Fabio Schvartsman was supposed to be the fresh face that would help Vale, the world’s biggest iron-ore miner, advance the company after a 2015 dam collapse. Instead, the 65-year-old is facing homicide charges after the company’s latest deadly disaster.
While he knew little of mining and metals, Schvartsman had more than doubled the shares at Klabin, Brazil’s largest paper producer, where he secured financing to roll out low-cost projects and gained a reputation for cost efficiency. He was named to lead Vale in May 2017, just as it brought the industry’s largest new project online, boosting both production and profit.
Now, two-and-a-half years later, Schvartsman — who left the top post in March — stands accused of 270 counts of homicide as a result of a second dam collapse. He’s charged with knowing ahead of time of safety issues at the massive Brumadinho tailings dam and helping hide them prior to the deadliest such event in Brazil’s history.
Ironically, Schvartsman began his role as the Vale CEO with a vow never to allow a repeat of the 2015 disaster. Now, he’s awaiting a judge’s decision on the state charges he faces, and is facing the possibility of federal charges ahead.