The subsidiary of Brazil Potash Corp, with English, Australian, Canadian and Brazilian capital, saw its state license for exploration in the Amazon canceled by the courts.

The company Potássio do Brasil, a subsidiary of Brazil Potash Corp, with English, Australian, Canadian and Brazilian capital, is fighting to extract potassium in the Amazon.

The company’s president, Adriano Espeschit, contacted ministers to present the potash exploration project in Autazes, Amazonas, target of a court ruling that canceled a preliminary state license and required the analysis of the question by Ibama.

According to a report from Folha de S. Paulo, Espeschit met with Minister Alexandre Padilha (Institutional Relations) in mid-September. In April, he met Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Ministers Carlos Fávaro (Agriculture) and Alexandre Silveira (Mining and Energy).

Investment in potash exploration became more urgent after the war in Ukraine, a major exporter of raw materials used as fertilizer.

The project is budgeted at $2.5 billion and would have the capacity to produce 2.2 million tonnes of potash per year, given a demand of 13 million tonnes in the country.

At the end of August, Judge Jaiza Maria Fraxe, of the Federal Court of Amazonas, canceled the previous license granted by Ipaam (Institute for Environmental Protection of Amazonas) in 2015 and declared that the authorization would amount to Ibama (Brazilian Institute for Environmental Protection). environment and renewable natural resources). However, Ibama has already refused the authority to issue licenses on at least four occasions.

The agency argues that a 2011 companion law placed almost all mining under the responsibility of states if the project takes place outside indigenous lands. In addition to Ibama’s authorization, the project would also require prior authorization from Congress and free consultation with indigenous peoples, according to the 1st Federal Civil Court of Amazonas.

In a meeting with the Governor of Amazonas, Wilson Lima (União Brasil), last Monday (25), Mura indigenous leaders expressed their support for the advancement of the potassium exploration project.

The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses Potássio do Brasil of having co-opted the indigenous people in an attempt to guarantee trade in the region. Furthermore, it states that the previous license issued in 2015 is illegal and all licenses must be issued by Ibama.