The Brazilian federal government recently enacted legislation establishing the National Policy on Critical and Strategic Minerals. The new legal framework sets guidelines to foster research, extraction, and processing of these resources in Brazil, with projections to allocate up to BRL 7 billion through incentives for sector projects.
The Guarantee Fund and Research Fostering
One of the main instruments introduced by the law is the creation of the Mineral Activity Guarantee Fund (Fgam). The fund will receive an initial contribution of BRL 2 billion from the federal government, potentially reaching up to BRL 5 billion. Fgam aims to guarantee enterprises and operations linked to the production of critical minerals, remaining restricted to projects classified as priorities under the new policy.
In addition to the fund, the Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB) will receive a substantial budgetary increase, rising from BRL 8 million to BRL 300 million. This transfer aims to expand knowledge of the national subsoil, as only about 25% of Brazilian territory has been mapped to date.
Governance and the National Council
Alongside the enactment of the law, a presidential decree established the National Council for the Industrialization of Critical and Strategic Minerals. This body will be responsible for coordinating, planning, and monitoring the national policy. The council will be tasked with proposing public policies aimed at developing supply chains, focusing on domestic industrialization and refining technologies.
The design of the policy reflects a focus on sovereignty over natural resources. The government highlighted its intention to avoid exporting critical minerals solely in raw form, prioritizing the development of a robust domestic mining market and the qualification of specialized professionals through partnerships with universities and federal institutes.
The Investor Landscape and the Energy Transition
Critical minerals and rare earths are essential inputs for high-tech industries, such as the automotive, defense, and energy transition sectors. Brazil holds the world’s second-largest mapped reserves of rare earths, with approximately 21 million tons, behind only China, which holds around 44 million tons.
The mining sector is characterized by its high capital intensity. As highlighted by Pablo Cesário, representative of the Brazilian Mining Institute (Ibram), in the context of the law’s enactment:
Mining requires intensive investments and production cycles that often reach 40 years. Therefore, predictability and stability, especially tax stability, are indispensable premises for attracting long-term investment.
Practical Outlook
The establishment of the National Policy on Critical and Strategic Minerals signals a regulatory effort to attract domestic and foreign capital. Market participants and investors should monitor the upcoming resolutions from the National Council, which will define the qualification criteria for priority projects eligible for support from the Guarantee Fund.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on specific matters, consult a qualified lawyer.