Brazil鈥檚 president Jair Bolsonaro plans to expand mining in the country, a sector that is held back by a lack of knowledge about geological sites and an excess of bureaucracy, according to executives and officials.
Today the government unveiled its (PDM) with goals for the sector in a .
As part of government efforts, the president presented a聽聽in February that would allow commercial mining on protected indigenous lands, delivering on a campaign promise that sparked protests from tribal leaders and environmentalists.
Brazil鈥檚 constitution currently does not rule out mining on reservations, but does not allow it because it has not been regulated. With no clear regulation, conflicts between Amazon indigenous groups and illegal gold聽miners are ongoing.
Ideology aside, Brazil still takes baby steps when it comes to research and exploration compared to major producers like Canada and Australia, or even neighbors Chile and Peru.
To date, only 26% of the country鈥檚 territory is mapped for exploration, according to the Geological Survey of Brazil, the state-owned company responsible for it.
鈥淲ithout this basic information, is impossible to attract private investments,鈥� Geological Survey of Brazil director Marcio Rem茅dio told 九游下载apk.
鈥淭he country has today 58,000 areas ready for public offer but without geological research,鈥� said Luiz Mauricio Azevedo, director of the Brazilian Association of Mineral Research Companies (ABPM).
鈥淲e also face the excess of bureaucracy on the license process. What can be done in months in Canada, in Brazil it will take more than a year.鈥�
Golden state
The state of Par谩 is currently the second largest producer of ore in the country, second only to Minas Gerais, and includes Caraj谩s, the largest open-pit iron ore mine in the world. Vale operations at the complex produce around .
鈥淚n the Amazon region the geologic knowledge is much smaller. We lack access, roads and infra-structure. Only 11% of Par谩鈥檚 territory is mapped for exploration. 鈥� said Marcio Remedio.
鈥淭here is still a lot of gold, tin and other minerals to be explored,鈥� said Marcelo Esteves Almeida, mineral resources director at Geological Survey of Brazil.
鈥淚f Par谩 were a Canadian province it would be number one in the world.鈥� said Remedio.
Environmental law
There are currently restrictions on mining in 48% of Brazil鈥檚 territories, the majority being natural reserve, indigenous land and borderlands.
鈥淭he Brazilian Amazon has restrictions of all types. The cost of geological mapping is high,鈥� added Almeida.
鈥淏razil has no geological knowledge of restrictive areas,鈥� said Remedio.
He said the proposed bill by Bolsonaro would allow federal agencies to do the research, identify the areas and start exploration only after consulting the local community.
By Brazilian law, any exploration program at Brazil鈥檚 borderlands needs to have 51% in national capital
鈥淚f we have a more permissive but responsible regulation, of course it guarantees a different future for mining.鈥�
Until December 2019, the National Mining Agency registered about four thousand mining requirements filed within indigenous lands of the Amazon, even the exploration being barred.
By Brazilian law, any exploration program at Brazil鈥檚 borderlands needs to have 51% in national capital.
鈥淭he borders are 16% of the territory. This (law) prevents the foreign investments from reaching Brazil,鈥� said Remedio.
鈥淲e do not need indigenous lands and borderlands to grow mining in Brazil, but it is absurd to have these barriers, which deprive indigenous people of resources and leave our borders vulnerable. See the success they have with local communities in Australia, for example鈥� said ABPM Luiz Mauricio Azevedo.