A project to open the largest coal mine in Brazil has split the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. The endeavor, called the Guaíba mine after a nearby lake, is celebrated by some as an important support for regional development and tax revenue. Copelmi, the company responsible for the project and which will own the rights to exploit coal for an estimated 23 years, says that the mine will create 4.5 thousand jobs.
On the other hand, specialists, environmentalists, and public prosecutors are concerned about the extent of possible negative impacts on the environment and surrounding communities.
According...
