Norsk Hydro faces lawsuit over alleged pollution in Brazil – Reuters

Norwegian aluminum producer Norsk Hydro ASA is facing a class-action lawsuit in the Netherlands over alleged toxic waste pollution in Brazil, Reuters reported Feb. 9.

Law firm PGMBM filed the claim before the District Court of Rotterdam on behalf of about 40,000 Brazilians who live in Brazil's Para state, where Norsk Hydro operates the Paragominas bauxite mine, the Alunorte alumina refinery and the Albras aluminum smelter.

The lawsuit accused Norsk Hydro of dumping toxic residue in the Murucupi River and polluting communities near its operations, exposing local residents to various health problems. It also referred to a 2018 spill of untreated water at Alunorte, an incident that forced the company to cut alumina output and curtail production at Albras.

Norsk Hydro reiterated that the 2018 incident did not contaminate the environment, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, PGMBM said the claimants did not file the claim in Brazil due to a lack of progress in the country's legal system.