Brazil鈥檚 Critical Minerals and their Role in the Global Energy Transition
As the global energy transition accelerates, demand for critical minerals is projected to soar over the next two decades. Brazil is uniquely positioned to help meet this demand. It holds the world鈥檚 second-largest reserves of nickel and graphite, produces 14% of lithium, is the world's top niobium producer, ranks third in manganese reserves, and is a major copper producer.
President Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva has prioritized the accelerated production of these and other minerals used in advanced products, including batteries for electric vehicles. He has also sought to promote the local manufacturing of these technologies to industrialize South America鈥檚 largest economy. He will showcase those ambitions in November, when Brazil hosts the UN climate negotiations known as COP30.
Yet despite its mineral wealth, Brazil鈥檚 critical minerals sector has been slow to take off. Structural challenges persist, including limited mapping of resources, uncompetitive tax and royalty schemes, and lengthy licensing processes for the approval of mining permits. Meanwhile, despite Lula's ambitions to help drive the global energy transition, Brazil lacks a roadmap to fully leverage its critical minerals potential.
Join us on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm ET, to explore the opportunities and barriers in Brazil鈥檚 critical minerals industry and the implications for Brazil's economy and Latin America's role in global critical minerals supply chains.
Event Sponsors
Introduction
Moderator
Independent Energy Expert, Former Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace
Panelists
Hosted By
Brazil Institute
The Brazil Institute鈥攖he only country-specific policy institution focused on Brazil in Washington鈥攁ims to deepen understanding of Brazil鈥檚 complex landscape and strengthen relations between Brazilian and US institutions across all sectors. Read more
Latin America Program
乐鱼 体育鈥檚 prestigious Latin America Program provides non-partisan expertise to a broad community of decision makers in the United States and Latin America on critical policy issues facing the Hemisphere. The Program provides insightful and actionable research for policymakers, private sector leaders, journalists, and public intellectuals in the United States and Latin America. To bridge the gap between scholarship and policy action, it fosters new inquiry, sponsors high-level public and private meetings among multiple stakeholders, and explores policy options to improve outcomes for citizens throughout the Americas. Drawing on the 乐鱼 体育鈥檚 strength as the nation鈥檚 key non-partisan policy forum, the Program serves as a trusted source of analysis and a vital point of contact between the worlds of scholarship and action. Read more