In September 2022, people from communities that were lost to damage caused by salt mines in Northern Brazil celebrated after securing the right to sue petrochemical company Braskem in the Dutch courts.   

The claimants, who have seen their homes collapse and neighbourhoods disappear beyond repair in the municipality of Maceió, Alagoas, due to the nature of Braskem’s mining, are one step closer to justice.  

They will now have their case for compensation assessed in the Dutch courts after Braskem S.A, the largest petro-chemical company in Brazil, failed to offer adequate and fair redress.   

Partner at Pogust Goodhead, Marc Krestin, said: “Taking this case to the Dutch courts is about getting justice for the people who have lost everything as a result of the mining activities of Braskem.  

“They have lost their homes, their community and their sense of identity due to this large corporation taking what it wants from the land and not giving a second thought to the environment and people around them that it may harm. We are fighting so that this does not happen again.

“We now urge Braskem to take note of this ruling, stop denying responsibility for its actions and do the right thing by all those that have been harmed.”  

Pogust Goodhead pursues the case in partnership with law firms Neves Macieywski, Garcia e Advogados Associados, Omena Advocacia, Araújo e Máximo Advogados Associados, and Lemstra Van der Korst.