Lula Announces Commission to Map Critical Minerals in Brazilian Subsoil and Ensure Wealth for the People

Written by Bruno Teles

Published on 28/07/2025 at 23:39

Brasil conhece só 30% de suas riquezas minerais e quer evitar domínio estrangeiro

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President Defends Sovereignty Over Strategic Resources and Says Brazil Knows Only 30% of Its Mineral Wealth

During a speech at the Porto do Açu (RJ), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced the creation of a commission to map critical minerals in Brazilian territory. The measure aims to identify and control strategic resources such as lithium, rare earths, cobalt, and nickel, essential for sectors like energy, technology, and defense.

According to the president, Brazil is still unaware of about 70% of the mineral potential present in its subsurface. The commission to map critical minerals will operate under the coordination of the federal government and is expected to increase state control over the exploration and commercialization of these raw materials deemed fundamental to the new global economy.

Government Aims to Prevent Mineral Wealth from Falling Into Foreign Hands

Lula’s remarks occurred this Monday (28) during the inauguration of the GNA II Thermal Power Plant. The president criticized the interest of the United States in Brazil’s strategic minerals and asserted that any mineral discovery must be subject to state authorization and regulation.

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Critical Mining Involves Geopolitical Dispute and National Sovereignty

The discussion about critical minerals has gained momentum in international forums since the pandemic and the energy transition. These materials are essential inputs for batteries, turbines, and semiconductors, and the global dependence on China, the largest producer of rare earths, has driven powers like the U.S. and the European Union to seek supplier diversification.

Lula cited U.S. interest in Ukraine’s natural resources as an example and warned that Brazil needs to protect its own assets to avoid losing industrial and technological autonomy. “We only want to ensure that what is ours generates wealth for the Brazilian people,” he stated.

Currently, Brazil is already among the world’s largest producers of niobium, graphite, manganese, and lithium, but a large part of this wealth is extracted with low added value and exported in bulk. The new commission aims to reverse this scenario and promote a policy of industrialization based on strategic resources.

Commission to Map Critical Minerals Could Change National Strategy

Industry experts view the creation of a technical group focused on critical minerals positively, but warn of the need for planning, transparency, and integration with the private sector. According to data from the ANM, Brazil has more than 22,000 active mineral research applications underway, but there is a lack of structure to supervise and monitor many of these processes.

Additionally, the international appreciation of critical minerals is expected to accelerate the global race for contracts and concessions. Controlling this exploitation requires geological intelligence, investment in technology, and national content policies, similar to those applied in countries like Australia and Canada.

The presidential proposal that “what is underground belongs to the Brazilian people” reinforces the tone of sovereignty but also demands a robust institutional structure to ensure that this directive is translated into state policy — and not just rhetoric.

Do you agree with the creation of a commission to map critical minerals? Is Brazil prepared to protect its wealth? Comment below.

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Lula Announces Commission to Map Critical Minerals in Brazilian Subsoil and Ensure Wealth for the People

President Defends Sovereignty Over Strategic Resources and Says Brazil Knows Only 30% of Its Mineral Wealth

Government Aims to Prevent Mineral Wealth from Falling Into Foreign Hands

Critical Mining Involves Geopolitical Dispute and National Sovereignty

Commission to Map Critical Minerals Could Change National Strategy

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Lula Announces Commission to Map Critical Minerals in Brazilian Subsoil and Ensure Wealth for the People

President Defends Sovereignty Over Strategic Resources and Says Brazil Knows Only 30% of Its Mineral Wealth

Government Aims to Prevent Mineral Wealth from Falling Into Foreign Hands

Critical Mining Involves Geopolitical Dispute and National Sovereignty

Commission to Map Critical Minerals Could Change National Strategy

Mother and daughter build a 70 m² house with more than 8,000 discarded glass bottles and impress with their creativity; known as the Casa de Sal, the property is located on Itamaracá Island, in Pernambuco.

The river that “dies” in the desert never reaches the sea and yet gives life to one of Africa’s largest natural refuges in a truly impressive way.

He transformed an abandoned plastic water tank into an underground house in the “hobbit hole” style, using only repurposed pallet wood, without heavy machinery or expensive labor.

China transforms desert-devastated area into the world’s largest artificial forest, planting trees for 60 years, blocking sand that reached Beijing, and creating a “green lung” of 92,000 hectares in a region once considered lost.

Toyota launches “family hybrid van” with 7 or 8 seats, 1.8 hybrid engine, fuel consumption of up to 23.8 km/l, and a price equivalent to about R$ 104,000 without taxes, below the Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-in Hybrid sold in Brazil: meet the Noah Hybrid 2026 in Japan.

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