Nearly a decade after the Samarco Fundão dam disaster, two resettled districts in Mariana, Brazil, have reached a milestone in the reparation effort, mining company BHP reported on Thursday.

The resettlements of Novo Bento Rodrigues and Paracatu – built to house families displaced by the 2015 dam collapse – are now largely complete, with 388 properties delivered, including homes, businesses, rural holdings, churches, and public infrastructure such as schools, health posts and cemeteries.

The milestone comes under the R$170-billion reparation agreement, signed in Brasília in October last year by the federal government, the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, public prosecutors and defenders, together with Samarco, BHP Brasil and Vale. The accord formalised commitments to repair, compensate and indemnify communities impacted by the tragedy, building on work already advanced by the Renova Foundation.

Deliveries of new homes began in 2019, but August 2025 marks the conclusion of properties initiated before the signing of the agreement. Six additional properties remain under construction, requested by residents after the accord, and are expected to be finished by June next year.

The reconstruction process was carried out with community involvement, BHP reported in a statement. According to the mining firm, families voted on land locations, designed their new homes with architects and engineers, and chose finishing details through a showroom in Mariana. Each family received a plot of at least 250 m² – equal to or larger than their original land – and financial support for furniture and relocation.

Urban infrastructure was built from scratch, with paved streets, public lighting, Internet and mobile access, water and sewage systems, and rainwater harvesting. All 22 public assets have been handed over to Mariana’s municipal government, which will receive R$108.9-million from Samarco over three years for maintenance.

“For BHP, this moment signifies the materialisation of a joint effort that ensures the progression of the agreement,” said Fernanda Lavarello, corporate affairs and communications director at BHP Brasil.

Sustainability was central to the new districts. In Novo Bento Rodrigues, housing was oriented to maximise sunlight and natural ventilation, while construction adopted ecological materials, LED lighting, low water-use systems, and solar heating. A 100% biological sewage treatment plant using facultative lagoons – designed for the next 20 years of growth – was also built.

The surrounding Atlantic Forest has been integrated into the districts through ecological trails and a linear park concept. Residents even voted on the selection of local tree species to line the streets.

BHP, a shareholder in Samarco through a non-operated joint venture, said it remains committed to the full delivery of obligations under the reparation agreement.