Brazil enacts national policy for critical and strategic minerals

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sanctioned Law 15.506/26, establishing the National Policy for Critical and Strategic Minerals (PNMCE) in Brazil. The legislation serves as a legal framework for the exploration, processing, refining, and transformation of minerals essential for high-tech industries, including electric vehicles, smartphones, military systems, and data centers.

A key component of the law is the creation of the Mineral Activity Guarantee Fund (FGAM), which includes an initial federal allocation of R$ 2 billion. Additionally, R$ 5 billion is earmarked to incentivize the domestic processing and transformation of these minerals. The policy aims to move Brazil beyond being a mere exporter of raw materials by increasing value addition within the country.

The law also establishes the National Council for the Industrialization of Critical and Strategic Minerals (CIMCE), linked to the Presidency. This council, composed of government, private sector, and academic representatives, will coordinate the policy and develop a National Plan for Critical and Strategic Minerals. To align with sustainability goals, the law introduces a low-carbon mineral certificate.