Lula’s Accusations Against Vale
On September 26, 2025, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva voiced strong criticisms against the mining company Vale during a ceremony in Brasília. He accused the company of creating a foundation as a means to mislead the victims of the Mariana disaster, which occurred in November 2015. The foundation in question, known as Renova, was established in 2016 to address the catastrophic impacts of the dam collapse. Lula remarked, “A company that had a president who did not want to negotiate wanted to create a foundation possibly to deceive the local people.”
The Role of Renova
The Renova Foundation was born from an agreement between Vale, BHP, and Samarco to manage reparations for the devastating environmental and social consequences of the dam failure. Despite this initiative, Lula claimed that the previous agreements failed to deliver tangible results for the affected populations. As he stated, “What was supposed to be more didn’t yield anything. It was a president [of the Renova Foundation] who never wanted to engage with us, who didn’t want to make an agreement and ignored the workers’ concerns.”
Introduction of the New Agreement
In June 2025, the federal government signed a new pact, the Novo Acordo do Rio Doce, aimed at replacing the existing foundation model. Lula emphasized the need for direct mechanisms in resource allocation, indicating that the new agreement is estimated to bring in R$ 170 billion. This significant amount is intended for infrastructure projects across health, education, social assistance, income generation, and environmental actions, specifically addressing the aftermath of the disaster.
Empowerment of Local Communities
A crucial aspect of Lula’s speech was the emphasis on community participation in overseeing how the resources from the new agreement are utilized. He declared that the governance of these resources should no longer rest solely with Vale but shift towards the local populations, stating, “It is no longer Vale that is responsible; it is us and you, the residents of the region.” This statement underscores the administration’s recognition of the importance of local voices in recovery efforts.
Establishment of the New Council
During the same ceremony, Lula inaugurated a new council comprised of 36 members who will have the authority to make decisions regarding the R$ 5 billion Fund Popular designated for community projects in various sectors. This council will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the funds are directed toward initiatives that genuinely benefit the victims and their communities.
Additional Figures Present
Notable attendees at the ceremony included Gleisi Hoffmann, Minister of Institutional Relations; Alexandre Padilha, Minister of Health; Alexandre Silveira, Minister of Mines and Energy; Macaé Evaristo, Minister of Human Rights; and Jorge Messias, Attorney General of the Union.
As the government pushes forward with these new initiatives, the focus now rests on the practical implementation of these programs and the active role of the affected communities in holding both the government and corporations accountable.
