Brazil pushes critical minerals agenda with new law and green credit program

Oceana Metals board member Rodrigo Rosso warned that an amendment to Brazil's Bill 2,780, which establishes the National Policy for Critical and Strategic Minerals, gives the government broad discretionary power over the sector. He said the creation of a State Council with absolute authority could create regulatory uncertainty, deterring long‑term foreign and domestic investment in projects that require billions of reais and ten‑year development cycles.

Environment Minister João Paulo Capobianco highlighted the success of the Ecoinvest program, which has mobilised R$216 billion of private capital for climate‑focused financing. The upcoming fifth Ecoinvest auction will emphasize innovation and projects linked to critical minerals, aiming to build a domestic processing industry and avoid a pure export model. Capobianco also noted pending actions such as a decree on environmental services payments and the continuation of licensing for the controversial BR‑319 highway.