Brazil establishes a new legal framework for critical minerals, aiming to boost domestic industrialization and attract strategic investments, thereby strengthening national sovereignty.
The global race for strategic resources, essential for the energy and technological transition, gains a new chapter in Brazil. A crucial piece of legislation has recently been sanctioned, designed to reshape the country’s role in the critical minerals landscape. The initiative seeks not only to extract but also to add value to these resources, focusing on the entire production cycle.
This move represents a significant step for Brazil to position itself as a key player in the global supply of fundamental raw materials. The main goal is to transform mineral wealth into internal technological and economic development, attracting investments in processing and refining stages, which traditionally occur in other nations.
A New Horizon for Brazilian Mining
The presidential sanction has established the National Policy for Critical and Strategic Minerals (PNMCE). Concurrently, the National Council for the Industrialization of Critical and Strategic Minerals (CIMCE) was created, and its council members have already been appointed.
CIMCE, which will be directly linked to the Presidency of the Republic, will play a central role in formulating the National Plan for Critical and Strategic Minerals. This plan will be the master guideline for the sector’s priorities. Furthermore, the council will have the prerogative to validate corporate operations in critical minerals projects, always prioritizing national interest.
President Lula underscored the significance of the moment, comparing the current global fervor for critical minerals to the “gold rush” of the 19th century. He highlighted that the new legal framework offers the world:
A new agenda for the mining of the future.
Economic and Geopolitical Impact
The Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, has already anticipated the expectation of investment announcements for the coming week. These investments are expected to be a direct result of the new law, with a primary focus on processing and refining within Brazil.
The policy is viewed as a fundamental pillar for Brazilian reindustrialization. It aims to leverage installed capacity for beneficiation, separation, refining, and the production of advanced materials and industrial components. The pursuit of sovereignty over these resources was the decisive impulse for the legislation’s approval.
This scenario unfolds amid growing global interest, as evidenced by the U.S.’s attention to Brazil’s critical minerals and rare earths. This issue is also part of the trade tariff negotiations between the U.S. administration under Donald Trump and Brazil.
A study by Amcham Brasil projects a robust impact: the expansion of this supply chain could inject up to R$ 192 billion into the GDP and generate approximately 750,000 jobs by 2050.
Global Scenario and Strategic Importance
The strategic nature of critical minerals is undeniable on the international stage. Since the beginning of 2025, out of over 70 global commercial and economic cooperation agreements, about 63% have involved these essential raw materials. The U.S., for example, has signed more than 20 documents focused on this topic, while China registered four in the same period.
The importance of sovereignty and the security of supply chains was also a central point at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Amid concerns from Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the geopolitical use of these minerals, the final declaration from the leaders of the 11 member countries reinforced:
The need to promote reliable, responsible, diversified, resilient, fair, sustainable, and equitable supply chains for critical minerals.
The new policy and the recently created council position Brazil strategically in the reconfiguration of global supply chains. By focusing on value addition and industrialization, the country not only ensures greater control over its resources but also projects a future of enhanced economic and environmental security.
This step is vital for reindustrialization and for Brazil to reap the benefits of its vast mineral wealth in a sustainable and sovereign manner.
