SAO PAULO, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Samarco Mineração SA, the Brazilian iron ore mining joint venture that suspended operations in November following a dam disaster, on Monday said it had missed a $20 million interest payment related to a senior unsecured bond due in 2023.
The payment on the $700 million bond was due on Monday and the company has 30 days to remedy the situation, according to a statement on the company's website.
This is the second bond payment that the company has missed in the space of a month. On Sept. 26, the joint venture owned by Vale VALE5.SA and BHP Biliton Ltda BHP.AX did not pay around $13.5 million related to a $500 million bond obligation due in 2024. continues to explore options to restructure its debt," according to the statement.
Samarco has $2.2 billion in outstanding bond obligations and about $1.6 billion of bank loans. Samarco faces about $54 million in interest payments on three bonds through November.