Brazil opens critical‑minerals sector to foreign investors under sovereignty rules

Finance Minister Dario Durigan announced on 25 May 2026 that Brazil will welcome foreign investment in critical and rare‑earth minerals, provided investors respect national sovereignty. The statement was made after the launch of the fifth Eco Invest auction in São Paulo, a Treasury programme designed to unlock private capital for sustainable projects.

Durigan said the initiative aims to attract funding for the beneficiation of critical minerals, green fertilizers, advanced green fuels, industrial AI, battery systems, electric vehicles, green chemistry, biomaterials and waste circularity. He emphasized that Brazil wants to keep added value within the country, creating legal frameworks and specific regulations to ensure that mining does not repeat past export‑only models and that domestic firms develop technology in partnership with universities, generating quality jobs.