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Brazilian Company Plans to Invest Billions in a Potash Mine in the Amazon. The Venture Promises to Generate More than 16 THOUSAND Jobs, Check Out the Details!
After 15 years of legal battles and conflicting interests, it seems that the major impasse regarding the exploration of the potash mine in the Amazon rainforest has finally come to an end last Tuesday (9). The Government of Amazonas granted Potássio Brasil the first environmental license for the installation of the Potassium Autazes Project, which promises to generate around 19 thousand direct and indirect job openings.
Company Plans to Invest US$ 2.5 Billion in Potash Mine in the Amazon
Brazil depends on the import of 95% of its potash consumption and is one of the main clients of suppliers such as Canada, Belarus, and Russia, the leading global producers. In the last year, the country imported around 10 million tons.
With the license in hand, Potássio do Brasil expects to invest around US$ 2.5 billion in the development and exploitation of the mine. Controlled by the Canadian Forbes & Manhattan, the company announced the discovery of the potash mine in the Amazon in 2010. Since then, around R$ 1 billion has already been invested in the project.
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The currently granted license authorizes the installation of the potash mine’s manufacturing unit in the Amazon. The government expects that 2.6 thousand job openings will be created over the next few years. In the operational phase, the factory is expected to generate 1.3 thousand direct jobs and another 16 thousand indirect jobs.
According to Wilson Lima, the governor of the state, the implementation of an activity like this generates social indicators, improves the quality of life for indigenous people, creates job openings, increases income, advances sanitation, provides water supply, paves roads, education, health, and everything that is essential for making a better place to live.
Potássio do Brasil Comments on Investment in the Mine
The annual capacity of the potash mine in the Amazon is estimated at 2.5 million tons. The expectation is that this production will meet 20% of the national demand for potassium chloride, a fertilizer used in agricultural production in Brazil. Currently, 95% of the potash used in the country is imported, primarily from Canada, Russia, Germany, Belarus, and Israel.
According to the president of Potássio do Brasil, Adriano Espeschit, with this license, the company will ensure that the potash mine in the Amazon moves forward and that these numbers and results become a reality as soon as possible.
It is worth mentioning that in 2009, the National Mining Agency granted the area for exploration to Potássio do Brasil. In 2017, the environmental licensing process was suspended after a public civil action filed by the Federal Public Ministry, which required consultation with indigenous peoples within a radius of 10 km of the project.
Understand the Progress of the Project Licenses
In 2019, an agreement was reached in court, with the presence of 44 villages. However, the MPF and the Mura indigenous people requested that the licensing authority be Ibama, and not Ipaam, the state government agency.
Last year, the Federal Court of Amazonas annulled, through a preliminary injunction, the previous license issued by Ipaam. At the time, the court’s understanding was that, due to the impacts on indigenous lands, the licensing process should be conducted by a federal agency, in this case, Ibama.
Only in February of this year did the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region overturn the injunction, restoring Ipaam’s authority to grant the license for the potash mine in the Amazon, which promises to generate thousands of job openings.
Exploração sem impacto ambiental não existe,mas, que seja o menor possível e que haja retorno real em termos qualidade de vida para os povos indígenas que são sempre os mais afetados. Que sejam nossos recursos explorados de forma consciente antes que sejam contrabandeados ou mesmo tomados de nós.
Em resumo, a empresa brasileira é canadense!
Parabéns a todos! Precisamos explorar nossas riquezas, com sustentabilidade, responsabilidades social e ambiental! Temos também o Nióbio brasileiro, ouro, esmeraldas, e diamantes no Piauí Quem se habilita?