Brazil's mining regulator faces budget cut amid push for critical mineral policy

Pablo Cesário, president of the Brazilian Institute of Mining (IBRAM), said mining is essential for the energy transition, citing rising demand for AI, data centers and digitalization. He opened the International Seminar on Critical and Strategic Minerals, highlighting Brazil’s unique mineral resources and the recent approval of Bill 2780/2024 establishing a national policy for critical minerals, now awaiting Senate review.

ANM director Mauro Sousa warned that the federal government’s R$22 million budget freeze will strain the agency’s ability to regulate critical mineral projects, slowdown auction timelines, and limit capacity for environmental oversight. Sousa noted the agency currently operates with a modest staff of four on the issue, handling thousands of pending mining proposals. Both speakers emphasized the growing international interest in Brazil’s mineral reserves and the need for coordinated foreign‑policy and domestic regulation.