Big miner BHP is providing more funds to the foundation that is rebuilding and cleaning up the site of a massive mining disaster in Brazil.

Key points: The mine collapse is considered the largest environmental disaster in Brazil's history

The mine collapse is considered the largest environmental disaster in Brazil's history BHP's latest round of funding will be subject to the achievement of key milestones

BHP's latest round of funding will be subject to the achievement of key milestones Three companies are being sued by Brazilian authorities for more than $US50 billion

Nineteen people were killed, villages were swept away, hundreds were left homeless and rivers were polluted after a waste dam burst in November 2015 at the Samarco iron ore mine, which is owned by BHP and fellow iron ore giant Vale.

The mine collapse is considered to be the largest environmental disaster in Brazil's history.

The big miner will provide new finance of $US181 million ($235 million) to be spent before the end of the financial year to clean up Samarco.

$US133 million ($172 million) will go to the Renova Foundation, the charity set up to do restoration works and compensate people.

$US48 million ($62 million) will be available for Samarco, the joint venture company which runs the mine, for ongoing repairs and the restart of mining.

But BHP said in a statement that funds will be released to Samarco only as required and "subject to achievement of key milestones".

The mine collapse polluted rivers and left hundreds homeless. ( ABC News: Greg Nelson )

The finance is part of a deal agreed last year where Samarco, Vale and BHP will pay up to $US2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) over six years for restoration work and compensation.

The three companies are being sued by Brazilian authorities for more than $US50 billion ($64 billion) over the disaster.

They have until late April to negotiate a settlement.

An investigation into the disaster commissioned by BHP, Vale and Samarco found the collapse was due to a range of construction and design flaws.

BHP has taken multi-billion-dollar writedowns because of the Samarco disaster and operations remains suspended at the mine.

BHP shares were up 1.3 per cent to $29.20 at midday (AEDT).