Brazil advances critical minerals strategy with BNDES‑Petrobras partnership and powershoring push

The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and state‑oil company Petrobras signed a protocol of intentions to cooperate on research, development and innovation for critical and strategic minerals. The agreement includes sharing information on production gaps and technological needs, targeting the energy transition and decarbonisation. Petrobras will involve its Cenpes research centre, and the partnership will back a carbon‑credit programme (ProFloresta+) that aims to generate green jobs and plant millions of native trees in the Amazon. Brazil ranks among the world’s top producers and holders of lithium, alumina, tin, graphite, manganese, nickel and rare‑earth reserves, positioning the country to become a key supplier of minerals needed for electrification.

Separately, the Brazilian Confederation of Industry (CNI) delivered a policy document to the 2026 presidential hopefuls urging the adoption of a "powershoring" strategy – integrating industrial development with low‑carbon energy. The paper highlights critical minerals, batteries, green hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel and other sectors as priority value‑chain opportunities. It calls for coordinated public support, financing and regulatory clarification, noting that the Senate is pending a legal framework for critical minerals. The proposal reflects growing political debate over how Brazil should leverage its mineral wealth for strategic and economic security.