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The Exploration Of Critical Minerals Can Boost The Economy, Positioning Brazil As A Global Reference In Sustainable Technologies And Energy Transition. National Reserves Attract Investments And Expand The Strategic Importance Of The Country On The International Stage.
The exploration of so-called critical minerals, especially rare earths, can represent a turning point for the Brazilian economy in the coming years.
Recent projections indicate that the potential of these strategic inputs could add up to US$ 243 billion to Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over 25 years, according to estimates from economist Solange Srour.
The value, calculated based on detailed scenarios about the production chain of the minerals, reinforces the role of the country as holder of 23% of the world’s reserves, surpassed only by China in available volume.
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Rare earths have consolidated as essential resources for global technological development.
These minerals, composed of 17 chemical elements, are indispensable in the manufacturing of high-value electronic components, electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, high-speed trains, and devices found in cell phones, televisions, medical equipment, and national defense systems.
The strategic presence of these reserves in Brazilian territory paves the way for Brazil to take a prominent position in the international energy transition landscape.
Despite the magnitude of the reserves, national production is still incipient.
Official data indicates that, in 2023, Brazil accounted for just 0.02% of the global volume, a reality attributed to the lack of advanced stages of processing and mineral refining on national soil.
According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the country concentrates approximately 21 million tons of rare earths distributed among the states of Goiás, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Amazonas, Pará, Rio de Janeiro, Roraima, and São Paulo.
Exploration and mapping projects continue to expand in these regions, with emphasis on the Midwest.
Goiás Emerges As A Hub For Critical Minerals
In the context of the global energy transition, Goiás is consolidating as a strategic hub for the production of rare earths.
The state holds one of the largest deposits outside Asia and is advancing in the development of essential technologies for electric vehicles and clean energy generation.
The municipality of Minaçu, in the north of the state, is home to the Serra Verde project, considered the only venture outside Asia capable of simultaneously extracting the four magnetic elements indispensable for the production of super magnets: neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), terbium (Tb) and dysprosium (Dy).
These inputs are fundamental for the electric motor and high-efficiency turbine industry.
The operation of Serra Verde Pesquisa e Mineração began its commercial production in 2024, with an estimated annual capacity of 5,000 tons of rare earth oxide by 2026.
The accumulated investment exceeds US$ 760 million.
The industrial plant adopts sustainable mining practices, such as exclusive use of renewable energy, low environmental impact processes, and elimination of hazardous chemical reagents.
The goal is to consolidate the company as the third largest global producer in the segment by 2030.
New Investments And Advances In Rare Earths
Another relevant advancement occurs in Nova Roma, also in Goiás, where the mining company Aclara Resources, linked to the Hochschild Mining group, plans to invest about US$ 2 billion in the development of rare earths in ionic clays.
The project, called “Module Carina,” has already completed 238 drilling holes, covering an area of approximately 1,400 hectares and identifying heavy elements of high added value.
In addition, the Canadian company Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. plans to invest an additional US$ 550 million in the state over the next four years, reinforcing Goiás’s prominence in the sector.
Goiás’s prominence is justified not only by the volume of reserves but also by the international context.
The growing geopolitical competition for dominance over critical minerals, evidenced by recent tensions between major global powers, elevates Brazil’s strategic importance as an alternative supplier to Chinese hegemony.
In 2023, Serra Verde became a reference by supplying magnetic elements to the global market, expanding export opportunities and attracting investments.
National Growth And Production Chain
The Brazilian scenario for critical mineral mining is undergoing rapid transformation.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy released, in March 2025, the “Guide for Foreign Investors in Critical Minerals,” documenting the existence of 48 ongoing projects distributed across nine states, with Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Pará among the regions with the highest number of initiatives.
Minas Gerais concentrates 13 projects, Bahia 12, and Pará 10, while Goiás leads in productive potential with consolidated industrial infrastructure.
The demand for critical minerals is directly related to technological advancement and the global quest for clean energy.
These inputs are indispensable for lithium batteries, solar panels, superconductors, high-tech chips, as well as for military equipment and state-of-the-art medical devices.
Among the most sought-after elements are cerium, lanthanum, europium, in addition to the previously mentioned neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium.
Economic Challenges And Opportunities
The Brazilian challenge lies in the need to add value to production.
Experts emphasize that the mere extraction of rare earths represents only a fraction of the economic potential.
The development of processing and refining stages, combined with the establishment of electronic component factories, could elevate the economic impact to levels similar to those of major international hubs, such as China and the United States.
According to Solange Srour, if Brazil advances in these stages, the estimated impact rises from the current US$ 47 billion (most pessimistic scenario) to US$ 243 billion over the period up to 2050.
The global race for critical minerals also involves copper, lithium, and nickel, which are fundamental for rechargeable batteries and energy storage systems.
On the international scene, recent episodes, such as the proposal from the United States to secure strategic reserves in Greenland, illustrate the geopolitical weight of these inputs in the new green economy.
Besides Goiás, other Brazilian regions present robust initiatives, such as Minas Gerais and Bahia, expanding the diversification of sources and strengthening the country’s energy security.
The entry of new companies and foreign investments in the sector, combined with the creation of specific regulatory frameworks, has the potential to transform Brazil into a global powerhouse in the critical minerals segment.
Brazil’s Role In The Global Energy Transition
With the expansion of global demand, Brazil’s position becomes increasingly strategic.
The country’s prominence in supplying rare earths and other critical minerals can directly influence the global technological matrix and promote the transition to a low-carbon economy.
In light of this scenario, the question remains: Will Brazil be able to transform this ‘ace up its sleeve’ into effective leadership in the international clean energy and technology landscape?
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