Horizonte Minerals Plc HZMHZM, a nickel company with two Tier 1 assets in Brazil, is pleased to announce that its 100% owned Araguaia Nickel Project, currently in development, has been approved as a Strategic Minerals Project by the Brazilian Federal Government. This approval will ensure that the Araguaia Nickel Project is treated on a priority basis by the various Government agencies engaged in the construction and operation of the mine, through the support of an Inter-ministerial committee.
Jeremy Martin, CEO of Horizonte Minerals, commented:
"The selection of the Araguaia Nickel Project as a Strategic Minerals Project further demonstrates the global importance of nickel as a critical metal of the future as well as the project's strategic importance to Brazil. We recognise the positive steps the Brazilian Government are taking to help expedite these strategically important projects and we look forward to working closely with them as we advance Araguaia towards production."
Further Details
The Strategic Minerals Policy is aimed at prioritising the development of mineral projects that are deemed strategic to Brazil's growth and forms part of the Investment Partnership Programme (PPI - Programa de Parcerias de Investimento), a government body dedicated to expanding and accelerating the implementation of projects with the participation of the private sector in Brazil.
Projects are selected on a case-by-case basis by the Inter-ministerial Committee for the Analysis of Strategic Mineral Projects ("CTAPME"), formed by representatives from PPI, as well as other governmental agencies such as the Ministry of Mines and Energy; the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations; the Institutional Security Office and the Special Secretariat for Strategic Affairs of the Presidency of the Republic.
Araguaia's selection as a strategic project under the Policy will facilitate the necessary interaction amongst different regulatory entities so as to minimise risks and help Horizonte continue its progress towards production, for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Source: https://horizonteminerals.com/uk/en/