Snapshot: The Germano Complex iron ore mine, operated by Samarco Mineração (joint venture between Vale and BHP), is expanding its operations. In June 2025, affected people from the Bento Rodrigues community filed a lawsuit against Samarco, the local government and a federal mining agency challenging the environmental approval granted to the mine on the basis that the company's impact assessment did not adequately consider the impacts of climate change on the project.

On 26 June 2025, two individuals, residents and community leaders of the Bento Rodrigues district, located in Mariana, a city from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, filed a lawsuit against Samarco, the Minas Gerais government and a federal mining agency (Agência Nacional de Mineração). The Germano Complex ore mine operates in the same region where the Fundão dam collapsed in November 2015, causing the death of 19 people and severe environmental damage, and the Bento Rodrigues community was severely affected by the impacts of the dam collapse. The plaintiffs challenge the environmental approval granted to Samarco Mineração (joint venture between Vale and BHP) for the expansion of its mining operations in the Germano Complex, titled Projeto Longo Prazo (Long-Term Project in English). They argue that the mining company’s environmental impact assessment did not adequately consider the impacts of climate change on the project. They also claim they were not duly informed of the risks of the mine’s operations. The plaintiffs requested, as a precautionary measure, the suspension of the licence.

On 26 June 2025, two individuals, residents and community leaders of the Bento Rodrigues district, located in Mariana, a city from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, filed a lawsuit against against Samarco, the Minas Gerais Government and a federal mining agency. They challenged the environmental approval granted to Samarco Mineração (joint venture between Vale and BHP) for the expansion of its mining operations in the Germano Complex. The affected individuals argue that the mining company's environmental impact assessment did not adequately consider the impacts of climate change on the project. They also claim they were not duly informed of the risks of the mine's operations. The plaintiffs requested, as a precautionary measure, the suspension of the licence.

On 20 December 2025, the Federal Court ordered the immediate suspension of the environmental licence for Samarco's Projeto Longo Prazo, and ordered the State of Minas Gerais to request complementary studies about the risks of extreme events on the project and a list of measures to ensure the safety of the proposed structures.

On 30 December 2025, the second-instance court overturned the decision suspending the environmental licencing. Operations were cleared to resume.

The case is ongoing.