MRN completes 46 years of activities with advances in sustainability and an eye on the future with changes in its energy matrix

The date commemorates the first shipment of bauxite in the municipality of Oriximiná (PA), which marked the beginning of operations for the largest bauxite producer in the country 

Celebrating 46 years of operations, Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN) has been working with sustainable mining and implementing an energy transition process in the Amazon. The company, Brazil's largest bauxite producer, has invested in structural initiatives aimed at decarbonization, biodiversity conservation, and the development of local communities. These initiatives range from projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions to reforestation programs, with the active participation of neighboring communities. 

"Reaching 46 years of responsible, forward-looking operations is a source of pride for all of us. We have focused our efforts on expanding MRN's contribution to climate solutions, strengthening more energy-efficient mining," says Guido Germani, CEO of MRN. 

With 12.8 million tons of bauxite produced in 2024 alone, MRN is consolidating its strategic position in the aluminum supply chain. In addition to leading domestic production, with 64% of its output destined for Brazilian industry, the company supplies three other continents (Americas, Europe, and Asia). This directly contributes to the national aluminum supply chain, which currently accounts for 6.4% of the country's GDP and contributes to a trade surplus of US$3.4 billion. 

MRN's activities have also boosted the local economy. Last year alone, the company allocated R$34 million to the municipalities where its mineral deposits are located, originating from the Financial Compensation for the Exploration of Mineral Resources (CFEM). This amount is transferred to the National Mining Agency (ANM), and from there, distributed via the federal government to the municipalities. Regarding the collection of taxes, fees, and CFEM, R$104.3 million was transferred to the state of Pará and R$202.1 million to the federal government – of which R$100 million came from withholding taxes. 

Furthermore, local purchases totaled R$717.2 million in Western Pará, prioritizing local suppliers. R$62 million was also spent on contracted services in the same region. 

Cleaner energy and a smaller carbon footprint

One of the milestones of this journey is the Transmission Line Project (PLT), which will connect MRN to the National Interconnected System (SIN), replacing local energy generation with cleaner sources. The 98-km project will connect the Saracá Plateau to the substation in Oriximiná, reducing the company's total CO2 emissions by approximately 25%. The project is currently in the implementation phase.

For MRN's Director of Implementation, Leonardo Paiva, the project marks the company's commitment to decarbonizing the mining sector. "The Transmission Line Project is an extremely important measure that enables the use of clean energy for the company's operations. All of this is achieved through active listening and transparent dialogue with communities to develop comprehensive and efficient action plans," the executive emphasizes.

Sustainable mining with social responsibility

Another important advancement is the New Mines Project (PNM), which will ensure the continuity of MRN's operations for the next 15 years. The Preliminary License was obtained in 2024, following consultations with quilombola communities and analysis of the Quilombola Component Studies (ECQ) and Environmental Impact Studies (EIA) by Ibama, the project's licensing agency, and the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA), the intervening agency responsible for approving the ECQ.

Currently, the company continues with the construction of the Environmental Management Plan (PGA) and the Basic Quilombola Plan (PBAQ) together with the Boa Vista and Alto Trombetas II Territories, seeking to prevent and mitigate issues raised in the Quilombola Component Study and the Environmental Impact Study.

Reforestation and biodiversity protection

As part of its sustainable mining strategy, MRN has already reforested 7,800 hectares in the Amazon, registering 576,000 seedlings planted last year and nearly 380 hectares restored, representing a 45% increase in the number of seedlings and a 19% increase in the restored area compared to 2023. The company maintains its own forest nursery, using seeds provided by community members, strengthening the regional bioeconomy. 

One of these measures is the implementation of the Seed Collectors Network Project, which has been implemented by the company since 2023, connecting the company with quilombola and riverside communities for the ecological restoration of mined areas. 

"What adds the most value is commerce, because there's no point in collecting a seed if there's no one to sell it to," observes Denivaldo Laurindo, a resident of the Boa Nova Community and participant in the Seed Collectors Network Project, which encompasses the collection, processing, storage, and sale of native seeds. The initiative is run by MRN in partnership with the Rural Producers Cooperative of the Jirau Environmental Observatory (Coopprojirau), the Trombetas and Sapucuá Communities Association (ACOMTAGS), and Redário, a network of seed collectors and groups in Brazil. 

The positive impact on the prospect of transforming realities is reinforced by Silvana Evangelista Vinente, president of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Saracá Community Association (ACSCJS). "The area will be reforested, and we'll have stories to tell our grandchildren and great-grandchildren," she comments. 

According to MRN's Director of Sustainability and Legal Affairs, Vladimir Moreira, reforestation and the restoration of mined areas are not only an environmental responsibility, but also an activity that directly benefits communities and the region's future. "We continue to expand our ecological restoration efforts, reinforcing that biodiversity preservation and the responsible use of natural resources are fundamental to MRN. The success of these activities ensures the construction of a socio-environmental legacy for the region," he believes.

 Lake Batata

Among the actions that mark the commitment to sustainability is the restoration of Lago Batata, which will celebrate its 36th anniversary in 2025. The area, impacted by waste disposal in the past, underwent a comprehensive restoration program led by MRN in partnership with universities, experts, and local communities. 

In the area, more than 800,000 native seedlings were planted, restoring 120 hectares of igapó (flooded forest), now home to flowers, fruits, birds, and reptiles. In addition to ecological restoration, the program includes eight socio-environmental projects that benefit more than 80 families in the region. 

Professor Francisco Esteves, full professor of Ecology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), detailed the research projects carried out over the years that mark MRN's 46th anniversary. "Countless and numerous studies were conducted because it was a project and research unprecedented in Brazil and the world. Today, we celebrate the complete success of the igapó, which now offers its services as if it were a natural igapó. We 'accelerated' nature with the circulation of nutrients, replenished organic matter, and today the plants flourish," he explains. 

Guido Germani highlights MRN's important role in the recovery and preservation of nature in the Amazon. In the year Brazil hosts the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), he emphasizes that bauxite production is strategic for the just energy transition and, above all, essential for the development of other productive sectors in the country, such as transportation, construction, packaging, and consumer goods. "We are experiencing a strategic moment for the mining sector in Brazil. With COP30 approaching, which will be held in Pará, we have a great opportunity to show the world that the country can lead sustainable industrial chains, showcasing differentiators such as a clean energy matrix and projects that foster sustainable development for communities and add value to the region," adds MRN's CEO.