BHP says no deal reached on Samarco debt obligations

29th Jan 2019 07:21

(Sharecast News) - BHP on Tuesday said says no agreement had been reached over the financial obligations of its Samarco joint venture following the 2015 mine disaster that killed 19 people.BHP said in a statement that Samarco's operations will only restart if it is "safe, economically viable and has the support of the community and regulators".The statement came after a second dam burst in Brazil on Friday at a mine owned by Brazil's Vale, which owns half of Samarco, that has killed 65 people with fears the death toll could rise into the hundreds.A $41bn lawsuit against Samarco is currently suspended as a Brazilian prosecutor seeks a settlement. Vale lost about $19bn in market value on Monday.