RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Executives at Brazilian miner Vale VALE3.SA said on Wednesday that the Samarco mine may resume operations around the end of this year or in early 2019, but cautioned that the process depends on obtaining environmental licenses.
Work at the Samarco mine, a joint venture between Vale and Australia's BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) BHP.AX , was halted after a tailings dam burst in November 2015, killing 19 people and unleashing Brazil's worst environmental crisis.