A survey reveals 2,864 active processes at the National Mining Agency, with the highest concentration in Bahia.
Lawyer Luiz Ugeda conducted a study that identified 2,864 active rare earth mining processes at the National Mining Agency. The requests remain concentrated in initial research stages.
Interest in the sector grew significantly from 2022 and peaked in 2024. The following year saw a decline, driven by the exhaustion of the most promising areas.
Bahia concentrates about 1,100 processes, followed by Minas Gerais with up to 650 and Goiás with up to 350. Goiás hosts the country’s only operating mine, in Minaçu, and is the target of a Cade investigation into the sale to the US company USA Rare Earth for US$ 2.8 billion.
The National Congress is discussing a bill to create a strategic policy that encourages local beneficiation of these minerals and prevents the export of raw ore only.