Federal Justice in Brazil has ordered the immediate suspension of operations at Vale's Fábrica mine located between Ouro Preto and Congonhas in Central Minas Gerais. This legal decision partially fulfills a request from the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), which had also sought the freezing of R$ 1 billion in the miner’s bank accounts, although that aspect will be evaluated at a later time. This comes after the mining operations had already been ordered to halt by the Judiciary of Minas Gerais, which also responded to similar concerns from the local Public Ministry.

The impetus for these suspensions is linked to an incident on January 25, 2026, when approximately 262,000 cubic meters of water and sediments overflowed from the mine's excavation. The MPF indicated that the mining structure was functioning essentially as a dam to hold back waste from other operations without the necessary permits. This raised considerable safety concerns, prompting regulatory bodies to take more stringent actions against Vale, a company already under scrutiny for past environmental disasters.

In response to these developments, Vale has stated that operations at the mine complex are already on hold, reflecting their compliance with the legal rulings. Moving forward, the challenges for Vale will include addressing the underlying safety issues that have led to these legal actions, while also managing public perception and regulatory scrutiny. The future of the Fábrica mine will hinge on forthcoming investigations and decisions regarding its operational authority and safety compliance protocols.