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Federal Government announces BRL 8 billion in Saudi investments towards mineral research in Brazil
![R$ 8 bilhões em investimentos sauditas para pesquisa mineral no Brasil](https://www.gov.br/secom/en/latest-news/2025/01/federal-government-announces-brl-8-billion-in-saudi-investments-towards-mineral-research-in-brazil/riade.jpg/@@images/364e058e-ace8-4065-9675-641bd094ee20.jpeg)
The Brazilian government highlighted the consolidation of partnerships with Middle Eastern countries and advances in Brazilian technologies to process strategic minerals - Credit: Divulgação/MME
The Brazilian Federal Government has announced a BRL 8 billion investment by the Saudi mining company Ma'aden in geological mapping, research, and mineral exploitation in Brazil. This information was confirmed during the opening of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, January 14, following a meeting between Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira and the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef.
"Ma'aden will establish its first office in São Paulo. This presents a significant opportunity for investment; they have indicated an allocation of around BRL 8 billion for geological mapping in Brazil. We recognize the need to enhance our understanding of the subsoil for research and to foster partnerships with the Brazilian mining sector, enabling sustainable and responsible use of our mineral resources because there is no energy transition without mining," Silveira stated at a press conference following the forum's opening.
The minister also emphasized efforts to solidify strategic partnerships with Middle Eastern countries to develop and leverage Brazilian technologies for processing minerals critical to the global energy transition. According to Silveira, similar initiatives are underway in the oil and gas sectors.
FORUM — During the forum, which convenes leading global mining companies, the Brazilian minister underscored the role of minerals in the energy transition and advocated for greater global governance on this issue.
“We must bolster multilateralism, the United Nations, forums like this one, and global governance. We will convene at COP30 in Brazil, to discuss the entire supply chain for the energy transition—sustainable, economically viable, and safe mining that ensures the supply of minerals crucial for the new economy, which we believe is essential for salvation: the green economy. We believe that, in addition to sustainability, the energy transition presents a unique opportunity for the economy, so that it can be fair, inclusive, and balanced,” Silveira emphasized.
With its vast availability of natural resources and capacity to generate clean and renewable energy, Brazil has the opportunity to consolidate itself as one of the world leaders in mineral transformation. The installment of local industries for the refining and processing of minerals can add value to Brazilian exports, reduce carbon emissions in transportation, and strengthen the country's competitiveness on the global stage.
Brazil’s participation in the forum is expected to strengthen the creation of technical frameworks for critical mineral projects, particularly in Africa and Asia, and Latin America. There is considerable interest in Brazil's technical cooperation regarding logistics and development of mineral projects, as well as in mobilizing Brazilian mining companies to engage in initiatives in this area.
The partnership between Brazil and Saudi Arabia aims not only to expand the sustainable exploration of strategic minerals but also to promote a fair and inclusive energy transition aligned with global sustainability practices.