The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), predicts that Brazil may attract a wave of investment in copper, nickel and lithium in the coming years. This prediction is based on the fact that Brazil has a wealth of these natural resources.

Currently, the country is the world's second largest producer of iron ore, second only to Australia in this respect. Now, Brazil is working to increase the amount of mineral exploration and development in the country, particularly in relation to copper, nickel and lithium, as these three minerals are seen as vital for battery manufacturing.

According to the secretary of Geology, Mining and Mineral Transformation, Pedro Paulo Dias Mesquita, metals are considered crucial in the transition to clean energies, and the objective is to have more research and development projects in this sector in Brazil.

Brazil hopes to attract investment in projects that produce metals for use in batteries

Copper

To begin with, it is essential to highlight that Brazil is one of the main copper producers in the world, and that this production serves several sectors and markets inside and outside Brazil. The mineral is one of the most used metals in our day-to-day life due to its remarkable physical and chemical qualities. 

Copper stands out above all for its strong resilience, as well as for its adaptability. Copper is used for many things, but one of its most important functions is transferring energy. This is because copper is an excellent conductor.

Nickel 

Nickel is the second most abundant metal on Earth, after iron. It is a high-gloss, silvery-white metal that was initially employed in coinage and is now rapidly becoming a key material in the production of batteries for electric vehicles. Due to its great resistance to oxidation, nickel is a crucial element for many industries.

Brazil still contributes little to global nickel production. A OK is one of the world's leading producers, however, a significant portion of its production comes from its operations in Canada. This is why the Brazilian government is seeking new incentives for investment in nickel production.

Lithium 

Due to its low density, its qualities as an excellent conductor and energy storage, lithium is used in several industrial applications, being one of the main components in the production of batteries, including for electric vehicles.

Companies are working at full capacity to extract greater amounts of lithium and meet market demand as a result of introducing new products to the world market. These new products include electric cars and photovoltaic solar energy systems, which have gained popularity in recent years and are likely to multiply in the coming years.

Brazilian government intends to facilitate the process to attract new investments in mining

The government is providing funding for a variety of different initiatives in the state of Minas Gerais. With that, he anticipates a “big change”, as Mesquita said in an interview. In addition, he said that the diversification of Brazil's mineral resources includes copper and nickel, both with geological potential far superior to its current production.

Mesquita concluded by noting that other Latin American nations such as Chile and Peru are working to increase mining fees, while the Brazilian government is working to open up new territories and remove regulatory roadblocks.