Brazil’s Supreme Court suspends permit for major Amazon gold mine
The suspension stays in place until a settlement with Indigenous affairs agency FUNAI wins court approval, after judges cited gaps in consultation and environmental studies.
- On Tuesday, the Brazilian Supreme Court suspended the installation license for the Volta Grande Gold Project in Para state, citing Chief Justice Edson Fachin's finding that Belo Sun Mining Corp. failed to demonstrate compliance with environmental and Indigenous consultation requirements.
- Years of opposition from Indigenous communities regarding environmental impacts prompted the legal challenge, with groups arguing the project on the Xingu River near the Belo Monte dam threatens livelihoods, while Belo Sun Mining Corp. disputes claims that consultation was insufficient under International Labour Organization Convention 169.
- A 2021 independent assessment raised concerns about a proposed dam designed to hold 35 million cubic meters of mining waste near the Xingu River. Researchers warned that potential failure could release toxic substances including arsenic and mercury, affecting communities more than 40 kilometers downstream.
- The suspension remains in effect until a settlement agreement between Belo Sun and Brazil's National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples receives approval from the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region. The company stated it is currently complying with obligations, including refraining from physical interventions at the project site.
- Sol Juruna, a member of the Middle Xingu Indigenous Women's Movement, stated the ruling was "happy news," though she vowed to continue opposing the development. The Alliance for the Volta Grande do Xingu also welcomed the decision, which remains provisional pending further legal proceedings.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Globo
O LiberalProject Belo Sun mining in the region of Volta Grande do Xingu, in Pará. Disclosure / Belo Sun The president of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Minister Edson Fachin, has determined the suspension of the installation license of the Volta Grande Mining Project, belonging to the Canadian company Belo Sun Mining, in the municipality of Senator José Porfirio, in Pará. The decision, signed on October 19, 2026, responds to an urgent request made by t…
The Toronto Star
Belo Sun Receives Decision on Temporary Suspension of License Until Result of Settlement Hearing
TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Belo Sun Mining Corp. (TSX: BSX) (OTCQX: BSXGF) (the “Company” or “Belo Sun”) announces that the Brazilian Supreme Court (“STF”) issued a decision on the request for suspension of provisional relief (Suspensão de…
Decision of Edson Fachin, President of the Supreme Federal Court, represents victory for traditional peoples and communities who resist in the Xingu Great Volta (PA); alert movement that judicial dispute continues
Indigenous Resistance Wins Major Victory as Brazil’s Supreme Court Suspends Belo Sun Mine Permit
"Now we have gained time to organize, grow stronger, and show the world that what this mining company is saying is a lie: we were not consulted.” The post Indigenous Resistance Wins Major Victory as Brazil’s Supreme Court Suspends Belo Sun Mine Permit first appeared on Amazon Watch.
Minister Edson Fachin, president of the STF (Supremo Tribunal Federal), suspended the installation license that allowed the start of a gold mining undertaking in a sensitive area of the eastern Amazon, the Xingu Volta Grande, in Pará. The project is owned by Belo Sun and is considered the largest open-air gold mining undertaking in the country. Read more (10/20/2026)
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