BHP, Vale get short extension on Brazil mine disaster settlement

BHP Billiton and Vale have been granted an extension until November 16 by a Brazilian court to negotiate a settlement on a $47-billion claim stemming from the Samarco mine disaster in 2015, BHP said on Tuesday. Brazilian federal prosecutors in May last year served the joint partners in the Samarco iron-ore mine with a 155-billion Brazilian real ($47.13-billion) claim to pay for the social, environmental and economic costs of cleaning up the country’s worst environmental disaster.