Gerais state prosecutor’s office; asked for Renova to be closed; there: State prosecutor; indictment of 16 people (2020)
- Alto Mayo REDD+ project (Peru) Peru · 2012–2024
- BHP (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50% (BHP Brasil); there: Credit buyer
- Biomas restoration initiative Brazil · 2022
- Vale (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50%; there: Founder; published the market notice
- Brazilian court orders Vale and Cemig to repair nearly dry Rio Doce reach Brazil · 2015
- Vale (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50%; there: Company the court ordered to repair the damage
- Indonesian nickel oversupply: BHP Nickel West suspension and the LME green contract Indonesia · 2023–2026
- BHP (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50% (BHP Brasil); there: Suspended Nickel West
- Marfrig co-founded Biomas, a Brazilian forest-restoration company Brazil · 2022
- Vale (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50%; there: Founding partner of Biomas
- Ok Tedi mine (Papua New Guinea) Papua New Guinea · 1984–2025
- BHP (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50% (BHP Brasil); there: Former operator and majority owner; party to Dagi v BHP
- Simandou iron ore project, Guinea Guinea · 2008–2026
- Vale (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50%; there: Bought 51% of BSGR's Simandou holding for USD 2.5 billion
- Vale and Rio Tinto's Riversdale move households to make way for Tete coal mines Mozambique · 2009–2013
- Vale (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50%; there: Operator that relocated 1,365 households
- Vale ore-sand (Agera) tailings sand Brazil · 2021–2024
- Vale (Company) — here: Parent company of Samarco; secondary funder of Renova at 50%; there: Mining company; owner of Agera