Brazil’s MRN gets IBAMA approval for Novas Minas bauxite expansion project

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Mineracao  Rio do Norte (MRN), Brazil’s largest bauxite producer, has secured an installation licence for its Novas Minas project, paving the way to extend operations in Pará state until 2041.

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The Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) approved and allowed the joint venture, backed by Glencore, South32 and Rio Tinto, to begin construction at five new mining sites across three municipalities. The project has been in the licensing process since 2018.

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MRN plans to invest around USD 1.8 billion between 2027 and 2041 to develop the new sites. The project aims to maintain annual bauxite production at about 12.5 million tonnes, in line with current output.

The licence is seen as an important step in extending the life of operations at Porto Trombetas, where mining has been ongoing since 1979. The site has an installed capacity of 18 million tonnes per year and remains one of Brazil’s key sources of bauxite.

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The expansion comes as global demand for bauxite, the raw material used to produce aluminium, remains strong.