Nestled deep within the lush, untouched mountains of Bahia, Brazil is a small, quaint community. Here, in this tranquil corner of the world, Catarina Oliveira de Silva paints a chilling picture of a lake now buried under three meters of mining waste.
It all started when a mining company began their operations nearby, she says. The once thriving coffee bushes and banana trees on her land fell victim to the relentless onslaught of dust from the mine, leaving her with nothing to harvest. A small angling business, a dream turned reality with a loan, had to be abandoned as well. “Our vision collapsed,” says Catarina.
Catarina and her family are a part of a traditional Quilombola community, descendants of Afro-Brazilian slaves whose rights to their ancestral land and culture are safeguarded by Brazilian law. However, these safeguards haven’t stopped their life from being disrupted by a mining company from the UK, forcing them to take their fight to the courts in London.
The UK-owned company, Brazil Iron, branding itself as a sustainable mining brand, is accused of wreaking havoc on the environment, health, and local communities near its mine in Brazil. While the company vehemently denies these allegations, asserting its aim to produce eco-friendly steel which could save millions of tonnes of carbon emissions while creating thousands of job opportunities, the locals are crying foul. They argue that the mine, with its research alone, has caused significant damage, including structural damage to homes from blasts and health issues due to dust pollution.
Now, there are 103 claimants involved in a UK legal case against Brazil Iron, with claims dating back to 2011. The legal case seeks compensation for alleged ‘physical and mental health injuries and environmental losses,’ as described by their lawyers.
One such claimant is Edimone Almeida Silva, who alleges her eldest daughter developed a respiratory problem, which she didn’t have prior to the mine’s operations, and which improved once the operations ceased. Amid these claims, Brazil Iron has offered independent medical examinations to community members, but these offers have not calmed the rising tide of dissent.
One might wonder why a location like this was chosen for mining operations. The secret lies beneath the surface. The Chapada Diamantina region of Bahia is rich in iron ore reserves, a core ingredient in steel production. This abundance has turned the area into a hub for mining companies.
Steel is a crucial material, used in nearly every aspect of modern life, from buildings and transport to appliances and packaging. Traditionally, steel is produced using coal-fired blast furnaces which are notoriously harmful to the environment, releasing large volumes of carbon emissions. Brazil Iron began their operations back in 2011, claiming to have found a type of iron ore that could be turned into steel with electric arc furnaces – a process that results in fewer carbon emissions. They also claimed that this could be extracted using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power in Bahia.
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As it stands, Brazil Iron’s operations are paused due to a disagreement with Bahia’s state government over mining permissions, and the company is currently awaiting a new licence. They continue to argue that their project could create over 27,000 jobs during construction, and 10,000 permanent jobs, while saving the steel industry from emitting 2.35 million tonnes of carbon each year.
These claims have, however, divided the community, with some members in support of the potential economic benefits and others deeply concerned about local damage, intimidation, and coercion. Among those voicing their support for the mining operations is Erivelton Souza Silva, a community member who was employed by the company and trained to operate heavy machinery. For him, working close to his family is a priceless benefit.
Nevertheless, past transgressions have not been forgotten. Allegations of intimidation by mine employees and other residents towards those opposed to the mine’s activities led to a court injunction against Brazil Iron. The UK High Court even found the company guilty of violating this injunction.
Amid the controversy, Brazil Iron maintains its innocence, asserting that its operations have had no detrimental impact on the environment or community and that the allegations could potentially devastate the local economy. The company plans to challenge the jurisdiction of the case, arguing that it should be heard in Brazil, not the UK.
Nonetheless, lawyers for the claimants argue that Brazil Iron’s operations have violated environmental licenses, leading to pollution and uncontrolled detonations. They also insist that the case be heard in the UK where Brazil Iron is headquartered.
Brazil Iron – a company heavily funded by global shareholders – positions itself as a leader in producing green “hot-briquetted iron” using completely renewable energy sources, a claim with worldwide implications.
The situation poses a critical question for the world: can the quest for greener future resources be pursued without causing local environmental damage and disrupting local ways of life? Rogério Mucugê, a local geographer at Bahia Catholic University, questions the necessity of sacrificing rural communities for the benefit of urban areas. He advocates for the importance of listening to the community, who understands the land best.
In his words, “Is it clean to kill a river? Do we need to sacrifice everyone in rural areas for the city?” This question, rooted in the heart of Bahia, echoes across the globe as we grapple with balancing our need for resources with the pursuit of a sustainable future.