BNDES and Finep USD 815 million fund for strategic minerals projects

The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and Finep (Brazilian Innovation Agency) have launched a R$5 billion (Brazilian Reais) public call to support business plans focused on strategic minerals transformation and sustainable materials development in Brazil. Recent operations of large mines have validated the potential of Brazilian reserves for high-volume production of lithium and rare earth elements, leading to increased investments and new world-class project discoveries. 

The initiative provides funding through credit lines, equity participation, and non-reimbursable resources to invest in productive capacity, research, development, and innovation (RD&I). The programme targets the transformation of minerals crucial for energy transition and decarbonisation, focusing on developing supply chains for lithium, rare earth elements, nickel, graphite and silicon. The support encompasses industrial-scale plants, pilot facilities, demonstration projects, and necessary research studies, depending on project stages and technologies involved. The funding structure is expected to leverage investments five to ten times the available budget in the coming years. 

The programme aims to position Brazil as a leading supplier of critical materials for energy transition and decarbonisation supply chains. It will support the development of high-value components such as battery cells, photovoltaic cells, and permanent magnets. The initiative is designed to mobilise various stakeholders across mineral-dependent production chains, enabling partnerships between miners and technology holders both within and outside Brazil. 

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