Restructuring of the National Mining Agency (ANM)

The restructuring of the National Mining Agency (ANM) was assumed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) as one of the priority axes of the Brazilian Mineral Policy.

The main objective is to consolidate the ANM as a technical, modern, autonomous and efficient agency, with full regulatory capacity, digital governance and direct integration with the strategic agendas of the portfolio.

In this context, the MME has exercised political, technical and budgetary leadership in conducting a long-term institutional transformation process, articulating actions with other government agencies, in order to rebuild the structural bases of a modern, transparent mining regulation centered on the public interest.

STRUCTURING MEASURES CONDUCTED BY THE MME

Staff reinforcement and career enhancement

The MME conducted and articulated the approval of Law No. 14,875/2024, which promoted the salary equalization of ANM employees to other federal regulatory agencies, correcting a historical gap and ensuring equal remuneration in the Federal Regulation System.

This achievement was the result of a joint work between the MME and the ANM, with the support of the Civil House and the Ministry of Management, and is part of a broader institutional enhancement plan, which includes:

• The appointment of 216 new civil servants, representing an increase of approximately 30% in the Agency’s staff

• The implementation of the Training and Continuing Education Program, in partnership with the National School of Public Administration (Enap) and federal universities, with a focus on risk analysis, dam governance, geoprocessing and economic regulation.

These actions strengthen the technical and operational capacity of the ANM, making the career attractive, stable and highly qualified – an indispensable condition for the full functioning of the regulatory body and for the sustainable development of the Brazilian mineral sector.

Budget support and resources

One of the most relevant initiatives led by the MME was the allocation of R$ 1 billion, from the resources of the New Agreement of the Rio Doce (ADPF 165), to the National Mining Agency (ANM). This strategic measure aims to recompose, restructure and modernize the institutional capacity of the ANM, ensuring better conditions for the fulfillment of its regulatory mission and strengthening the governance of the mineral sector.

This operation was the result of intense interinstitutional negotiation coordinated by the MME, which ensured that the amounts were linked to the administrative, technological and supervisory restructuring of the ANM, ensuring financial sustainability and operational autonomy in the medium term.

The resources are intended to:

• End-to-end digitalization of regulatory processes and systems

•  Modernization of IT infrastructure and integration of databases – Mining Geographic Information System (Sigmine), Annual Mining Report (RAL), Mining Registry, CFEM Control and Assessment System (Sicaf)

• Reinforcement of inspection and monitoring actions for dams, tailings piles and associated structures.

This restructuring agenda reinforces the role of the MME as an inducer of mineral public governance, ensuring that the resources arising from environmental remediation revert to permanent institutional strengthening.

Regulatory modernization and institutional innovation

The MME has led a continuous process of regulatory modernization, seeking to balance legal certainty, administrative efficiency and technological innovation in the ANM’s performance.

Recent initiatives include:

• MME Ordinance No. 70/2023 – Authorized the use of the Accredited Inspection model, allowing independent technical entities, previously accredited, to assist the ANM in inspection activities. This innovation increases the coverage and reliability of inspections, reduces operational costs, and strengthens the agency’s regulatory intelligence.

• Improvement of the Financial Compensation for the Exploration of Mineral Resources (CFEM) – Through Decree 11,659/2023, the MME regulated the transfer of CFEM to neighboring municipalities impacted by mining projects, promoting distributive justice and better local governance of mineral resources.

These measures demonstrate the MME’s commitment to repositioning the ANM as a State agency, and not just a government agency, endowed with technical autonomy, regulatory predictability, and institutional stability – pillars of safe, sustainable mining aligned with the energy transition.