The National Congress has approved strategic measures for data centers and critical minerals, signaling shifts in energy policy and industrial control in Brazil ahead of the elections.
The final stretch of the concentrated legislative effort in the National Congress before the elections was marked by significant decisions for Brazilian infrastructure. During an intense week of voting, lawmakers advanced key agendas for energy transition and industrial development, setting new horizons for the data center sector and the critical minerals market.
The highlight is the approval of PLP 74/2026, which paves the way for the implementation of Redata. With this measure, projects with tax exemptions already mapped in the 2026 budget are exempt from budgetary caps, injecting billions in investments projected for the expansion of data processing centers across the country.
Digital Expansion and the Inclusion of Natural Gas
The government anticipates a significant transformation in the sector. Currently, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) is tracking an impressive demand of 38 GW in connection requests. Of this amount, 7.1 GW have already achieved technical viability, representing a financial investment of approximately R$ 159 billion. As a counterpart to the tax incentives, these developments must prove their use of sustainable or low-impact energy sources.
One of the most debated changes occurred in the base text, where the replacement of the term “clean energy” allowed for the inclusion of natural gas as a power source for these centers. The amendment, spearheaded by Minister Alexandre Silveira, drew immediate reactions from market players.
While sectors linked to nuclear energy and biogas are advocating for a leading role in the regulation, segments involved in wind power and energy storage are seeking ways to limit the role of fossil fuels in the data centers’ supply mix.
Sovereignty Over Strategic Minerals
Simultaneously with the data center agenda, the Federal Senate approved the legal framework for critical minerals (PL 2780/2024). The new legislation establishes an industrialization council with the authority to monitor corporate operations of national interest, reacting directly to the rise of foreign capital in strategic assets, such as the Serra Verde mine in Goiás.
The possibility of using the Climate Fund to finance the processing of these resources, however, is causing division. The Climate Observatory has expressed concern, arguing that the measure could distort the fund’s original purpose. In parallel, utility companies like Light and Taesa are already redesigning their contingency plans, anticipating that the growth of electrification and the severe effects of El Niño will require much more resilient transmission and distribution grids.
The success of these policies will now depend on presidential sanction and the capacity for dialogue between the government and the regulated entities. Brazil finds itself at a crossroads, attempting to balance the urgent need for technological expansion with the preservation of its natural resources and the stability of an energy matrix under constant global pressure.
