Between the salt and the cracks: Braskem's socio-environmental tragedy

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Summary

The case of Braskem in Maceió, Alagoas, illustrates the dramatic consequences of rock salt exploration without due consideration for geological and environmental risks. Since the 1970s, with the installation of Salgema Indústrias Químicas, later incorporated by Braskem in 2002, the promise of economic development has overshadowed the potential dangers of mining by dissolution. The situation reached a critical point in 2018, when subsidence and fissures in the ground began to affect several neighborhoods, resulting in the displacement of 60,000 residents and causing significant environmental damage. Subsequent investigations, including a report by the Geological Survey of Brazil in 2019 and a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry in 2023, have revealed a complex web of responsibilities, involving corporate negligence and failures in public enforcement. Despite the compensation paid by Braskem, totaling R$3.7 billion, the affected community continues to face socioeconomic challenges, such as inflation in the local real estate market and impacts on physical and mental health.

Keywords : Environmental disaster; Mining; Social Impact; Environmental Repair

A secret sea of salt

Maceió, the capital of Alagoas, is a city that holds in its subsoil a geological treasure of immeasurable value: a vast layer of rock salt. This mineral wealth, inherited from an ancient sea that covered the region millions of years ago, has shaped not only the geography but also the economic destiny of the city.

With a population of almost one million inhabitants (IBGE, 2022) spread over 50 neighborhoods, with Pinheiro being the 17th most populous (19,062 inhabitants), Bebedouro the 29th (10,103 inhabitants) and Mutange the 46th (2,632 inhabitants), Maceió stands out as the 44th largest municipal GDP in Brazil. Its true uniqueness lies below the surface, in the salt deposits that stretch for hundreds of kilometers.

The rock salt layer, by its nature, is extremely soluble in water, making it an unstable material and susceptible to deformation. This compound is extremely valuable to the industry due to its various applications.

Primarily, sodium chloride extracted from rock salt is essential for the production of a wide range of chemicals, including chlorine and caustic soda, which are critical to the petrochemical industry and to the manufacture of plastics, paper, detergents, fertilizers, feeding farmed animals, melting snow on highways, exterminating weeds, and the production and preservation of food for humans.

To extract this valuable resource, the industry resorts to an ingenious but not risk-free method: dissolution mining. Fresh water is injected deep into the earth, dissolving the salt and bringing it to the surface in the form of brine. This process, while efficient, leaves behind an underground legacy of vast caverns, creating a landscape of geological instability that threatens the very city that rises above. In addition to subsidence risks, rock salt mining can also present environmental risks, such as groundwater contamination if brine and waste management is not carried out properly.

From the promise of development to chaos

In the 1970s, Maceió received the promise of a bright economic future with the arrival of Salgema Indústrias Químicas. The installation of the company in Pontal da Barra was the harbinger of a transformation that no one could have predicted. What seemed to be the dawn of an era of prosperity soon turned out to be the beginning of a controversy that lasted for decades.

The company, installed by the sea, immediately devalued the entire southern region of the capital's seafront. With the growth of the extraction of natural resources in the region, the expansion of the area of mineral extraction began to be discussed, but environmentalists, ecologists, politicians, scientists and the population began to move against it, holding protests (see Figure 1). Even so, the government authorized the expansion of facilities dedicated to the extraction of rock salt in the region.

Figure 1: act against the duplication of the salgema in 1985 at Praça D. Pedro II. Photo Josival Monteiro.

In 2002, some companies in the mining sector merged to form Braskem, which incorporated the existing operations in Maceió. The presence of mining in the region continued to strengthen and be expanded based on the promise of job creation and promotion of the local economy, in addition to presenting itself as an engine of development, capable of boosting the industry, attracting investments and generating wealth. The creation of jobs and the prospect of economic growth were attractive to a population that was looking for alternatives for development.

Rock salt mining came to be seen by some as a symbol of modernization and progress, representing the arrival of new technologies and the insertion of Maceió on the country's industrial map. After all, the company began to present itself as an innovative force, capable of bringing technological advances and modernizing the region.

Regarding environmental impacts, Braskem stated that rock salt mining would be carried out safely and sustainably, using advanced techniques and technologies to minimize the consequences of its activities, following environmental standards and regulations, ensuring the preservation of the environment and the safety of the population. The company also highlighted its investments in social projects, such as support for education, health and culture, seeking to improve the quality of life of the local population.

