Mining bosses to discuss safety after accident which killed hundreds
A group of leaders from some of the world’s biggest mining companies will meet this week to discuss safety after a tragedy in Brazil which is thought to have killed over 300 people.
Chief executives from Anglo American, BHP, Antofagasta, Glencore and Barrick Gold, among others, are expected to meet on the fringes of the BMO’s metals and mining conference in Florida.
Read more: Brazil to decommission hundreds of dams after Vale tragedy
It was called International Council on Mining and Metals to discuss the issues with waste dams, the Sunday Times, which first covered this story, reported.
A spokesperson confirmed the meeting would “consider ICMM's response to the … tailings dam disaster.”
Anglo American said its boss, Mark Cutifani, will attend.
“While we believe we manage our tailings facilities to the highest international standards, we, like many of our industry peers, are absolutely supportive of establishing an independent body to review tailings dam safety and provide greater transparency so as to help provide peace of mind to our employees and local communities and to rebuild trust in our industry,” a spokesperson for the miner said.
The meeting follows increasing pressure on the sector to put safety front of mind after a dam burst in Brazil last month.
Read more: Eight Vale employees arrested in probe into deadly Brazil dam disaster
The tailings dam in Minas Gerais state was used to contain waste from the mining at a nearby iron mine. The official death toll has reached 169, with 141 still missing and presumed dead.
Over the weekend prosecutors revealed they want to arrest a senior executive at Vale after already detaining several lower-level employees. Their request was denied by a judge.