Rep. Rodrigo Rollemberg (PSB-DF) introduced a bill to create a state-owned company to regulate rare earth mining in Brazil [1].
The proposal seeks to secure national control over critical minerals used in high-tech electronics and green energy transitions. By establishing a federal entity, Brazil aims to manage the exploration of these resources more strategically rather than relying solely on private or foreign interests.
The legislation, identified as Project Law 1.733/2026 [1], authorizes the creation of Terra Raras Brasileiras S.A., known as Terrabras [1]. According to the proposal, the company would be responsible for the management and regulation of rare earth mining across the country [2].
Terrabras would function as a public enterprise designed to oversee the extraction process and ensure the state maintains a role in the supply chain [3]. The bill was presented Thursday, the ninth [1].
Rare earth elements are essential components for a wide range of modern technologies, including smartphones, electric vehicle motors, and wind turbines. Because these minerals are often concentrated in a few global regions, the creation of a state-led entity like Terrabras would allow Brazil to better regulate its own deposits and potentially influence global market pricing [2].
Rep. Rollemberg said the project is intended to organize how the country handles these specific mineral assets [3]. The bill now moves toward the legislative process in the Chamber of Deputies, where it will face debate and voting before it can become law [1].
“The proposal seeks to secure national control over critical minerals used in high-tech electronics.”
The creation of Terrabras represents a shift toward resource nationalism in Brazil's mining sector. By moving toward a state-managed model for rare earths, Brazil is attempting to reduce its dependence on foreign imports and leverage its geological reserves to gain geopolitical leverage in the global transition to green technology.
