Brazil prosecutors ask for urgent suspension of US$2.5bn Autazes mine license

The Brazilian public prosecutor's office requested the urgent suspension of the construction license for Potássio do Brasil's US$2.5bn Autazes potash project in Amazonas state.

Earlier this month, prosecutors filed a first lawsuit to request the suspension of the license, and now prosecutors filed a petition asking for the courts to make an urgent decision.

The license to build the sylvinite mine was issued earlier this year by Amazonas state environmental protection agency IPAAM. Potássio do Brasil is controlled by Brazil Potash, which announced the discovery in 2010 after obtaining authorization to explore in the area.

Prosecutors alleged that the mine area is close to indigenous territories and the project poses risks to the environment. In addition, prosecutors say that licenses cannot be issued by IPAAM but rather by federal environmental agency Ibama.

Days after the first lawsuit asking for the suspension of the license, the company announced that it obtained six additional licenses from IPAAM. 

Prosecutors claim in the petition that these six new licenses, in practice amount to authorization for the firm to install the entire project in an "irregular manner."

Recently, Potássio do Brasil announced the start of the process to select suppliers and future employees for the project.

In the first phase of the project, which is expected to last four and a half years, an estimated 2,600 direct jobs are due to be generated, rising to a peak of 4,200, the company said in a statement.

In total, the firm has received 11 licenses for the Autazes project.