Despite this, the dream began to crumble in 2018. Literally. The Maceió region has faced recurring events of subsidence and fissures in the ground, significantly affecting neighborhoods such as Pinheiro, Bebedouro, Mutange, Bom Parto and Farol. These events resulted in the displacement of 60,000 residents due to the risk of collapse of buildings and substantial damage to local infrastructure, leaving behind not only their homes, but also their stories and roots.

The investigations that followed revealed an uncomfortable truth: Braskem's mining activities were a key factor in the geological problems. In addition to the unstable soil, the impact included the loss of vegetation, the reduction of the animal population, the salinization of aquifers and the siltation - accumulation of sediments and waste carried by the wind and the rains to rivers and lakes when there is no vegetation around to protect them - of the Mundaú lagoon,

Thus, the region of Maceió, previously known as an ecological paradise, was transformed into uninhabitable, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Abandoned houses in the Bebedouro neighborhood, in 2018. Photo: Jonathan Lins/Alamy

A 2018 study sought to unravel the mystery behind the cracks and cracks in homes. Four hypotheses were raised, from the geotechnical characteristics of the soil to the exploitation of groundwater. However, two stood out: the presence of voids in the subsurface and active tectonic structures in the region. The conclusion was disturbing: the mining process had directly interfered with the geological structure of the area, setting off a chain reaction of instability.

A city divided between corporation and community

The year 2019 marked a turning point in the rock salt saga in Maceió. The Geological Survey of Brazil (CPRM) published a technical report that left no room for doubt: the extraction of rock salt had set off a geological chain reaction, turning entire neighborhoods into unstable ground. The study pointed to the occurrence of a destabilization of the cavities of rock salt extraction, causing halokinesis (movement of salt) and creating a dynamic situation with reactivation of preexisting geological structures, subsidence and ruptial deformations on the surface of part of the Pinheiro, Mutange and Bebedouro neighborhoods, in Maceió.

The response was immediate and drastic – the Institute of the Environment (IMA) suspended Braskem's environmental license, and the National Mining Agency (ANM) approved the plan to close the mines. With its operations closed, Braskem was forced to face the consequences of decades of exploration. The company opened its coffers, disbursing R$3.7 billion in indemnities and aid. But could the money really compensate for the human cost of this tragedy? The fact is that representatives of the victims of Braskem's rock salt exploration activity criticized the agreements reached by public agencies with the mining company and denounced the lack of dialogue in the agreements signed. The community, they say, has been silenced, forced to accept terms dictated by the vulnerability of their situation.

The drama unfolded on the streets of Maceió, where 17 thousand people suddenly found themselves in search of a new home. The irony was cruel: the deal that was supposed to help them ended up inflating the local real estate market. The rent assistance of R$1,000.00 for six months, previously a lifeline, has become insufficient in the face of the new market reality. Rick Magalhães, from the Association of Real Estate Market Companies of Alagoas (2024), confirmed: rental prices have skyrocketed. What once guaranteed a roof over its head in Maceió, now barely covered a fraction of the new cost of living. The owners, aware of the aid received by the displaced, adjusted their prices, creating a vicious cycle of speculation.

The truth behind the cracks: Braskem's CPI and the collapse of an empire

As Maceió sank into an unprecedented crisis, Braskem's Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) emerged in 2023. This investigation promised to shed light on the four fundamental pillars of a tragedy that shook not only the soil, but the confidence of an entire city.

• Braskem's responsibility: The CPI delved deep into the bowels of Braskem's operation, unearthing disturbing evidence. Internal documents revealed that the company had been aware of geological risks for years, but chose to maintain operations in the name of profit. Testimonials from former employees painted a picture of a corporate culture that prioritized productivity over safety. The question that echoed through the halls of the commission was: To what extent had corporate greed undermined not only the soil but also business ethics?
• The omission of the public power: The investigations did not spare the authorities. The granting of mining licenses, once seen as a bureaucratic routine, was now under intense scrutiny. The CPI exposed a web of negligence that stretched for decades, with inspection agencies turning a blind eye to egregious irregularities. The public power, which should be the guardian of collective well-being, seemed to have been a silent accomplice in the construction of this catastrophe.
• The social and environmental impact: The most moving testimonies came from the residents themselves. Entire families have reported the pain of seeing their homes, built with the sweat of a lifetime, literally crumble. The CPI heard histories of respiratory diseases, chronic anxiety and depression - the human cost of an environmental tragedy. Ecologists presented alarming data on soil and water contamination, painting a bleak future for the local ecosystem.
• The search for justice: As the evidence piled up, the CPI became an arena for the clamor for justice. Representatives of the affected communities demanded more than simple financial compensation, they sought a fundamental change in the way corporations operate in vulnerable communities. Braskem, in turn, faced a dilemma: how to balance its legal responsibility with its moral obligation?

