Brazil holds first National Mineral Policy Council meeting

The President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva participated in the first meeting of the National Council of Mineral Policy (CNPM) on Thursday, 16 October at the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) in Brasília.

• Main announcement/action: The CNPM approved the priorities of the Brazilian Mineral Policy, set guidelines for the National Mining Plan (PNM-2050) and defined the Plan of Goals and Actions for the sector; the meeting was chaired as an advisory body directly to the President and emphasized sustainable mining and national sovereignty over subsoil resources.
• Background and implementation details: The Council approved its Internal Rules and created four Working Groups (GTs): (1) Critical and Strategic Minerals (value chain, beneficiation, industrialization); (2) Inspection Fees, Sector Charges and Incentives (studies on fees and disincentivizing area retention); (3) Sustainable Development in Mining (integration with environmental, social and territorial policies); (4) Diagnostic Study on Mining Oversight in Brazil (focus on ANM role and joint action between federal entities, mapping legal and constitutional competences).