The Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, stated on Wednesday (11) that critical and strategic minerals represent a historic opportunity for Brazil and could become the country’s “new oil”. The statement was made during a public hearing of the Mines and Energy Committee (CME) of the Chamber of Deputies, in a debate on the future of the Brazilian mineral sector.
The minister highlighted that the federal government sees potential in the mineral sector to boost economic growth and expand national development, especially given the growing global demand for minerals used in technologies related to the energy transition.
According to Silveira, upon taking command of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, he identified gaps in the institutional structure geared towards mining. He cited as an example the absence of an agency equivalent to the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) dedicated specifically to formulating strategic guidelines for the mineral sector.
“For me, it was a surprise to be Minister of Mines and Energy of Brazil, to have the CNPE [National Energy Policy Council] with 16 ministers of state, which takes care of the entire electric, oil, gas, and fuel sector, and not have the CNPM, which is for the mineral sector, at the advent of critical and strategic minerals which is Brazil’s ‘new oil’,” he stated.
During the hearing, the minister also advocated changes to the mineral legislation with the aim of reducing the concentration of mining titles in the hands of large companies. The issue was discussed in the committee and includes proposals to increase the participation of smaller mining companies in already granted areas.
The review of the Mineral Code is supported by parliamentarians who assess that it is possible to expand the exploitation of mineral resources, including through the extraction of substances present in tailings from large operations.
Silveira criticized what he considers excessive concentration of mining rights and stated that the Brazilian subsoil belongs to society. “I have many criticisms not only of Vale do Rio Doce, but of the mineral sector. I am a staunch critic [of the fact that] our Brazilian subsoil is registered in the name of the country’s large mining companies. And those who also want to, the smaller ones and others who want to develop the country, cannot exploit it because they consider themselves owners of the subsoil that belongs to the Brazilian people. I think we have to review the law,” he declared.
For the minister, advances in the exploration of minerals considered strategic can transform the mineral sector into a relevant axis of economic development, especially given the growing importance of these resources in the global technology and energy industry.