Brazilian court to rule on whether Belo Sun’s Amazon gold mine stays suspended

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SAO PAULO —
A highly contested mining project in the
Brazilian
Amazon rainforest operated by Canadian company Belo Sun is expected to reach a key development Wednesday, when a
Brazilian court will rule
on whether to uphold a decision that could advance the project.

The court in Brasilia will determine whether the federal government or the northern state of Para, where the mine is planned, has authority to grant environmental licenses for the project.

Belo Sun has sought since 2012 to establish the Volta Grande gold mine on the banks of the Xingu River in Para state. The site lies about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from Belo Monte, the world’s third-largest hydroelectric dam, whose operations have reduced the river’s flow and severely affected local communities.

Here’s what to know about the case and what comes next:

The Volta Grande mine is projected to be the largest
gold extraction site in the Brazilian Amazon.