Ordinance No. 121. National Mining Plan 2030
The 2030 National Mining Plan (PNM-2030) is a framework for strengthening the sustainable development of the mining industry over a 20 year period. The plan is comprised of 11 strategic objective areas: effective public governance; geological knowledge; strategic minerals; mining in restricted areas; formalising and strengthening of small-scale mining operations; research, development & innovation; human resources; infrastructure; sustainable production; adding value through competitiveness; and sustainable development.
Strategic minerals in the PNM-2030 are grouped into three categories:
(i) minerals that the country imports on a large scale, such as potash, phosphate, metallurgical mineral coal and those for which there is a possibility of import in the near future, such as uranium;
(ii) minerals whose demand is growing because of their use in high-tech products, such as rare earths, lithium, tantalum, terbium and cobalt; and
(iii) minerals for which Brazil has comparative advantages, such as iron ore and niobium.
Seven actions are prescribed by the plan to strengthen the strategic mineral sector:
- Conduct geological surveys of potential areas for strategic minerals of the future.
- Support mineral research and promote development of new mines in areas with deposits of potash, phosphate and future-bearing minerals.
- Promote studies around mineral supply chains aiming at adding value with competitiveness.
- Develop geological studies with the aim of expanding the country's uranium reserves.
- Create Working Groups to monitor strategic minerals, focusing on opportunities and threats in the international market.
- Coordinate among ministries to establish policies that encourage technological innovations in fertilisers and to promote the use of agro-minerals.
- Coordinate between ministries and industry to develop long-term programmes focused on minerals that are carriers of the future, to identify competitive strategic actions.
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