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Event promoted by MRN and Simineral brought together journalists, advisors and content creators to discuss challenges and opportunities for communication in the region

Last weekend, the city of Santarém (PA) hosted the third edition of the Western Pará Communicators Meeting. The initiative, organized by Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN) and the Pará State Mineral Industries Union (Simineral), brought together journalists, advisors, influencers and professionals in the communications field from several municipalities in the region to discuss the strategic role of information.

With a program focused on the exchange of experiences and technical training, the event featured lectures, practical workshops and moments of interaction between participants. Journalist Sílvia Vieira, from Santarém, praised the program and highlighted the importance of the exchange of experiences among the guests. “This is a very important event because it guarantees this exchange between speakers and colleagues from other media outlets. The program will help expand the content that we bring to the population every day,” she said. The opening was given by journalist Daniel Nardin, who shared reflections on environmental journalism, climate change and the importance of qualified coverage of socio-environmental issues in the Amazon, especially in the year in which the state will host the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30). “We brought the basic concepts of solutions journalism and reference tools for professionals who need to understand, approach and work on climate coverage and extreme weather events. This is an important time to study the issues and how to approach them in order to correctly present them to society.”

Journalists Tatiane Lobato and Carol Amorim were also present, leading practical workshops on radio production and strategies for working in digital media. Focusing on the Amazon, the activities offered tools to strengthen regional communication with creativity. A journalist from Santarém, with a history in media outlets in western Pará and currently the journalism coordinator for a station affiliated with a national radio station, Tatiane Lobato was responsible for leading the radio workshop. She emphasized the importance of activities like this in other regions of the state, in addition to the capital Belém. “Pará is very large, so it is important when you decentralize this information and manage to bring together communicators who know the region they are in like few others. It is important to share what we have learned and also hear new experiences. We all come away stronger,” she said.

Communication professionals from cities such as Oriximiná, Óbidos, Faro and Terra Santa also actively participated in the debates, bringing local experiences, questions and suggestions to the discussions. “These are initiatives, not only to get to know the company, but also to increase the communication repertoire between professionals and replicate what we have learned to our audience”, stated Waldiney Ferreira, a journalist who works in the municipality of Oriximiná.

For MRN's Communications Manager, Ana Rita Freitas, the meeting was an opportunity to strengthen ties and stimulate the generation of knowledge. "We had the chance to talk to colleagues in the territory where the company is located and we were able to have a great exchange of experiences. MRN greatly values ​​opportunities like this, to be close to communicators, to listen and dialogue and, in doing so, strengthen relationships," she said.

Simineral Communication Award 2025

During the event, the Simineral Communications Award 2025 was launched in Western Pará, with this year’s theme “COP 30 and Mining: Climate Challenges and Sustainable Solutions”. The award will recognize reports, digital and business content that address the role of mining in the energy transition and in building a sustainable future, especially in light of COP 30 being held in the Amazon. According to Simineral’s executive director, Emerson Rocha, encouraging production in all regions of Pará, in a decentralized manner, helps to disseminate topics related to the mining sector. “The active participation of communicators from Western Pará, who know the local reality and contribute to the development of the region, is important not only for the mining sector but also for society. Informing, qualifying and sharing content is significant for both Simineral and MRN”, he emphasized.

Economic, social and environmental results are included in a booklet that is now published biannually, reinforcing the commitment to transparency 

Mineração Rio do Norte's (MRN) sustainable relationship with the Amazon, employees, communities and suppliers, among other stakeholders, is presented in INSIDE MRN. The publication, which is in its first edition, shows the economic, social and environmental performance generated in 2024, from the responsible production of bauxite. Highlights include the injection of R$ 717 million in local purchases and more than R$ 370 million in taxes, fees and contributions, highlighting the company's role in the economic chains of Western Pará. 

The generation of jobs and income, the actions in the areas of education and health, and the development in balance with the environment prove the advantages of MRN's continued operations, reinforcing its commitment to integrity and transparency. In addition to giving prominence to people — there are 6,700 employees, 85% of whom are from the state of Pará —, the booklet highlights the company's pursuit of innovation and continuous improvement, by following international standards of safety, social and environmental responsibility. 

