Court halts operations at 13 Vale dams, operations at major mine affected

A Brazilian court has issued an injunction ceasing operations at several tailings dams owned by mining firm Vale, the iron-ore giant said on Monday, which will hit production at a major mine.

The injunction, issued in response to a motion by prosecutors in the state of Minas Gerais, requires the firm to paralyse operations at 13 dams. As a result, the company said, production at its major Brucutu mine will take longer than expected to come back on line.