Brazil supreme court suspends Belo Sun gold project licence

Brazil's Supreme Federal Court has temporarily suspended the installation licence for Belo Sun Mining's $300 million Volta Grande gold project in Para, partially granting a request from the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office until a settlement with the Indigenous peoples foundation Funai wins judicial approval.

Why it matters: Volta Grande could become Brazil's largest open-pit gold mine, and the ruling keeps its licence in suspension after years of litigation over environmental licensing and Indigenous rights, with a negotiated settlement now the only route to reinstatement.

Data as of Belo Sun Mining statement of October 21, 2026, read in full in its GlobeNewswire text, and Mining.com report of October 21, 2026. Developing item.

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court has temporarily suspended the installation licence for Belo Sun Mining’s Volta Grande gold project in Para, partially granting a request from the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office and suspending the earlier court ruling that had reinstated the licence, the company said on Wednesday. The licence stays suspended until the settlement agreement reached between Belo Sun and Funai, the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples, receives judicial approval from the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region, where it has already been submitted.

Chief executive Clovis Torres said the court’s recognition of the settlement hearing was welcome and that discussions with Funai were advanced. Belo Sun said the parties are already complying with the agreement, including its commitment to carry out no physical work at the project site, while approval remains pending.

Brazil supreme court suspends Belo Sun gold project licence

Sources