Brazil's Galvani kicks off expansion of Bahia phosphate mine

Brazilian industrial group Galvani has begun expansion works at its phosphate mine in Bahia state.

The company is expected to invest 340mn reais (US$66.5mn) in the project, which is located in in Irecê.

Galvani's investment plan will be financed by the science, technology and innovation ministry and public innovation promotion agency Finep, and will utilize mining rights held by state-owned mineral exploration company CBPM.

When the expansion is complete, the firm's plant will produce 350,000t/y of phosphate concentrate, an input for the production of fertilizers. From 2026, Bahia state will be responsible for producing 25% of the fertilizer inputs consumed in the country's north and northeast.

"The start of operations is scheduled for the end of 2025, with an estimated useful life of 15 years, where [underlying] mining rights are held by CBPM, which is responsible for developing phosphate rock production in Irecê," the Bahia government said in a statement in April.

The Irecê project will adopt sustainable practices in its operations, including no tailings dam and low water consumption. It will also use an innovative process for separating calcium and magnesium.