Brazilian mining regulation and environmental oversight

The Brazilian mining sector is facing scrutiny regarding regulatory integrity and environmental governance. Mauro Henrique Moreira Sousa, Director-General of the National Mining Agency (ANM), has come under investigation for a trip to Australia funded by a private association. While official agency documents described the mission as having “partial burden,” the director’s own agenda listed the trip as “Private Cost.” The funding, provided by the Agency for the Development and Innovation of the Brazilian Mineral Sector (ADIMB), covered flights and accommodation for meetings with companies currently undergoing ANM regulatory processes.

In a separate legal development, the Brazilian Association of Mining Municipalities (AMIG Brasil) is challenging the General Environmental Licensing Law (Law 15.190/2025) in the Supreme Federal Court. The association argues that the law may weaken environmental oversight and diminish the autonomy of local governments by allowing licensing to proceed without verifying compatibility with municipal land use norms. AMIG Brasil also expressed concerns that the law could restrict requirements for mitigating cumulative impacts, such as increased heavy vehicle traffic.