The CDS II dam, located in Santa Bárbara, in the interior of Minas Gerais, entered a level 1 alert state after cracks were found in the structure. The alert was triggered after an inspection by technicians from the National Mining Agency (AMN), which is following the case, last Friday (7th).
The dam is managed by South African mining company AngloGold Ashanti. In a note, obtained by CNN, the company said that “the move to level 1 is preventive and will continue until the presentation of studies and analyzes by the specialized external audit, confirming the safety and stability of the dam, to the ANM”.
The company also stated that “it is not necessary to activate sirens or evacuate the self-rescue zone, as there is no imminent risk of rupture” and that the competent authorities have been called.
In a note, the AMN said that the case “is a crack in the rock mass that was classified with a score of 10. The fact caused the project to be elevated to emergency level 1” and that “after being informed by the company of the anomaly occurred, the ANM sent a team of technicians to investigate the situation”.
On Saturday night (8), AngloGold Ashanti reported that it had received the report from a specialized external company “certifying that the safety factor of the CDS II dam is above the recommended level” and that it “has all legal licenses”.
The dam is 110 kilometers from Belo Horizonte. Inspections and preventive measures take place after the Brumadinho and Mariana disasters, both in the state of Minas Gerais.
Source: CNN Brasil
