Brazil-pig Iron Plants Fined R$ 158 Million

BRAZIL

Pig iron plants fined R$ 158 million *

O Liberal

20th April 2007

This is the amount accumulated from the year 2000 to 2007 in fines levied by Ibama and BPA

The most recent Inspection and Enforcement report by the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), signed by environmental analysts Norberto Neves and Paulo Sérgio Almeida, warn of the ongoing high levels of illegality in the majority of steel-making companies in Pará. The fines have reached astronomical amounts, totaling R$ 158,957,312.70.The steel plants inspected also broke records in the number of violations and notifications in the period from 2000 to 2007, when several companies were inspected by agents from Ibama and the Environmental Police Battalion (BPA).

In April 2006, Companhia Siderúrgica Ibérica do Pará was fined over R$ 65 million, mainly for violations involving having received unlicensed charcoal from native forests. In October 2005, Sidepar was fined R$ 13,853,490. The plant committed nine violations for transporting and receiving illegal charcoal. Meanwhile, Siderúrgica de Marabá (Simara) was fined 24 times by Ibama agents for committing a range of illegal acts.

Another two companies appear at the top of the list of illegalities. Usimar was fined ten times for an amount of over R$ 17 million and Cosipar, which appears with 27 violations, has been fined a total of R$ 65 million. Da Terra Siderúrgica Ltda. And Sidenorte Siderúrgica S/A also appear on the report.

This week an order from the federal court upheld the decision to shut down and halt activities at the Cosipar steel plant. After being caught by Ibama, the company had managed to get a court order authorizing it to continue operations. Ibama agents also conducted thorough inspections of charcoal plants. The majority of them operate without environmental licenses, 80% of them operating clandestinely.

* Around US$ 90 million