Brazil Advances Strategic Mineral Policy with New Governance and Senate Bill in 2025
Brazil strengthens mineral policy in 2025 through new governance structures and Senate legislation focused on critical minerals, positioning the country in the global supply chain.
- • The Ministry of Mines and Energy established the National Mineral Policy Council (CNPM) to guide strategic mineral sector policies.
- • Four Working Groups were formed to address regulatory, sustainability, and oversight issues.
- • The Senate is advancing a bill to create a national policy for critical minerals, including lithium, nickel, graphite, and rare earths.
- • The legislative project includes financing, research incentives, and Mineral Processing Zones to boost industrialization.
Key details
In 2025, Brazil has made significant progress in advancing its mineral policy through governance reforms and legislative initiatives focused on critical minerals, pivotal for the country's economic and strategic positioning.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) held the inaugural meeting of the National Mineral Policy Council (CNPM) on October 16, 2025, marking a milestone in the country's mineral governance. Presided over by Minister Alexandre Silveira and attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the meeting led to the establishment of four Working Groups targeting regulatory fees, critical minerals production chains, sustainable mining development, and improved oversight of mining activities. Silveira emphasized the Council's crucial role in shaping Brazil’s mining future, particularly enhancing its participation in global value chains and supporting responsible energy transition objectives.
Concurrently, the Brazilian Senate is advancing a key legislative project aimed at creating a national policy for critical minerals. This proposed bill seeks to establish the Brazilian List of Critical and Strategic Minerals, defining guidelines to guarantee supply of essential resources such as lithium, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements. These materials are vital for high-tech industries including electric vehicle batteries, wind and solar energy, and semiconductors.
The bill also proposes financing instruments, research incentives, and the creation of Mineral Processing Zones (ZPTMs) to facilitate industrialization with streamlined licensing and special operational regimes. Following the reopening of the amendment submission deadline, stakeholders have additional opportunities to influence the legislation. Senators, including rapporteur Amin, have expressed intent to expedite the bill's approval in the Senate ahead of the similar project’s progress in the Chamber of Deputies.
These developments occur amid international interest, notably from U.S. President Donald Trump seeking greater influence in the critical minerals sector. Brazil’s policy advancements signal a strategic effort to secure and leverage its mineral wealth for sustainable growth and geopolitical significance.
Together, the governance innovations led by the CNPM and the prospective national critical minerals policy legislation represent a comprehensive approach to Brazil’s mineral sector modernization and strategic planning in 2025.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.