05:19 PM EDT, 03/16/2026 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with BHP's response in the last two paragraphs.)

BHP Group ( BHP ) won the dismissal of a UK contempt-of-court case over the funding of litigation aimed at preventing some Brazilian municipalities from suing the company in London over the 2015 Mariana dam collapse, Reuters reported Monday, citing a court of appeal ruling.

Lawyers for the claimants said BHP funded Brazilian litigation intended to stop the municipalities from pursuing their claims in the UK, alleging that by procuring and financing a lawsuit brought by mining lobby group Ibram, the company improperly interfered with the administration of justice, the report said.

A BHP spokesperson said: "We welcome the Court's decision to uphold BHP's appeal, which brings to an end the contempt proceedings that were brought against us. BHP remains confident that the Brazil agreement provides the most effective and efficient solution to compensate those impacted by the dam failure and Brazil is the right place for these issues to be resolved."

The spokesperson said Samarco, BHP Brasil and Vale are still implementing the nearly $32 billion compensation and remediation agreement finalized with the Brazilian authorities in October 2024. About $6.5 billion in compensation and financial aid has been distributed to more than 625,000 people since the dam collapse, the spokesperson said.

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