Brazilian president Michel Temer suspended on Tuesday a decree that allowed iron ore exploration in the country’s copper and related minerals reserve, Renca.
The president’s decree to suspend the decision to allow minerals exploration follow a court ruling in August that prevented Brazil from using the area.
Created in 1984, the Renca reserve is the size of Denmark and is said to have high potential for mineral exploration, including iron ore, manganese, among other commodities.
The government was beginning to evaluate 58 requests to explore minerals in the Amazon region reserve that were made before the reserve was created in 1984. Before canceling the decree that allowed the exploration of Renca, the government expected to receive new requests to explore minerals in the area.