Brazil’s secretariat of mining (SGM), which is linked to the nation’s ministry of mines and energy (MME), released this week a document aimed at boosting the development of technology in the sector, after president Jair Bolsonaro took office on January 1, 2019.
According to SGM, the document sets a series of ideas for the use of technology in the production system of mining companies. According to the government, the Technology Development Program for Brazil’s Mining Sector, also known as PDTec Mineral, suggests projects in three thematic areas.
The first area would support mining projects in small scale, while the second would focus in the research, development and mining innovation sides. Finally, the third area would focus on collaborative research and development projects.
As a way to back up its proposed plan, the government said it was “critical” to create an institution to oversee the technical management of such projects. The institution would be advised by a trilateral committee made up of members of the government, the mining companies and universities. SGM would then oversee, monitor and propose changes to the program, the government said.