The Brazilian city of Itaguaí has fined a subsidiary of miner Vale for allegedly not complying with environment regulations, according to a statement from local authorities on Thursday.
Companhia Portuária Baía de Sepetiba (CPBS), Vale's port subsidiary, was fined 2.3-million reais ($430 348) after an inspection, the statement said.
The authorities said they inspected the iron-ore and solid bulk terminal on Madeira island in Rio de Janeiro state, which has an estimated loading capacity of 25,000 tonnes of iron ore per hour. The ore comes from Minas Gerais state by rail, authorities said.
The statement mentioned some 17 irregularities, including an operating license that expired about nine years ago.
In a statement to Reuters, Vale said CPBS has a valid operating license issued by state environmental agency Inea. The miner said it abides by the applicable laws to renew that license, adding that it operates under strict environmental controls.
Inea confirmed the state license is valid and being renewed.
In a separate incident last week, Rio de Janeiro's state environmental agency allowed Vale's iron ore terminal in Mangaratiba to reopen after closing it briefly for lacking a required operating permit.
ATP, an association representing private port operators, said on Thursday that the Rio de Janeiro authorities' decisions to close, suspend and fine the terminals in Itaguaí and Mangaratiba were "arbitrary."
In a statement, ATP said the accusations against the private port terminals are unfounded and could generate "big losses."