The Race for Rare Minerals in the Amazon Begins — And Brazil Must Decide Whether It Will Be Sovereign or Dependent

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 11/09/2025 at 15:22

Updated on 11/09/2025 at 15:24

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The International Race for Strategic Minerals of the Amazon Places Brazil Before the Dilemma Between Economic Development, Environmental Preservation, and National Sovereignty

The Amazon is going through a decisive period because the world is experiencing an energy transition and a global race for critical minerals. Powers are competing for access to niobium, tantalum, tin, thorium, and rare earth elements. These elements are located in the state’s underground and are essential for high-tech industries.

Despite this wealth, a large part of the population continues to face poverty, especially in the interior. The challenge is clear: to transform mineral resources into sovereignty and development without losing sight of environmental preservation.

Pitinga Mine as an Example

In Presidente Figueiredo, 119 kilometers from Manaus, lies the Pitinga Mine. The site encapsulates the dilemma between economic exploitation and national responsibility.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Other Municipalities on the Mineral Route

The issue, however, is not limited to Presidente Figueiredo. Cities such as Autazes, São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Nova Olinda do Norte, Itacoatiara, and Apuí also have reserves.

These areas contain potassium, niobium, tantalum, and tin, minerals considered essential both for the energy transition and for food security.

Therefore, it is not possible to allow the discussion to be restricted to commercial contracts. A national debate is necessary on how to explore these resources in a responsible and strategic manner.

Risk of External Dependence

The warning came from the director of the Brazilian Mining Institute, Júlio Nery. According to him, China already concentrates 95% of the world’s production of rare earths.

If Brazil allows its deposits to remain under external control, it will forfeit its prominence in a sector fundamental to the green economy and technological future.

Moreover, the global scenario is marked by tensions between China and the United States, which reinforces the need for the country to secure its sovereignty over these assets.

International Experiences

There are clear examples of how to transform natural resources into geopolitical power. Chile has elevated lithium as a platform for international insertion.

Canada and Australia have created legislation that unites mineral exploration, social return, and protection of sovereignty.

Brazil needs to follow a similar path, especially in the Amazon. Mining should have science, technology, and responsibility as its central pillars.

Path for Brazil

The state recently created the Secretary of Mining. The aim is to prioritize the topic within planning policies.

This is an attempt to provide more clarity to the management of resources and reduce the lack of regulation that characterizes the sector.

Strengthening national sovereignty over minerals means ensuring that exploration, processing, and industrialization occur under public interest.

It is essential that part of this wealth be allocated to health, education, innovation, and public safety.

Only then will it be possible to transform potential into real social development.

Global Protagonism

Brazil needs to build a complete production chain. This will allow the transformation of strategic minerals into qualified jobs, technological innovation, and global competitiveness.

By following this path, the country can assume a leading role in the green economy.

Dispute in Progress

The race for the mineral resources of the Amazon has already begun. The future depends on a decision: whether Brazil will merely be a spectator or will lead the transformation of this wealth into sovereignty and progress.

With information from Gazeta do Povo.

The Race for Rare Minerals in the Amazon Begins — And Brazil Must Decide Whether It Will Be Sovereign or Dependent

The International Race for Strategic Minerals of the Amazon Places Brazil Before the Dilemma Between Economic Development, Environmental Preservation, and National Sovereignty

Pitinga Mine as an Example

Other Municipalities on the Mineral Route

Risk of External Dependence

International Experiences

Path for Brazil

Global Protagonism

Dispute in Progress

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The Race for Rare Minerals in the Amazon Begins — And Brazil Must Decide Whether It Will Be Sovereign or Dependent

The International Race for Strategic Minerals of the Amazon Places Brazil Before the Dilemma Between Economic Development, Environmental Preservation, and National Sovereignty

Pitinga Mine as an Example

Other Municipalities on the Mineral Route

Risk of External Dependence

International Experiences

Path for Brazil

Global Protagonism

Dispute in Progress

The Soviet Union spent 22 years drilling into the Earth’s crust and reached a depth of 12,262 meters — they found water where it was thought impossible, hydrogen bubbling from the rock, granite that is 2.7 billion years old, and temperatures of 180 degrees that melted the drill bits.

Norway is drilling 27 kilometers of rock 392 meters below the bottom of a fjord to build the world’s largest and deepest underwater road tunnel — when completed, a 21-hour journey will be reduced to 10.

Chinese engineers begin filling a 217-meter dam at an altitude of 3,000 meters and prepare a 2,240 MW hydroelectric power plant to integrate hydropower, solar, and wind energy in the upper Jinsha.

A German architect built a cylindrical house in 1994 that rotates to follow the sun throughout the day, generates 5 times more energy than it consumes, and was the world’s first energy-positive house.

An astronaut spent 340 days in space while his twin brother stayed on Earth, and NASA found a “rejuvenating” effect, genes, microbiome, cognition, and immune system that revealed the biological cost of living outside the planet.

China has just successfully tested the world’s first ground effect maritime vehicle, a craft that flies up to 6 meters above the water at 200 km/h, uses quantum technology and 6G communication, and can rescue patients in the middle of the ocean.

Dentist explains why some people hardly brush their teeth and have no cavities, while others suffer even with good hygiene: genetics, saliva pH, acidic mouth, tartar, and sensitivity help to understand the differences and risks to oral health.

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