A proposed bill in Brazil's Congress aims to establish a national rare earth reserve in the Poços de Caldas region, placing the responsibility for research and exploration under the federal government.
A new draft bill presented in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies proposes the establishment of a national reserve for rare earth minerals in the Poços de Caldas Plateau, located in the southern region of Minas Gerais and extending to the interior of São Paulo. The bill, authored by Congressman Patrus Ananias from the Workers' Party (PT), seeks to streamline the process of permitting for research and exploitation of these critical minerals by assigning this authority to the federal government.
Rare earth minerals are considered strategic resources essential for manufacturing advanced medical electronics, communication devices, batteries, and energy turbines. Their growing importance in global supply chains has prompted increased interest and competition among nations regarding their extraction and utilization. As such, the development of a national reserve in Brazil, which is home to one of the largest reserves of these minerals in the world, could play a significant role in the international market and geopolitical landscape.
The establishment of this reserve would define rare earths to include minerals containing lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium in any mineralogical form, whether concentrated or in intermediate compounds. This legislative initiative highlights Brazil's potential to emerge as a key player in the global rare earth sector, which is crucial for sustaining technological advancement and energy transitions worldwide.
