Two Dams, Fork 3 in Ouro Preto and Serra Azul in Itatiaiuçu, are at emergency level three, the highest on the risk scale
continues to face significant challenges regarding the safety of their dams, even after the tragedies of Mariana e Brumadinho. A recent report from the National Agency of Water and Basic Sanitation stressed that the state was responsible for a considerable increase in the number of dams registered in Brazil in 2024, with 527 new structures, representing an 8% growth over the previous year. Among these, more than 30 are considered priority for security management, 28 being linked to mining. Although most of the dams in Minas Gerais are classified with low potential damage, there are still structures with medium and high risk.
Two dams, Fork 3 in Ouro Preto and Serra Azul in Itatiaiuçu, are at emergency level three, the highest on the risk scale. Both belong to large mining companies, Vale and ArcelorMittal, respectively, and have not yet met all legal security requirements, according to the National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency. In case of accidents, there are significant risks to the population and essential services. The inspection of almost 70% of dams in the state is carried out by state agencies, such as the Minas Gerais Institute of Water Management and the State Environmental Foundation, under the State Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development.
