LatinNews Daily - 11 December 2023

* The municipal government of Maceió, capital of Alagoas state in Brazil’s north-eastern region, has announced that a salt mine in Mutange neighbourhood operated by Brazilian petrochemical company Braskem partially collapsed on 10 December, stating that no casualties have been registered. The mayor of Maceió, João Henrique Caldas, had declared an emergency on 29 November in response to rising concerns about geological disturbances caused by Braskem’s mining activity and the possibility of the mine’s collapse. As of 10 December, local authorities had not ascertained the full extent of the environmental damage. The high-profile local emergency has been closely watched by federal authorities. Senator Renan Calheiros has announced that the national congress would discuss the launch of a select committee inquiry (CPI) into Braskem this week. However, national media reports have revealed that the CPI faces resistance from federal lawmakers such as the president of the lower house, Arthur Lira, as well as from government officials who are reportedly concerned that an inquiry into the potential socio-environmental irresponsibility of Braskem could affect the reputation of state-controlled oil company Petrobras, a major shareholder in Braskem.