Court order to appeal against suspension of Onca Puma nickel mine and Vale of ferronickel plant by 8 March

SMM3 6-according to Bloomberg, mining giant Vale said on March 5 that it would appeal to the court. The court had previously ordered it to suspend operations at the Onca Puma nickel mine and the ferronickel plant until the company met its environmental license.

In 2015, 2017 and 2018, Vale successfully appealed against the court's previous decision to close Onca Puma business on grounds of license violations.

The mine is an important source of global nickel deposits, and the iron-nickel plant adjacent to Vale can produce 53000 tons of iron and nickel per year.

But it is controversial that the Onca Puma business has contaminated the Catete River, which flows through the state of Kayapo, where the mine is located.

Last year, a prosecutor said Vale's emissions had led to serious river pollution, undrinkable or bathing, and rashes and other diseases.

However, the company reiterated on March 5 that seven technical reports showed that mining activities on the Catete River would not damage the environment.

Vale's business at Onca Puma began in 2011. According to its website, 6100 tons of iron and nickel were produced in the third quarter of 2018, up 8.9 per cent from the second quarter.

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