“We are aware that MRN’s operations make a difference in the daily lives of communities and municipalities in the state of Pará and in Brazil. We are committed to a sustainable future, in which mining respects people and the environment and is valued for everything it represents,” says Guido Germani, CEO of MRN. “Our commitment to transparency demonstrates care and diligence with the sustainability of our operations and their impact on society,” he adds. 

Among the environmental practices of air and water monitoring, flora and fauna recovery and waste management, the highlight is the 7.7 thousand hectares reforested using a model that combines traditional knowledge with science and technology, also contributing to the cataloging of new species of Amazonian flora. With an investment of R$ 2.2 million in 2024, MRN supported family farmers with the Agroforestry Systems project and training in settlement areas, as well as fish farmers, benefiting more than 750 community members with training, technical support and infrastructure. 

With a vision for the future, MRN is focusing its efforts on the licensing process for new bauxite mines to continue producing and investing in the region, as the current ones are heading towards exhaustion. As mentioned in the booklet, the New Mines Project (PNM) — which aims to continue operations on five new plateaus for another 15 years — had its Preliminary License obtained in October 2024, but it still faces the challenge of developing, filing and approving plans with environmental and social conditions together with the quilombola communities. 

In addition to the Novas Minas Project, MRN's operational continuity strategy includes the Transmission Line Project (PLT), which will integrate the company into the National Interconnected System of the Electric Sector, marking the company's adherence to an energy matrix of more sustainable sources. As contextualized by POR ENTTRO DA MRN, the company expects to invest around R$5 billion in the coming years for these and other operational projects. 

Commitment to Development, Environment and People

The publication highlights partnerships with community associations, universities and institutions, aiming to ensure a legacy of socioeconomic development for Western Pará. Recent initiatives include the Open Doors Program, which offers exclusive vacancies for riverside and quilombola communities, as well as professional training initiatives for employees, family members and communities. 

It also highlights the institutional commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, such as “MRN pra Todos”, which has been promoting diversity and inclusion for four years in the areas of gender, generation, race and ethnicity, LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities, building a more inclusive and plural environment in the company. “It is with this diverse perspective, transparent dialogue, local partnerships, and good operational and socio-environmental practices that MRN has been building its history in this region”, adds Guido Germani. 

POR DENTRO DA MRN (Inside MRN) also provides information on MRN's contribution to promoting health and education and encouraging sports and culture in the region. In 2024, the company registered more than 63,000 itinerant health services with the Quilombo project boat, in addition to 84,000 services at the Porto Trombetas Hospital. In education, support reaches high school and higher education students, with investments of R$6.6 million in 2024. 

More than R$400,000 was also invested in cultural and sports initiatives that benefited 379 children in the region throughout 2024. To support the activities of the Municipal Councils for Children and Adolescents of Terra Santa, Faro and Óbidos, MRN allocated R$45,000 to education, health, culture, sports and leisure actions aimed at combating violence against children and adolescents.

An initiative developed over 2 decades ago, with the support of MRN, promotes awareness and environmental education actions 

More than 45 thousand chelonians of the species tracaja, iaçah, amazon turtle and Irapuca were released in communities of Oriximina and Holy Land, in the West of Para, by the Pé-de-Pincha Project, in 2025. The initiative, which completed 25 years in Oriximina and 26 in Holy Land, is carried out by universities, environmental agencies and local communities, seeking the conservation of these animals. The action is developed by the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), with the support of Rio do Norte Mining (MRN), the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and the University of the West of Para (UFOPA), with direct participation of residents of the riverside communities. 

In the municipality of Terra Santa, 15,826 puppies were released. In Oriximina, the number reached 29,877. The activities, which began in August last year, involved the monitoring of nests, controlled hatching in chochairs and ended with the release of animals in the wild. Volunteer of the project, Mrs. Maria José participates in the activities in Santa Land from the beginning and commented on the feeling of being an important part in environmental preservation in the West of Para region. “I feel full of happiness. When I do not participate in the collection I am agonized and sad. I am also very happy with the support of Mining on things we didn’t have before and now we have”, she said. 

