Brazil selects 3 more mining projects as priorities for environmental licenses

The Brazilian government selected three more mining projects to receive support in obtaining environmental licenses. 

The projects, all in northern Pará state, are considered by the government as strategic for the expansion of aluminum, nickel and copper production. 

The projects selected were Novas Minas, owned by Mineração Rio do Norte (aluminum), Centauros Níquel’s Jaguar (nickel) and Pantera of Avanco Resources Mineração (copper).

The government did not specify the stage of development of the projects nor provide production or capex estimates. 

"Once all stages of the environmental licensing process have been completed and the applicable environmental conditions have been met, the projects will contribute significantly to an increase in reserves and Brazilian production of strategic minerals, in addition to enabling large investments with the generation of numerous new jobs and increased public revenue," said the federal investment partnerships office (PPI) in a release. 

Since last year the government has been selecting mining projects to help obtain licenses. The government created an inter-ministerial committee called CTAPME to analyze projects and select those considered highly important for the country's development. CTAPME coordinates government agencies with the aim of expanding production of strategic minerals in an environmentally sustainable way.

The committee comprises the mines and energy ministry, the science, technology and innovation ministry, the institutional security office of the presidency, PPI and the special secretariat of strategic affairs of the presidency.