Recursos minerais estratégicos, atividade minerária e desenvolvimento econômico nacional: o caso dos elementos de terras raras (ETR)

Abstract

This monograph aims to analyze how the mining activity of Rare Earth Elements (RET) can contribute to the promotion of the industry of products with high added value in Brazil, leading, therefore, to the national economic development at a higher level. It is based on the premise that, despite Brazil being rich in reserves of such strategic minerals, the policies aimed at the mining activity sector have not been able to overcome the delay in adding value in the production chains, in order to lead the country to a new level of industrial development. In this vein, the research problem lies in answering the following question: to what extent can the mining activity of Rare Earth Elements (REE) be used as a strategic variable for national economic development? The tested hypothesis is that Brazilian mining policies must be articulated with an industrial policy committed to transforming the largest possible portion of REE mineral resources into products of high technological value, without neglecting, however, the necessary care to reduce the impacts environmental factors inherent to the mining activity itself. The methodology used in the work will be a case study, qualitative and inductive, making use of data available in primary and secondary sources (reports and official documents) referring to changes in product prices, as well as production and export values.