Paulo Cesar Andrade, professor at UFAM and coordinator of Pé-de-Pincha, stressed the importance of active participation of communities. “The project has helped to repopulate these species throughout the Amazon. The comunity is the central link of the project, in a volunteer work and with this they learn the techniques and help nature in this process of protection of these species”, he said. 

According to the teacher, in addition to actions with the communities, institutional partnerships, such as the existing one with MRN, are fundamental to the full functioning of the project for more than two decades. “MRN is a first-hour partner of the project and is fundamental to provide logistical support to communities, allowing them to have materials to perform these actions. Without these partnerships, it would be practically impossible to develop the activities”, he added. 

For Genilda Cunha, coordinator of the MRN Socio-Environmental Education Program (PES), which Pincha’s foot is an integral part, the interaction between institutions and communities can help overcome challenges that arise, ensuring the preservation of chelonian species.  “The Pé-de-Pincha project shows how the union between scientific knowledge and traditional knowledge generates concrete results in environmental preservation. Evolution in environmental awareness and education is visible, especially in the face of challenges such as climate change. But it is the practical experience, the direct involvement of communities, which really makes a difference to the success of the initiative,” he said.

O projeto "Esporte na Cidade", que promove atividades de lazer, esportes e palestras educativas para adolescentes e jovens da região Oeste do Pará, retomou as aulas de iniciação para moradores dos municípios de Faro e Terra Santa, além do distrito de Porto Trombetas, em Oriximiná. A iniciativa contribui para o bem-estar e incentiva a adoção de hábitos saudáveis.

Realizado pela Organização Social De Peito Aberto (DPA), o programa tem o patrocínio da Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN), por meio da Lei Federal de Incentivo ao Esporte, e em 2025 oferecerá aulas gratuitas de vôlei, futsal, basquete e handebol. Em 2024, cerca de 300 alunos participaram das atividades, cujo objetivo é estimular a inclusão social e o desenvolvimento pessoal na região. Todos os participantes recebem kits completos de uniformes para as práticas esportivas.

Laysa Soares, de 12 anos, moradora de Terra Santa e aluna das aulas de vôlei, compartilhou sua experiência. "Sempre gostei de esportes e, quando descobri que tinha vaga, resolvi participar. Escolhi o vôlei, mas gosto de jogar de tudo. A convivência com as colegas é muito boa e a professora é excelente, sempre me ajuda quando preciso", contou a jovem.

Já o jovem André Marinho, morador do distrito de Porto Trombetas e aluno das atividades de futsal viu no projeto uma oportunidade de desenvolver fundamentos no esporte. “Eu decidi participar do projeto porque apresenta vários esportes e isso é importante para o desenvolvimento do nosso corpo e da nossa saúde. O esporte que eu mais gosto de praticar é futsal, pois é o esporte que eu tenho mais afinidade e também eu me sinto que interaja mais com as pessoas. O que eu mais gosto nas aulas é das práticas esportivas e da interação com as pessoas e a convivência com a professora e com os alunos é muito boa, temos uma ótima interação e convivência”, comentou.

As atividades do Esporte na Cidade são gratuitas e realizadas no contraturno escolar. Além disso, o projeto oferece palestras sobre temas como meio ambiente e saúde mental. Ricardo Loureiro, coordenador técnico do projeto, destacou os resultados alcançados em mais de uma década de atuação. "Em 12 anos, atendemos 6.200 crianças, com aulas de qualidade e materiais de primeira linha. O projeto valoriza a inclusão, sem distinções de raça, cor, credo ou religião. Quem quer participar, participa", afirmou.

Ele também enfatizou a importância da parceria com a MRN para a continuidade da iniciativa. "A MRN sempre buscou meios para que nosso trabalho fosse realizado com excelência. Sem essa parceria, o projeto não existiria", reforçou Loureiro.

