en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) of Brazil has officially approved the National Mining Plan 2050 (PNM 2050), establishing a long-term strategic framework for the development of the country's mineral sector over the next 25 years. Concurrently, a benchmark for good practices in sustainable mining was released, aiming to guide the industry in adopting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, promoting decent work, and strengthening the socio-environmental governance of mining activities.
These two measures were published in a special edition of the Federal Official Gazette through Decrees No. 924 and No. 925. The PNM 2050, with a planning cycle from 2026 to 2050, will become the primary strategic planning tool in Brazil's mineral policy field. The ministry stated that this plan will provide a foundation for formulating public policies covering various aspects, including sustainable mining development, value addition to mineral resources, supply security, technological innovation, energy transition, food security, environmental sustainability, and regional development.
The decree also establishes a long-term governance mechanism. According to the provisions, the plan will be revised every five years to update scenarios, objectives, challenges, and guidelines, while always maintaining a 25-year horizon. As a transitional arrangement, the first revision must be completed by the end of 2029. Coordination is the responsibility of the Secretariat of Geology, Mining, and Mineral Processing, with technical support from the Brazilian Geological Survey, the National Mining Agency, and other public or private institutions. The document also indicates that future revision processes should incorporate social participation mechanisms such as public consultations and dialogues with businesses and academia.
To enable effective tracking, the MME has also developed the Goals and Action Plan. This document will consolidate the policy objectives, indicators, implementing entities, timelines, and monitoring mechanisms set forth in the PNM. Each Goals and Action Plan will have a four-year validity period, synchronized with the Multi-Year Plan cycle, and will be revised every two years to update goals and actions. A new plan must be formulated at the end of each cycle. As a transitional rule, the first Goals and Action Plan will be valid only until December 2027 and must be published within 180 days after the decree's issuance.
Regarding sustainable mining, the MME has released the Basic Reference for Sustainable Mining in Brazil. This document is a guideline and does not constitute a mandatory obligation for companies and public institutions. Its objective is to help the industry integrate practices related to sustainability, corporate governance, occupational health and safety, and respect for human rights into daily operations. The document aims to incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda into mining policy, encourage companies and public institutions to adopt ESG standards, promote good governance, strengthen occupational health and safety, reduce social risks and impacts, and support a just transition for mining activities. Furthermore, the document seeks to help companies access sustainable financing by increasing transparency and improving social and environmental risk management.
These guidelines are directed at mining companies, cooperatives, formalized miners, public managers at the three levels of government, civil society organizations, industry associations, and research institutions. The Secretariat of Geology, Mining, and Mineral Processing will be responsible for coordinating, updating, and tracking this document and may collaborate with other public agencies, international organizations, and academic institutions. The Secretariat will also promote related training and develop indicators to monitor improvements in sustainability and working conditions in the mining sector. The document stipulates that this benchmark will be periodically revised based on the evolution of best practices, both domestically and internationally.
