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The New ANM Resolution Enhances Standards for Mineral Exploration for Public Works, Guides Municipalities with Digital Guide, and Reinforces Legal Security in the Use of Mineral Resources
The mineral exploration for public works has received new guidelines with the recent update of the ANM Resolution No. 1/2018, unanimously approved by the Collegiate Board of the National Mining Agency (ANM), according to a report published.
The measure, aimed at municipalities and public agencies, seeks to make the process more accessible, transparent, and educational, strengthening the responsible use of mineral resources in public infrastructure works throughout the country.
The main novelty is the creation of an electronic guide, drafted based on the rapporteur José Fernando de Mendonça’s vote, aimed at guiding municipal managers on how to correctly formalize the use of mineral materials in public works.
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According to the rapporteur, many municipalities were unaware of the Extraction Registration procedure, resulting in delays or irregularities in local projects.
Now, with the explanatory material, the ANM aims to reduce administrative failures and promote greater legal security for public entities.
Digital Guide and Training of Municipal Managers in Mineral Exploration for Public Works
The digital guide, which will be made available by the ANM, is educational in nature and will serve as a training tool for public managers.
It will explain step by step how to request the Extraction Registration and what the legal responsibilities of municipalities are in mineral exploration for public works.
According to the director-general Mauro Sousa, the material seeks to bring mineral regulation closer to municipalities, simplifying processes and reducing technical barriers.
The document also reinforces that outsourcing mining services is allowed, as long as the public entity retains full responsibility for the work and there are no commercial purposes in the use of the extracted material.
This guidance eliminates frequent doubts among local administrations, providing more clarity on the direct execution of activities.
Regulatory Simplification and Exemption from Impact Analysis
Another important aspect of the update is the exemption from the Regulatory Impact Analysis (AIR) for the specific case of mineral exploration for public works.
This decision was justified due to it being a low-impact norm, whose main objective is to reduce costs and simplify regulatory management.
According to Mendonça, the measure aligns with the principles of efficiency and continuous improvement of regulation, promoting a more modern and functional framework.
This simplification is part of the ANM’s Regulatory Agenda for the biennium 2025/2026, which provides for actions aimed at modernizing the sector’s standards.
The update also contributes to the bureaucratization of extraction processes by public entities, strengthening the transparency and legal compliance of operations.
Regulatory Modernization and Impact of the New Current Resolution
The review of the Resolution No. 1/2018 represents a historic advancement, as it was the first norm created by the ANM after its establishment.
Now, with the changes, the Agency seeks to consolidate a more accessible and efficient regulation, especially for small and medium municipalities that face operational challenges.
In addition to modernizing the regulatory framework, the update reaffirms the ANM’s institutional commitment to legal security and technical support for local managers.
The expectation is that, with the guide and the new guidelines, the number of administrations using the model of mineral exploration for public works will increase, in a legal, sustainable, and transparent manner, promoting economy and efficiency in the use of natural resources.