Bianca Bentes, analista de Relações Comunitárias da MRN, comentou o impacto do programa. "Apoiar projetos de esporte educacional é um investimento no futuro, pois estamos proporcionando às crianças e adolescentes não apenas o desenvolvimento físico, mas também valores essenciais como disciplina, trabalho em equipe e perseverança. Quando a MRN investe em projetos como esse ela não está apenas incentivando a prática esportiva, mas também contribuindo para a formação de cidadãos mais conscientes e preparados para os desafios da vida”, explicou.

Sobre o projeto

Desde 2010, o Esporte na Cidade promove aulas gratuitas de iniciação esportiva em futsal, vôlei, basquete, handebol e futebol de campo para crianças e adolescentes, conciliando prática esportiva e educação. A iniciativa conta com o apoio do Mineração Esporte Clube (MEC), no núcleo de Porto Trombetas, e das prefeituras dos municípios de Faro e Terra Santa.

During the International Conference on the Amazon and New Economies, held in Belém (Pará State), the company advocated integrated actions to protect the environment 

Belém (Pará State) was the focus of discussions on the future of the Amazon when it hosted, for the second time, the International Conference on the Amazon and New Economies. Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN), a bauxite producer located in the west of the state, presented its experiences and innovative initiatives for the development of sustainable mining in the Amazon during the event. The conference brought together business leaders, researchers and representatives of social organizations to debate sustainable economic alternatives for the region. 

During the panel “The New Mining Sector in a Structuring and Development Agenda in the Amazon”, the CEO of MRN, Guido Germani, underscored the company's role in promoting projects that go beyond mineral activity, and the importance of creating strategic alliances to expand the positive impact of the mining activity in the country. 

"We need to think about new economies in the Amazon because minerals will one day run out. MRN seeks to create an increasingly strong forest and, to this end, we encourage actions in the areas of entrepreneurship and agroforestry, for example. We must have greater unity among private initiative, civil society and the state in order to better manage investment in actions that generate benefits for future generations,” said Guido.

 As well as taking part in the panel, MRN also played an active role in mentoring projects during the Hackathon held at the conference. The competition attracted students and professionals from different areas to create innovative solutions that promote sustainability in the mining sector. MRN's mentoring focused on collaboration between the mining sector and other segments, promoting the development of sustainable businesses that benefit the Amazon.

Initiative will integrate the company into the National Interconnected System, thus bolstering its commitment to global carbon targets 

Committed to sustainable mining practices in the Amazon, Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN) this week obtained the Installation License (IL) for the Transmission Line Project, whch will integrate the company into the National Interconnected System. By adhering to a more sustainable electricity matrix, MRN expects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 90% in power generation, which represents approximately a 20% reduction in the company's carbon footprint as of 2027, thus securing a more efficient and sustainable operation. The implementation phase of the project is expected to generate around 500 new temporary jobs during construction. 

The 98-km long project runs from the substation in Oriximiná to the future Saracá substation, within the MRN site in the Porto Trombetas district. MRN's Project Implementation Director, Leonardo Paiva, explains that the initiative is the company's main energy transition project, which is aligned with its long-term planning and commitment to environmental sustainability. “This electricity matrix change represents a strategic move for MRN and a legacy for the region. We are officially adhering to global targets by reducing our carbon footprint and promoting local sustainable development,” he says.  

Operating the project

The development of MRN's new electricity matrix meets the future demands of the West Zone Program. In practice, the 230 kV power transmission system will connect the company's industrial facilities in Porto Trombetas, in the municipality of Oriximiná, to the SIN's basic network, via a single circuit, approximately 98 km long. The route has 34 vertices, including 218 metal towers, with technical, economic and socio-environmental benefits in mind. The project study was carried out in two parts, considering the normal stretch and the Trombetas River crossing stretch, due to the particularities of each. 

Operational continuity

The Transmission Line is part of MRN's operational continuity strategy in the region. Today, with a preliminary license issued by IBAMA, the New Mines Project will allow MRN to invest approximately R$5 billion over the next five years, adding more sustainability to the aluminum chain, used on a large scale for essential segments such as energy, transport, construction, packaging, among others. The project will be essential for the company to continue its operations in western of Pará by maintaining an average production of 12.5 million tons of bauxite per year.