Brazil aims to spur large-scale rare-earth production with the enactment in September of a regulatory and financial-incentives law governing the metallic minerals, an increasingly sought-after staple in the manufacture of electronics and alternative-energy systems. The congressionally approved law, signed Sept. 16 by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and made effective the next day, has drawn criticism from environmental groups. They contend it lacks safeguards to mitigate socio-environmental risks posed by the extensive land destruction and pollution associated with rare-earth mining and processing. But the regimen, the National Policy on Critical and Strategic Minerals (PNMCE), has strong backing from Lula. He argues it will not only spur mining, but also incentivize greater domestic processing of rare earths and other “critical” minerals into value-added products such as high-strength magnets. Such magnets, used in end-goods ranging from cell phones, computers and electric... [Log in to read more]