Lula Launches Critical Minerals Council, Calls It Start of New Era

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva inaugurated the National Council for the Industrialization of Critical and Strategic Minerals at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia on Thursday, November 5, 2026. He described the council as the beginning of a new era for exploiting Brazil's mineral wealth.

Lula said the government wants a mineral exploration policy that preserves national sovereignty, attracts investment, and converts economic benefits into concrete improvements in producing regions. He stated that Brazil should not simply leave holes in cities but should leave schools.

“We do not want to just leave holes in the cities, we want to leave schools.”

The president argued that Brazil must overcome an economic model focused on selling raw materials and instead participate in more advanced stages of production chains. He added that the state does not intend to control all mining activities and will partner with private companies and foreign governments.

The council approved a list of 27 critical and strategic minerals divided into three priority classes. The minerals include rare earths, graphite, lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, silicon, uranium, niobium, and iron.

Lula also addressed the October presidential election runoff, saying voters woke up to prevent the country from falling into an abyss of uncertainty. He said the victory belonged to the Brazilian people, not to a party or candidate.

The president recalled voters with disabilities and elderly citizens who cast ballots with difficulty, calling their gesture a defense of national dignity and sovereignty. He criticized a political elite with a