Da gestão dos stakeholders à  licença social para operar: o caso do desastre de Mariana

Abstract

The environmental disaster that occurred in the city of Mariana, located in the State of Minas Gerais, by the end of 2015 is considered the largest one taking place in Brazil. The dam collapse, whose responsibility was attributed to the mining company Samarco S.A., was responsible for the 34 million cubic meters mining waste washed across Doce River, which destroyed the city of Bento Rodrigues and killed nineteen people. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the relationship between the actions taken by Samarco and Renova Foundation and their most salient stakeholders in the city of Mariana, and its influence on the social license to operate. In order to fulfil such goal, the theoretical review approaches issues related to sustainability, stakeholders and social license to operate. This is a single case study since the object of our study is unique and meaningful and can be useful in analyzing similar cases. The primary data collection was accomplished through visits and interviews accomplished with salient stakeholders involved with the dam collapse. It was also possible to analyze secondary data, such as documents provided by the company, media reports and police investigation. After fulfilling the secondary objectives of the research, it was possible to conclude that the disaster was no fatality; Samarco seemed to be more inclined to generate profitespecially after the plunge in commodity pricesthan to focus on the security of its employees and communities surrounding the company. Despite the dissatisfaction of several stakeholders, the company would still be awarded with a social license to operate, considering that several communities still rely on mining as the main source of income and tax collection.

Brazilian approaches to crisis and risk in the context of communication: A field in search of legitimation

“…Cases of public figures and celebrities are addressed inNascimento (2017), which conveys a discussion involving the former president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, andWagner (2017) that deals with reputation management of celebrities through the case of Kim Kardashian. One of the biggest environmental disasters in Brazil, the rupture of the waste dam of the mining industry in the city of Mariana, State of Minas Gerais, is a case inMazzola (2018). Case studies are not concentrated in a specific type of scientific work, being recurrent among undergraduate and graduate research, articles in journals and conference proceedings.…”

Influência da relação com os stakeholders na presença de indicadores de sustentabilidade: estudos de casos no setor de mineração do Brasil

“…Mesmo sendo uma licença informal, a permissão concedida à mineração é essencial para sobrevivência da mesma. Mazzola (2018) relatou que a importância econômica da mineração impulsiona a licença social, ou seja, a comunidade recebe os benefícios econômicos, como empregos e capacitação profissional, e por isso concede a licença para operação da mineração. Levando em consideração o aspecto da licença social como imprescindível para a sobrevivência do negócio, é natural que as mineradoras operem no sentido de atender aos interesses dos stakeholders que possam conceder ou influenciar a concessão de tal licença (Gaviria, 2015).…”

“…Outro ponto a ser mencionado como limitação do método é a grande dependência das habilidades do pesquisador (Yin, 2010 Foi salientado que os principais interesses dos stakeholders da mineração são de cunho socioambiental, devido aos impactos causados aos grupos envolvidos (Mazzola, 2018;Gaviria, 2015;Baird et al, 2012;Mutti et al, 2012). Esses interesses são predominantemente das comunidades locais e dos colaboradores, já que são os stakeholders com maior proximidade das operações e também os mais impactados pelas externalidades da atividade minerária.…”

“…As empresas investigadas não citaram modelo de avaliação de desempenho utilizado, todavia, foi possível notar características de alguns daqueles que são consagrados na literatura. A ênfase da mineração está nos aspectos ambientais e sociais do DS, que predominantemente são interesses das comunidades e colaboradores (Mazzola, 2018;Gaviria, 2015;Holmes, 1977;Mutti, et al, 2012). Essa constatação reforça a priorização das comunidades e colaboradores mostrada neste estudo.…”