According to a report from BNamericas, a R$5 billion (US$900 million) fund established by Brazil’s Development Bank (BNDES) and national innovation agency Finep has selected 50 projects tied to the critical minerals supply chain.
The goal of the fund is to promote investments that develop, innovate, and process key minerals like lithium, graphite, copper, nickel, and rare earths, all of which are essential for clean and renewable technologies, thus transforming Brazil’s mining sector.
BNDES stated that financial support tools such as credit, grants, and subsidies will be used to deploy the funds. It is estimated that the financing of these selected projects could leverage R$45.8 billion in total investments.
The selected projects include:
10 rare earth projects
8 lithium projects
6 graphite projects
4 copper projects
4 silicon-related initiatives
Valdir Farias, CEO of consulting firm Fioito, emphasized the significance of the initiative:
“This BNDES-Finep plan is crucial for Brazil’s mining sector. It not only provides financing for early-stage projects but also opens the door for more investors to enter the mining space.”
He noted that many local financial institutions lack understanding of the risks and high return potential of such ventures, often making early-stage financing difficult.
The 50 chosen projects were filtered from 124 submissions received in a public call earlier this year. Each selected company or consortium will now be allowed to submit a single business plan to receive at least R$20 million in funding.
José Luis Gordon, BNDES’s Director of Development, Innovation, and Trade, commented:
“We’re advancing strategic investments that combine innovation, sustainability, and the creation of high-quality jobs.”
He added:
“These selected projects reflect President Lula’s commitment to creating development opportunities for Brazil and its people. We’re paving the way for sustainable growth, boosting domestic industry, and positioning Brazil as a global leader in the energy transition.”
According to Ibram (Brazilian Mining Association), investments in rare earths in Brazil between 2025 and 2029 are projected to reach US$2.17 billion, a 49% increase over projections for 2024–2028.
Among the funded entities are:
Aclara Resources (Canada)
Meteoric Resources (Australia)
Viridis Mining
Mineração Serra Verde, backed by Denham Capital
[Source – 上海有色网] 巴西金融机构资助50个关键矿产项目 https://news.smm.cn/news/103380801
