Brazil’s Braskem Horror Story

The largest urban environmental disaster currently taking place in Brazil has nothing to do with the Amazon rainforest and nothing to do with the Pantanal wetlands. The disaster, which turned five years old in March this year, involves Braskem, Latin America’s largest petrochemical company, whose abusive mining practices may cause a massive ground collapse in northeastern Brazil — creating a gigantic crater in the heart of Maceió, the capital of Alagoas state. 

The risks of parts of Maceió literally sinking are enormous, affecting an area equivalent to 20 percent of the city’s territory. The crisis has also forced the displacement of 60,000 people, many of whom live in poverty.

The disaster caused by Braskem did not begin today. The first tremors related to abusive rock salt mining activities were recorded in March 2018, leaving the streets of parts of Maceió full of cracks. 

At least one of Braskem’s 35 salt mines could collapse at any time. In December of this year, new tremors were registered, putting the region on full alert, while experts denounce major dangers to the local biome.  

But who will be held accountable?

Half a decade after the problem erupted, skepticism remains. 

Solving the problem is not just about money. After all, Braskem has been fined more than 20 times by the Alagoas Environmental Institute (IMA-AL) for damage to the biome, and has been ordered to pay more than BRL 72 million. 

The next chapter of this story has yet to be written. But don’t expect a happy ending.
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