Brasília – The vice president and minister of Development, Industry, Commerce, and Services of Brazil, Geraldo Alckmin, accompanied, this Thursday (27), the shipment for export of the first batch of Brazilian “green lithium” extracted in the Jequitinhonha Valley in Minas Gerais. The event occurred in the port of Vitória, the capital city of Espírito Santo. Pictured above, Alckmin (3rd right to left), alongside other authorities.
The mineral is essential for producing batteries, metal alloys, medical devices, and drugs, among other applications. The highlight is the manufacture of long-lasting batteries for electric vehicles, an industry driving the energy transition.
The shipment sent this Thursday to Chinese company Yahua includes 15,000 tonnes of high-purity lithium and 15,000 tonnes of ultrafine waste. Until the end of the year, expectations are for exports around 130,000 tonnes.
The pre-chemical lithium technological input was produced by the Brazilian company Sigma Lithium. It was named “green lithium” or zero-carbon because the exploration plant does not have a tailings dam. In addition, the company recycles the water used in the lithium purification process, which does not involve chemical agents. The tailings are dry stacked and sold for the recovery of residual minerals.
The operation is considered strategic for the entire chain of energy transition inputs, from sustainable sources, in addition to increasing the product’s added value. In May, the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy and the government of Minas Gerais state announced the launch of the Lithium Valley project in New York to attract international investment to the region. In addition to Sigma Lithium, other companies are setting up in the state.
According to the Ministry of Mines, Brazil is among the countries with the most significant potential for lithium extraction globally, alongside Chile, Argentina, the United States, Canada, and Australia. “Lithium from Brazil, however, offers competitive differentials to optimize investments. Unlike most other countries, the lithium found in Minas Gerais is high-purity, facilitating its use in manufacturing more powerful batteries,” explained the Ministry.
The Lithium Valley region comprises the municipalities of Araçuaí, Capelinha, Coronel Murta, Itaobim, Itinga, Malacacheta, Medina, Minas Novas, Pedra Azul, and Virgem da Lapa. According to the Ministry, these municipalities are home to the most significant Brazilian lithium reserve, according to studies by the Geological Survey of Brazil.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
