ESG & Permitting
Responsible project development
MBR is advancing the Natércia Project through a progressive development strategy that integrates technical development, environmental permitting, responsible resource management and local value creation.
Development principles
Responsibility embedded in project development
Environmental and social considerations are incorporated progressively as the project advances from geological definition and process development toward pilot and industrial implementation.
Environmental permitting
Development aligned with applicable Brazilian environmental permitting requirements and project-specific licensing stages.
Responsible water management
Process development considers water efficiency, solution recirculation and appropriate management of process streams.
Residue management
Leached mineral residue and process residues are incorporated into the engineering and environmental management strategy, with treatment and destination designed to comply with applicable requirements.
Resource efficiency
The project strategy seeks to recover value from multiple components of the same mineral system rather than relying on a single-product approach.
Local processing
MBR's development strategy prioritizes mineral transformation in Brazil, close to the mineral system.
Progressive development
Development advances through staged geological, metallurgical, permitting, pilot and engineering work.
Local value creation
The project has the potential to support qualified activities, services and industrial development within its regional value chain.
Permitting
A staged permitting strategy
The Natércia Project is being developed through distinct operational and permitting stages, allowing mining and mineral preparation activities to progress separately from the future hydrometallurgical development.
Mining & mineral preparation
Environmental licensing has been obtained for the project's mining and dry mineral processing stage, including mineral extraction, crushing and associated mineral preparation activities at the current reference scale.
Permitting achieved for this development stage
Hydrometallurgical development
The hydrometallurgical processing facility follows a separate development and environmental permitting pathway, aligned with process validation, pilot-scale development and future engineering definition.
Progressive development
Resource efficiency
More value from the same mineral system
Natércia's polymetallic profile supports an integrated development strategy focused on nickel, cobalt and magnesium. MBR is evaluating recovery pathways designed to maximize resource utilization while progressively integrating process efficiency, residue management and solution recirculation into the project design.
MBR does not publish quantitative environmental performance claims before project-specific studies, engineering and validation work support such conclusions.