Update: BHP Faces Legal Costs Claim in UK Over Mariana Dam Disaster

07:30 AM EST, 12/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates throughout to add more details and to add a comment from BHP) Legal representatives for the victims of the Mariana dam disaster in Brazil are demanding at least 189 million pounds sterling in costs from BHP Group (BHP.L, BHG.JO), London's Financial Times reported Wednesday. The claim filed with the High Court in London relates to a November 2025 ruling that found the mining giant liable for the 2015 fatal dam disaster. Lawyers for BHP said the new claim for the immediate payment of fees and others was "absurd" as there is no final decision on costs yet. In October 2026, a separate trial will be held to determine BHP's liability over the 36 billion-pound claim, with any damages bill expected to be split with Brazilian mining group Vale. According to BHP's website on reparations for the Fundão dam failure, over 610,000 people have received $6.3 billion in compensation and financial aid. For the English High Court ruling, meanwhile, BHP said it will appeal the decision and will continue to defend the UK group action, calling it "duplicative of remediation and compensation" already made in Brazil. BHP said it had no comment in response to a request from MT Newswires.