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In the Bahian Hinterland, Caetité Houses Brazil’s Only Active Uranium Mine, Essential for the Nuclear Sector, but Also Raises Fears of Contamination, Diseases, and Environmental Risks Among Residents and Experts
Located 645 kilometers from Salvador, in the hinterland of Bahia, is Caetité, a municipality with a little over 54,000 residents. The city has become a key point for the national energy sector because it houses Lagoa Real, the only uranium mine currently in operation in Brazil. The production of this material is considered strategic for the country, as uranium is essential for supplying nuclear power plants.
However, the activity also raises concerns due to the risks of radioactivity and potential environmental damage.
Production of Radioactive Material and Possibility of Expansion
According to the Brazilian Mining Institute (IBRAM), the unit located in Lagoa Real produces an average of 400 tons per year of the uranium concentrate known as yellowcake.
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This number, however, could double. There are plans aiming to reach 800 tons, should the Mina do Engenho and underground mining projects advance.
After a period of suspension, exploration resumed in 2020, supported by environmental licenses and expansion goals.
Caetité encompasses the first two stages of the nuclear fuel cycle: extraction and processing.
The Size of Brazil’s Reserves of the Material
The Red Book 2024, a joint publication of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), reveals that Brazil possesses 167.8 thousand tons of known uranium reserves. This represents about 3% of the world’s total.
With this volume, the country ranks 9th in the global standings, behind major producers such as Australia, Kazakhstan, and Canada.
In Lagoa Real, surveys confirm over 99 thousand tons, solidifying the region’s importance to Brazil’s energy matrix.
The Decadal Geology Plan (PLANGEO 2026–2035) plans additional prospecting studies. The goal is to elevate Brazil to more prominent positions in the international scenario.
New Projects in the Northeast
Another hub that could become strategic is Santa Quitéria, in Ceará. The project, conducted in partnership between the Nuclear Industries of Brazil (INB) and Galvani, aims for a production of up to 2.3 thousand tons of yellowcake per year.
The project is still in the environmental licensing phase, but if approved, it will have a double impact: reducing external dependence on uranium while strengthening the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers, vital for agribusiness.
This combination of energy and agriculture reinforces the role of the northeast in advancing Brazil’s self-sufficiency.
Benefits and Risks of Uranium Exploration
Despite its economic importance, mining in Caetité divides opinions. Part of the population and environmentalists fears effects on public health and the environment.
Criticism focuses mainly on possible contamination of groundwater. Uranium, being radioactive, requires strict safety protocols.
The government and the mining sector argue that the activity is indispensable for the country’s energy future. This is because uranium is the foundation of the nuclear matrix expansion, considered a clean and strategic alternative.
When Wealth Becomes a Threat
The extraction of uranium brings benefits, but also serious risks. The dust and waste released in the process contain radioactive particles.
These elements, when inhaled or ingested, pose a danger to workers and neighboring communities, increasing the chances of respiratory diseases and cancer.
Thus, any failure in safety measures can result in long-term consequences.
The Invisible Fear of Uranium Radioactivity
The greatest concern lies in the potential contamination of rivers and aquifers. In the hinterland, where water is a scarce resource, this risk is especially critical.
A radioactive leak would compromise human consumption, agriculture, and livestock, all of which are economic pillars of Caetité.
Residents report suspicions of contamination in artesian wells, although the state-owned INB maintains a constant monitoring program. Nevertheless, the feeling of insecurity persists.
The Duality of Caetité
The city lives a daily contradiction. While the uranium from Lagoa Real powers the plants that light up the country, residents live with the fear of what cannot be seen: the radioactivity produced by the material.
Caetité is simultaneously a symbol of progress and a warning. In the heart of the Bahian hinterland, the wealth that drives Brazil’s energy future walks hand in hand with the shadow of a silent and permanent risk.
With information from Diário do Comércio.
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