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With the potential to generate R$1 billion per year, uranium and phosphate mining in Santa Quitéria could make Brazil self-sufficient in fertilizers and nuclear energy. But the extraction requires high water consumption and raises fears of radioactive contamination. Environmentalists warn of the risks, while the government is betting on development. The final decision will be made on February 18. Is it worth it?
In the backlands of Ceará, an ambitious project is about to come to fruition or not. Santa Quitéria could be home to the largest uranium mine in Brazil, a project that promises economic development but also raises questions about its environmental impacts. After all, will it be worth it?
what is at stake?
The Itataia Farm, the epicenter of this discussion, could become a huge mining site. The plan is to open a crater almost 1 km wide and 160 meters deep to extract colophanite, a mineral that combines phosphate and uranium.
But there is an important detail: 99,8% of what will be removed from there is phosphate, a raw material for fertilizers, while uranium represents only 0,2%. In other words, officially the focus is to meet agricultural demand, but uranium, a valuable byproduct, may run out. playing a strategic role.
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The problem is that separating these minerals requires a considerable amount of water, a scarce resource in the region. The first project, vetoed by Ibama, predicted a consumption of 30% of the flow of the Edson Queiroz reservoir. After adjustments, the new plan promises to reduce this impact to 10%. But will this solve the problem?
Project benefits and risks
The benefits cannot be ignored. Phosphate extraction can reduce Brazil's dependence on imported fertilizers, which currently account for around 80% of the total. Not to mention that the project promises to generate up to 6 direct and indirect jobs, boosting the local economy.
According to Epoca Negocios, in the energy sector, uranium exploration could make Brazil multiply its production of this mineral by 11, making the country self-sufficient and even a possible exporter. And the estimated revenue? Something in the region of R$1 billion per year. Not bad, right?
But not everything is rosy. Residents of quilombola communities, such as Queimadas, fear that radioactivity from uranium will contaminate the soil, water and air. What's more, many say they would lose their customers if mining were to begin, since no one wants to buy food from a region associated with environmental risks.
Not to mention that any problem in the process can have consequences serious consequences for the drought that is already punishing the region. Even with promises to reduce water consumption, environmentalists remain wary.
The role of uranium in the Brazilian energy matrix
Now let's think about the strategic side. The whole world is looking for more reliable energy sources, and uranium plays an important role in this. Countries in Europe and Asia are already investing more in nuclear energy, especially in the face of the fossil fuel crisis.
Brazil, with its natural reserves, could ride this wave and ensure greater energy security. But does it make sense to invest in this source now?
The historical deterioration of nuclear energy in Brazil
And here comes another problem: nuclear energy in Brazil already has a troubled history. Who doesn't remember the soap opera Angra 3? The plant began to be built in the 1980s, is 65% ready, has already consumed R$12 billion and still needs another R$23 billion to be finished.
Oh, and then there's the issue of nuclear waste. What to do with radioactive waste? Safe storage can take thousands of years, which means a long-term commitment that few countries want to make.
Nuclear energy is not cheap. The BNDES estimated that the megawatt generated by Angra 3 would cost R$653, one of the most expensive on the market. In other words, is it worth investing more in this technology?
What comes next?
The decision on the Santa Quitéria mine is scheduled for February 18, when the National Energy Policy Council will make its decision. If approved, the mining project could boost the nuclear sector and reduce dependence on imported fertilizers. But if it is blocked, Brazil will continue to import most of what it needs for agribusiness and will not be able to explore an energy potential that many countries are coveting.
