BHP Billiton Group and Vale SA joint venture Samarco Mineração SA received two waste system permits from Brazil's Minas Gerais state, a small step toward restarting operations at the Samarco iron ore mine in the country, Reuters reported Dec. 11.
The operations have been suspended since November 2015 after a deadly tailings dam burst that killed 19 people.
The permits will enable the construction of a waste system in a depleted mine to receive tailings.
Environmental authorities expect to assess the operations permit and a corrective operations permit in mid-2018, after the construction of the waste disposal system.
