Vale and Amazon Indians begin talks after blockade
Published by MAC on 2014-06-17Source: Mining.com, Associated Press
See also: Protests escalate at Vale's nickel mine in New Caledonia
For more background to protets in Bazil against Vale, see: Mining and Colonialism in Brazil's Giant Carajás Project
Standoff With Indians at Mine in Amazon Ends
Associated Press (AP)
15 June 2014
RIO DE JANEIRO - A two-day standoff with Indians who had blocked an entrance to a mining project in the Amazon where 50 workers were holed up has ended peacefully.
Vale SA said in a statement Saturday night that the 400 Indians had been blocking the main entrance to its Onca Puma nickel mine in Para state. Negotiations over the Indians demands will resume on Monday, the company said.
The members of the Xikrin tribe had threatened to set fire to the mining project.
Brazil's biggest mining company said the Indians are seeking to modify an agreement to mitigate the mine's impact on its community's development.
While Vale said it's open to discussing the tribe's demands it repudiates the use of violence that puts at risk employees' security.
Mining conflicts have become more common in Brazil in recent years as strong global demand for commodities pushes companies to ramp up production in the Amazon and other far-flung areas.
Vale and Amazon Indians begin talks after threats of setting mine on fire
Cecilia Jamasmie
Mining.com
15 June 2014
Brazil's Vale and members of the Amazon Xikrin tribe made short-term peace late Saturday after Indians blocked access to the company's Onca Puma nickel mine in the country's northern state of Para for two days.
According to Vale, Brazil's largest mining company, over 400 Indians had been blocking the main entrance to Onca Puma, threatening to set it on fire if their demands were not heard.
The firm, the world's second-largest nickel producer, said in a statement quoted by AP that locals want to modify an agreement to mitigate the mine's impact on its community's development.
Negotiations over the Indians demands will resume Monday, the company added. Vale and Amazon Indians begin talks after threats of setting mine on fire
Onca Puma began operation in 2011 and it is expected to hit 60% of its 53,000 tons of nickel annual capacity this year.
In 2012, Vale faced furnace design problems, and it was forced to shut down the operation in June. Later that year, the firm had to take $2.85 billion write-down on the nickel mine.
Indians threaten to set fire to Amazon mine
Associated Press (AP)
14 June 2014
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - A group of Indians is threatening to set fire to a mining project in the Amazon where they are detaining 50 workers.
Vale SA said that 400 members of the Xikrin tribe have been blocking since Thursday morning the main entrance to its Onca Puma nickel mine in Para state.
Brazil's biggest mining company said in a statement Saturday that the Indians are seeking to modify an agreement to mitigate the mine's impact on its community's development.
While Vale said it's open to discussing the tribe's demands it repudiates the use of violence that puts at risk employees' security.
Mining conflicts have become more common in Brazil in recent years as strong global demand for commodities pushes companies to ramp up production in the Amazon and other far-flung areas.