Senator Challenges Braskem Compensation Deal Over Maceió Mining Disaster

Renan Calheiros revived a three-year-old settlement concerning rock-salt mining damage in Maceió. The veteran senator challenged the 2023 compensation deal between Braskem and the city of Maceió, which was signed in July 2023. Braskem agreed to pay the city 1.7 billion reais (approximately US$330 million) for the damage caused by its mining operations. Calheiros stated that he objected to the transfer of public land to the company and called the city’s agreement “criminal.”

The challenge targets a major financial agreement between Braskem and the municipality of Maceió regarding the company’s operational liabilities. The dispute is taking place while Braskem is already facing financial difficulties due to debt, high interest rates, and a ground-collapse disaster in the region.

Braskem, the largest petrochemical company in the region, is currently dealing with financial difficulties stemming from debt, high interest rates, and a ground-collapse disaster in Latin America.