Mosaic Fertilizantes has idled production at its Tapira and Catalão phosphate mines in Brazil. The company currently has the rock and finished product inventory necessary to meet near-term market requirements, the company said. During this period and as necessary, the company will also ship phosphates from its operations in Florida and rock from its Peruvian mine for use in Brazilian production to meet customer needs in Brazil, leveraging the company’s position as a global, integrated producer.
The company is taking these actions to comply with new Brazilian regulations governing mine tailings dams. Last month, Mosaic Fertilizantes, with the technical approval of the National Mining Agency (ANM), filed an application for the extension of the deadline for submission of the Stability Condition Statements (DCE) for three of its dams. The requested extension was to allow expert consultants to finalize additional recommended studies and geotechnical analysis, which will be completed in April. The company did not receive final agreement from the ANM regarding the requested extension.
Without final agreement from the ANM, and in alignment with the new ANM standards, the company has implemented the Emergency Action Plan for Mining Dams (PAEBM) for the BL1 and BR dams in Tapira (MG) and the BR dam in Catalão (GO), which were classified as emergency level 1, the least critical of the three-category rating system.
Mosaic Fertilizantes said it will make every effort to obtain the DCEs as quickly as possible. Geotechnical research, analysis with external consultants and remediation plans will continue until the dams meet the new standards. Mosaic reaffirmed that the dams do not present imminent risks of disruption and reiterates its commitment to the communities and regions where it operates.
