English 
Francês 
Alemão 
Italiano 
Japonês 
Norueguês 
Portuguese 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
38 comments 
Investments in Minas Gerais: A New Chapter in Mining, Bringing a Promising Future with Significant Agreements and Growth Opportunities
Minas Gerais is about to enter a new era of mining, with St. George Mining closing a significant agreement worth R$ 2 billion for the extraction of niobium and rare earth elements at the Araxá Project, located in Alto Paranaíba.
The announcement was made exclusively by the Secretary of Economic Development, Fernando Passalio, who had previously revealed an investment of R$ 420 million from two mining companies.
With the state government’s mission in Australia still underway, nearly R$ 2.5 billion in investments have already been attracted to the state.
-
Unemployment rises again to 5.8% at the beginning of 2026, raising alarms about the end of temporary positions and its impact on the Brazilian job market.
-
Document organization can cut invisible costs in small businesses, a simple step that prevents waste, rework, and losses in daily operations.
-
Chinese giant worth nearly R$ 4 billion that manufactures cables for electric cars, solar energy, and robotics wants to open a factory in SC.
-
Brazil extracts 26.3 million tons of ore from what was previously treated as waste, transforming residues into wealth, producing over 3 million tons of sand, and demonstrating how national mining is relearning to generate value.
After the Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Lightning Minerals Limited and Perpetual Resources, which anticipate investments of R$ 20 million and R$ 400 million, respectively, the agreement with St. George represents an important milestone for mining in Minas Gerais.
Project Details: Phases and Job Opportunities
The investments from St. George Mining will be directed towards the study, development, and operation phases of the mine, which is expected to begin construction in 2026 and start operations in 2027.
As a result, the expectation is to achieve an annual production capacity of up to 20,000 tons of niobium and rare earth elements.
As part of the mining company’s commitment, the company has pledged to prioritize the use of local suppliers and labor, as well as assess the region’s infrastructure needs.
This strategy aims to stimulate the development of the raw materials and strategic materials sector, with an expectation of creating 400 direct jobs and up to 1,000 indirect jobs.
A New Perspective for Mining in Minas
Fernando Passalio, who leads the mining delegation in Australia, commented on the importance of this historic moment: “We are opening doors that Minas Gerais has never opened before.”
The state had never been seen by Australia, one of the world’s largest mining powers.
Now, we are showing that we exceed in mineral wealth, safe environment, and quality of life.”
Diversification and New Investments Underway
Besides the arrival of St. George, Passalio highlighted the importance of diversification in the sector.
The extraction of niobium, which is currently monopolized by CBMM, will now include St. George, which also focuses on battery-related production.
The secretary mentioned that other investments are being negotiated and should be announced in the coming weeks, with the team of Governor Romeu Zema visiting countries such as Japan, China, Portugal, and Azerbaijan.
Impact on the Mining Economy and Future Projects with Rare Earth Elements and Niobium
Investments in Minas Gerais are elevating the state’s economy to a new level.
As of October, the state had already attracted R$ 64 billion in private investments, with a goal to reach R$ 80 billion by 2025. Passalio emphasized that investment diversification includes sectors such as fertilizers, electronics, automobiles, and solar energy.
“We are working on different fronts to attract investment. The Jequitinhonha Valley, with the creation of the Lithium Valley, is becoming a hub of prosperity, generating jobs and income,” explained Passalio, highlighting the importance of mineral extraction for economic development.
Benefits for Municipalities and the Productive Chain
Investments will also bring direct benefits to various municipalities.
The investment of R$ 400 million from Perpetual Resources will be directed to research and operation projects focused on lithium and rare earth extraction, creating 300 direct jobs in the regions of Araçuaí, Salinas, Itaobim, Governador Valadares, and Poços de Caldas.
Additionally, Lightning Minerals Limited plans an initial investment of R$ 20 million, creating 20 direct jobs in the initial stages of the Caraíbas, Canabrava, and Esperança projects.
Commitment to Sustainable Development
Finally, the secretary highlighted the collaboration with the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais (Fiemg) and rare earth mining companies, which seek to invest in the CIT Senai ITR, the first rare earth magnet factory in Latin America, located in Lagoa Santa.
“These partnerships aim for advanced research for magnet production in Minas Gerais, promoting the vertical integration of the productive chain,” concluded Passalio.
With all these efforts and investments, the future of mining in Minas Gerais appears promising, opening new horizons for economic development and the responsible exploration of natural resources.
Os nossos políticos vendem , e o troco ficam com os políticos em países da Ásia, vergonha de ser Brasileiro
O **** políticos brasileiro, se valem da burrice e ignorância do povo covarde quê é, o povo brasileiro, mas para o futuro os políticos vão vender o povo também, vergonha de ser Brasileiro
Só na **** chamada BRASIL, esses políticos malignos vendem o nosso País de graça, Mas a maior parte da culpa, é do povo covarde, que ver o governo roubando e entregando as nossas riquezas de graça e a **** do pivô brasileiro não faz nada, vergonha de ser Brasileiro