Brazil's Vale SA will appeal a court decision that ordered the iron ore miner to suspend a tailings dam and subsequently forced it to halt the concentration plant at its Viga operation in Minas Gerais state.

Vale on Sept. 24 paused the disposal of tailings and execution of works at the B7 dam following an order from the judge of the Court of Entre Rios de Minas district related to a public civil action filed by the municipality of Jeceaba.

The ruling prompted Vale to pause the concentration plant at Viga, which is located in the municipality of Congonhas. Mine activities remain unchanged.

Vale said Sept. 28 that it will contest the decision, arguing that its operating unit fulfilled the requirements needed to secure a dam operating permit.

The company said the stoppage will have a production impact of about 11,000 tons of iron ore fines per day.