Recently, Brazil's mining industry has reached an important milestone, as the country's first batch of exported "green lithium mines" departed from Victoria Port in Espiritu Santo state. According to Brazilian media reports, this batch of lithium mines not only does not produce environmentally harmful tailings during mining and purification, but also uses renewable energy and recycled water, mainly for the manufacture of lithium batteries and other products.
At the departure ceremony, Vitol Sabak, Secretary of State for Geology, Mining, and Mining Transition at the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy, said, "Today, the lithium mines we produce are going global." He emphasized that the world needs energy transition, and the work of the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy is focused on this. The green transition of the mining industry will play a fundamental role in the world's energy transition.
Brazil is rich in mineral resources and is one of the main producers and exporters of iron ore, bauxite, manganese ore, and other minerals. In 2022, the export volume of iron ore alone reached 344 million tons, with an export value of 28.9 billion US dollars, accounting for about 8.6% of Brazil's total export value that year. However, due to the long-term environmental pollution risks in the mining industry, the concept of "green mining" has received much attention in Brazil in recent years.
The performance of mining enterprises in environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) has become an important indicator of green transformation. The latest research jointly released by Ernst&Young and the Brazilian Mining Association shows that ESG is one of the most important factors that the Brazilian mining industry is concerned about. Professor Luis Sanchez from the Polytechnic Institute of S ã o Paulo State University pointed out that in recent years, mining companies can only obtain the investment needed for development by adapting to various regulations and proving that they have a "sound environmental management system".
Alfonso Sartorio, Head of Energy and Natural Resources at EY, stated that the global demand for sustainably produced minerals and metals continues to grow, bringing new business opportunities. Customers are more willing to invest in such products, and "many mining companies have already invested a significant portion of their resources in reducing carbon emissions and recycling products.
According to data released by the Brazilian Mining Association in July, investment in the industry is expected to exceed $50 billion over the next five years, of which over $6.5 billion will be used for social and environmental actions, representing a growth of over 50% compared to the previous forecast (2022-2026). Some Brazilian mining and processing companies are also using the latest technology to reduce carbon emissions. For example, mining giant Vale has taken various measures to reduce mining waste, establishing tailings filtration plants in some mining areas to reduce environmental pollution. In addition, some of the waste is also used for the production and construction of sand. The Vale report shows that this material can replace natural sand extracted from riverbeds and is widely used in construction and road construction.
In June of this year, Ra ú l Rongman, the president of the Brazilian Mining Association, put forward suggestions on Brazil's mining policy, including promoting sustainable development of the mining industry and cracking down on illegal mining. Rongman stated that the mining industry is closely related to addressing climate change, renewable energy generation, and other agendas, which can help Brazil achieve technological innovation and green economic transformation.
(Editer：admin)
