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 focused on 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 the Minister of Mines and Energy of Brazil, to have the CNPE [National Energy Policy Council] with 16 cabinet ministers, which oversees the entire electricity, oil, gas, and fuels sector, and not have the CNPM, which is for the mineral sector, in the face of the arrival of critical and strategic minerals that are Brazil’s ‘new oil’”, he stated.
During the hearing, the minister also advocated for changes in mining legislation aimed at 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 small mining companies in already granted areas.
The revision of the Mining Code is supported by lawmakers who believe it is possible to expand the exploration of mineral resources, including through the extraction of substances present in tailings from large mining operations.
Silveira criticized what he considers an excessive concentration of mining rights and stated that Brazil’s subsoil belongs to society. “I have many criticisms not only of Vale do Rio Doce, but of the mineral sector as a whole. I am a fierce 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 small companies 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 need to review the law”, he declared.
According to the minister, advances in the exploration of minerals considered strategic could transform the mineral sector into a relevant engine of economic development, especially given the growing importance of these resources in the global technology and energy industry.
Source: brasil247.com