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USP Specialist Reveals How the Country, Rich in Strategic Minerals, Misses the Chance to Process Materials Worth Thousands of Dollars by Not Producing Inputs That Cost Cents.
Nationwide sovereignty and the exploration of strategic resources have returned to the debate, but Brazil remains in a vulnerable position. Despite its immense potential in rare earths, the country continues to be a mere exporter of raw materials, without adding value. The reason, according to USP professor Cláudio Schon, is surprising: we stop processing highly valuable materials because we cannot produce basic and cheap inputs.
Mineral Wealth Without Industrial Processing
The major challenge facing Brazil in the strategic minerals sector was pointed out by USP professor Fernando Landgraaf: it’s not enough to just mine. It’s crucial to process the ore and, finally, to have an industry that transforms metals into products. Without this complete chain, the country loses the most lucrative part of the business.
The extent of this missed opportunity is shocking, as summarized by professor Cláudio Schon: “We fail to process something that costs 5 thousand dollars per gram because we cannot produce something that costs 50 cents per liter.”
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Havan customers formed a line in Blumenau (SC) since 4:30 AM this Saturday to see the megastore inspired by German half-timbered architecture; some people traveled from cities like Rio do Sul, Brusque, Corupá, and Timbó.
How Brazil Lost Its Lead in the Sector
Ironically, Brazil has been at the forefront technologically. Decades ago, the country not only researched but also produced high-value materials, such as nickel superalloys and aerospace aluminum alloys.
However, strategic projects were discontinued, such as the development of rare earth-based magnets at the Physics Institute during the 1980s, vital components for modern technologies. The setback is so great that today, a collaborator of professor Schon had to import a special aluminum alloy from Europe because it was not available in the national market.
Where Are the Entrepreneurs to Invest?
In Schon’s view, the blame for the stagnation does not lie with academia or the government. He is emphatic in stating: “The university does its job, I feel that the government does its job. What is lacking now is for the business community to respond.” The professor laments the absence of visionary entrepreneurs with capital willing to invest in reclaiming these technologies in the country.
The Factor That Discourages Innovation in Industry
Complementing the analysis, journalist Luís Nassif points to another major villain: the high cost of capital in Brazil. With the Selic rate being high for so long, entrepreneurs have a greater incentive to invest in the financial market rather than invest in industrial innovation, which is seen as a higher-risk activity with slower returns.
A Path to the Technological Future
Despite the scenario, initiatives like the green hydrogen project from RCGI (USP/Shell) show a possible way forward. The research, focused on obtaining hydrogen from ethanol, circumvents transportation risks and takes advantage of an abundant resource in Brazil.
According to Schon, this should be a central bet. Ethanol is one of the safest ways to transport hydrogen, and the technology has enormous potential for application and export, representing a new chance for national innovation.
O governo faz o seu trabalho? A universidade fez o seu trabalho?
afff… que mundo esse professor da USP vive?!?
Na década de 80, no governo militar, o governo investia em tecnologia, mas o governo que sucedeu tentou passar esses investimentos para a iniciativa privada, mas com a taxa de juros muito alta ninguém quer arriscar investir em novas tecnologias. Outro fator é a insegurança jurídica, a insegurança tributária e a falta de políticas públicas mais concretas para exploração de terras raras. A maioria dessas terras estão em terras indígenas, e proibidas de serem exploradas.