As the CPI reached its final conclusions, it became clear that this was not just a case of geological fault, but of ethical failure on multiple levels. The Maceió tragedy has exposed the cracks not only in the soil, but in the entire system that allows corporations to operate with impunity at the expense of local communities.

The final report of the CPI is not an end point, but a starting point. It calls for concrete action and a step change in how companies are held accountable for their impacts.

Questions for the discussion

1) How could Braskem have applied risk management principles to avoid or mitigate the crisis in Maceió? And what strategies could have been implemented to manage the immediate consequences, balancing the interests of residents, employees, shareholders and authorities?

2) How could Braskem's decision-making processes be redesigned to properly consider environmental and social issues, balancing these demands with profit objectives?

3) Analyze Braskem's organizational communication during the crisis. What flaws do you identify, and how could the company have improved its stakeholder communication strategy?

Gallery

Collapse of Braskem's mine in Maceió caused soil subsidence in some neighborhoods (Marco Antonio/Secom Maceió.

Map of priority action lines, defined by the Civil Defense of Maceió.

People affected by mining ask that Braskem be "evicted" from Maceió - Mykesio Max/MST Communication.

Mines 20 and 21, near mine 18, which collapsed, are under the waters of the Mundaú Lagoon and may have suffered damage - Photo: Edilson Omena.

REFERENCES:

AGÊNCIA BRASIL. Alagoas state on alert as rock salt mine risks collapse. 2023. Available at: https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/geral/noticia/2023-12/alagoas-state-alert-salt-mine-risks-collapse. Accessed on: 10 set. 2024.

AGÊNCIA BRASIL. Victims criticize agreement between public agencies and Braskem. 2023. Available at: https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2023-12/vitimas-criticam-acordo-de-orgaos-publicos-com-braskem. Accessed on: 22 out. 2024.

BRASIL DE FATO. Rent in Maceió skyrockets after news of the eviction of 17 thousand people. 2020. Available at: https://www.brasildefato.com.br/2020/01/15/valor-do-aluguel-em-maceio-dispara-apos-noticia-do-despejo-de-17-mil-pessoas. Accessed on: 10 set. 2024.

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IBGE. IBGE releases the Population Estimates of the municipalities for 2018. 2018. Available at: https://agenciadenoticias.ibge.gov.br/agencia-sala-de-imprensa/2013-agencia-de-noticias/releases/22374-ibge-divulga-as-estimativas-de-populacao-dos-municipios-para-2018. Accessed on: 15 Aug. 2024.

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About The Authors

Jéssica Lainne Ramos Tavares is a Geologist from the University of Brasília (UnB), with specializations in Water and Environmental Management from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) and in Competitive Intelligence and Marketing Innovation. He is currently a student of Administration at the Department of Administration (ADM/FACE) at UnB and works in the area of People Management at the State Secretariat for Social Development of the Federal District. He is a volunteer member of the ADM Casoteca.  Interest in topics related to People Management, Women's Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Marketing. Contact: jessicalainnet@gmail.com

Victoria Cristina Ferreira Versiane she is a student at the Department of Administration (ADM/FACE) at the University of Brasília (UnB). He is a volunteer member of the ADM Casoteca. E-mail: vitoria.fv664@gmail.com

Patrícia Guarnieri is a Professor at the Department of Administration and the Graduate Program in Administration (PPGA) at the University of Brasília (UnB). Postdoctoral internship at the Università di Bologna - Circular Economy (2019- 2020). Postdoctoral internship at the University of Brasília - Strategic Public Procurement (2016-2018). PhD in Production Engineering from the Federal University of Pernambuco (2009-2012). Master's degree in Production Engineering from the Federal Technological University of Paraná (2005-2006). Interest in topics related to Supply Logistics and Reverse Logistics, Management of partnerships and collaborative relationships in SCM, Circular Economy. Environmental, social governance and Decision analysis. E-mail: pguarnieri@unb.br