Rare earths gain strategic momentum with MCTI's participation in study update.

Disclosure

The CGEE workshop brought together experts to review scenarios, strengthen production chains, and guide public policies in areas essential to the economy and the energy transition.

The advancement of technologies present in everyday life — such as cell phones, medical equipment, electric cars, and clean energy sources — depends on strategic inputs that are still little known by the population. Among them are rare earth elements, minerals fundamental to modern industry and the energy transition. With significant potential in this sector, Brazil seeks to expand its production and innovation capacity, a topic that was at the center of a workshop held by the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE), with the participation of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).

The meeting was part of an update to the study on rare earth elements in the country, with a horizon up to 2040. Representing the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), the director of the Department of Innovation Programs (Depin), Osório Coelho, participated in the discussions alongside specialists, researchers, and representatives of strategic institutions. The objective was to review scenarios, identify challenges, and point out ways to strengthen the national production chain.

According to Osório Coelho, the study's update reflects the recent evolution of the topic in Brazil and worldwide. "The study had been conducted several years ago, and with the advancement of the strategic minerals agenda in Brazil, we felt it was time to update it. We are talking about an increasingly relevant topic, directly linked to the energy transition and the technological sovereignty of countries," he stated.

He further emphasized that the challenge goes beyond mineral exploration. “More important than extraction is advancing in the subsequent stages of the chain, which concentrate greater added value, such as refining, separation, and the development of products with greater technological complexity. The study is fundamental to guiding more integrated policies,” he concluded.

This initiative continues an agenda built over the last decade. In 2013, at the request of the MCTI (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation), CGEE (Center for Energy and Energy) developed a study focused on structuring policies for the sector, including analysis of global scenarios and definition of industrial priorities. The update considers changes in the international context, marked by disputes over critical resources and the acceleration of the energy transition.

During the workshop, topics such as the international scenario, national priorities, and the construction of a new strategic plan for the period 2026 to 2040 were discussed. The program also addressed critical stages of the production chain, ranging from mining to the development of industrial applications, as well as aspects related to sustainability and the circular economy.

According to the president of CGEE, Anderson Gomes, collective work is essential to guide public decisions. “This articulation effort is not a one-off event. It is part of CGEE's mission to connect scientific production and strategic analysis for public decision-making. By bringing together researchers, research centers, and institutional actors, the center contributes to consolidating an evidence base capable of guiding more robust and coordinated public policies. We will deliver the results to Minister Luciana Santos [MCTI],” he said.

The updated study aims to integrate mineral, industrial, energy, and defense policies, given the increasingly strategic role of these resources for the country's development. It is expected that, in the coming weeks, the working group will continue discussions with the drafting of an initial version of the new document.

Rare earth elements: what they are and why they matter.

Rare earth elements are a group of 17 chemical elements with unique properties, especially magnetic, optical, and electronic ones. Despite the name, they are not exactly rare in nature, but they are difficult to extract and process, which makes them strategic.

These elements are the basis of technologies that are part of everyday life and the energy transition. They are essential, for example, in the manufacture of high-power magnets, batteries, semiconductors and catalysts, and have no substitutes with the same performance.

About the study

Published by CGEE in 2013, the study "Uses and Applications of Rare Earths in Brazil: 2012-2030" outlined a diagnosis of the production chains of these strategic minerals and indicated paths for public policies in science, technology, and innovation. At the time, the survey pointed to a strong global concentration of production—approximately 97% under the control of China—a scenario that reinforced the importance of diversifying suppliers and expanding national capacity.

The document identified industrial applications in areas such as permanent magnets, catalysts, metal alloys, and polishing materials, all essential for high-performance technologies. The survey also highlighted Brazil's potential to advance in these segments, provided it expands the mapping of reserves, invests in research, and strengthens higher value-added stages of the production chain.

Based on scenario analyses, scientific data, and patent records, the publication highlighted structural challenges and opportunities for the country. Among the recommendations are the development of technological infrastructure, the training of specialists, and the integration of mining, industry, and innovation. The perspective outlined at the time points to Brazil's competitive insertion into the international market, with greater autonomy in the production and use of rare earth elements.

Read the full study.

Source: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI)