Another CBPM partnership, this time with Homerun Brasil, is the Brasil Transparente project, which involves an investment of R$ 1.8 billion to build the first solar-glass factory outside China — in the municipality of Belmonte, in the southern region of the state.

In 2023, CBPM allocated R$ 55 million to the research sector. “CBPM is currently the Brazilian company with the largest investment in mineral research and one of the most reputable in the country. We maintain one of the largest and most diverse lithotechs in Brazil, a collection that represents an immense heritage of accumulated geological knowledge, reinforcing Bahia’s leadership in the development of the mineral sector,” said the executive.

At the opening of the event, Ibram’s CEO, Raul Jungmann, reinforced the importance of investments in technology and qualified labor. “We need investments in the mineral sector in Brazil. We highlight two extremely important areas for mining: technology and professional training. Today, Brazil is already making progress in these aspects, but we still need to evolve. We will only achieve this through investments in technology, people, logistics, and other areas.”

Investments in logistics are also essential for the development of the mineral sector in Brazil’s Northeast region. Alex Trevizan, commercial and terminal director at Transnordestina Logística, highlighted the importance of the railway modal for national mining. Currently, Transnordestina has R$ 10.7 billion in allocated resources, 1,206 km of rail network, and 4,053 employees. According to Trevizan, the project is being expanded to the Port of Pecém, in Fortaleza, with the final stretch already in the last phase of bidding and with an expected delivery timeline.

“We have a deadline until September 2027 to connect the railway to the Port of Pecém. The railway begins inland in the state of Piauí, in the municipality of Eliseu Martins, and has already reached 75% physical progress toward the Ceará port in its completed sections. A total of 676 km have been finished, with another 280 km under construction in phase 1 of the project. At this stage, we are in the final process of obtaining the licenses needed to begin operations. Altogether, once the railway reaches the port, R$ 15 billion will have been invested,” the director explained.