The number of dams embargoed due to unattested stability increased from 40 in March 2025 to 36 in September
The (National Mining Agency) reported that the volume of dam embargoes in Brazil remained stable in September in relation to the verification campaign carried out by the agency in March 2025. Here is (PDF – 2 Mb).
The dams embargoed due to unattested stability – they did not comply with stability requirements or did not submit a report – had a reduction of 1% and went from 40 (9%) in the March 2025 campaign for 36 (8%) in September 2025.
ANM requires responsible companies to present the DCE (Declaration of Stability Condition) twice a year, signed by a qualified professional.
When this document is not delivered or points out structural flaws, the dam may be embargoed. The objective is to avoid risks to the safety of nearby populations and the environment.
An embargoed dam has its activity halted due to the security risk it could pose to the region in which it is located, according to the agency. The embargo aims to prevent damage and guarantee the integrity of the structure, people’s lives and the environment, and is only lifted after regularization.
During the campaign, 457 dams were required to send the DCE. Of this total, 421 had their stability certified, 14 did not have their stability certified and documentation was not sent for 22 structures.
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Of the mining dams without declared stability, 44% (16) are located in Minas Gerais (MG), followed by Mato Grosso (4), Pará (3), São Paulo (3), Bahia (2), Rio Grande do Sul (2), Amapá (1), Amazonas (1), Tocantins (1), Goiás (1), Mato Grosso do Sul (1) and Santa Catarina (1).
EMERGENCY LEVEL
Of the 36 dams that did not have their stability certified by the DCE, 28 are at Emergency Level 1, 7 at Emergency Level 2 and 1 at Emergency Level 3.
